DB Schenker Upcycling Hub Lunchroom

Carlos Bañon's suspended installation operates as a spatial transformer within the symbolic vocabulary of architectural intervention, with the central sculptural element functioning as a contemporary interpretation of the cosmic canopy or sacred overhead plane that appears across cultural traditions as a mediator between earthly and celestial realms. The radial arrangement of pleated panels evokes the archetypal mandala form, traditionally associated with wholeness, centering, and the organization of psychic and cosmic space around a meaningful nucleus, here repositioned within the contemporary context of communal nourishment and creative labor. The translucent membrane quality of the mesh material carries associations with threshold states, transformation, and emergence, suggesting the liminal zones where matter transitions between states or where boundaries between inside and outside dissolve into permeable exchange. Marine biological references throughout the design vocabulary, including the shell-shaped seating, the jellyfish-like suspension, and the coral-toned chromatic palette, invoke water symbolism traditionally connected with purification, renewal, emotional depth, and the collective unconscious from which creative inspiration surfaces. The warm rose-pink environmental lighting bathes the space in chromatic associations of nurturing warmth, compassion, and heart-centered awareness, transforming the utilitarian lunchroom function into a sanctuary space for restoration. The honeycomb-textured pendant lights introduce hexagonal geometry, a form associated with efficient organization, collective endeavor, and the sweet production of collaborative labor, appropriate metaphors for the industrial context transformed through upcycling practice. The vertical ribbing of the red sculptural table suggests columnar strength and organic growth patterns, while the crimson hue introduces associations with vitality, appetite, and life force energy. The upcycling methodology itself carries profound symbolic weight, representing alchemical transformation where discarded materials achieve redemption through creative intervention, enacting cultural values of stewardship, renewal, and the recognition of latent potential within seemingly exhausted resources.

The Large Room revolutionizes waste repurposing by employing additive manufacturing to create stunning design elements from 500 and more kg of single-use plastics. Utilizing advanced 3D printing, waste was transformed into functional, eye-catching features like a chandelier of 3D-printed tiles. This Upcycling Hub elevates circularity, inspiring businesses to adopt innovative waste management, and setting a new precedent in sustainable design excellence.