Reframing Waste as Memory, Material, and Design

Designer Chelsea Makin, founder of South African design studio Alkaline, has expanded on an ongoing project Wayst (pronounced “waste”) in collaboration with her husband, Andrew Makin. Together, they apply material experimentation and collaboration to demonstrate the design potential of overlooked resources.

Each object in WAYST begins with what is often discarded: rubble from a demolition site, fragments of a wall from a renovation, or offcuts from industrial processes. Rather than sending these remnants to landfill, Chelsea and Andrew reframe them as raw potential. Through casting, shaping, and collaboration, they transform these overlooked fragments into functional objects that carry forward the story of their origins.

Material storytelling through reclaimed matter

At Alkaline, our aim is to reimagine waste as narrative — transforming remnants of the built world into objects that carry memory, place, and meaning. Through circular design and a commitment to sustainability, we work with artisans, material specialists, and renovation partners to give discarded materials a renewed purpose. Each piece is a continuation of a story — fragments of demolition reworked into forms that preserve the essence of what once was. Our practice sits at the intersection of design and storytelling, where craft and responsibility converge to celebrate history, honour process, and create new possibilities from what remains.

The studio’s first pendant lamp is cast from crushed brick reclaimed from local demolition sites. The textured surface makes the origin of the material visible, while the form positions it as a functional object for contemporary interiors.

Pendant Light
Concrete and Brick
120 x 100 x 190mm

Alkaline has also collaborated with Cape Town based studio The Minimalist to produce a limited-edition side table. The design pairs terrazzo slabs, cast by Alkaline from salvaged brick waste, with a raw stainless steel base fabricated by The Minimalist.

Limited Edition Side Table
Steel, Concrete and Brick
345 x 350 x 600mm

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For pricing, commissions, or collaboration enquiries, please get in touch. We welcome conversations with architects, designers, galleries, and collectors who share our values of material consciousness and storytelling through design. Each piece within our collections is made to order, with bespoke options available upon request. ⠀ For press or partnership opportunities, or to discuss future projects, please contact us directly — we’re always open to meaningful collaborations that explore sustainability, craftsmanship, and the preservation of history through form.
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