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During five years of Architectural Studies, students use paper and cardboard in an amount that requires cutting down over 600 trees to produce them. These are data received by members of the Scientific Club of Architecture and Ecological Construction "Archinature" as part of the research conducted at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture of Lublin University of Technology. Their results determined the students to try to find sustainable methods of using paper and cardboard, and at the same time increase the awareness of ecological activities among students.

– Student works in the form of boards or models are largely disposed of after a few years. Therefore, the idea of reusing them was born in the form of the exhibition, which can be viewed on the ground floor of the Eastern Innovative Center of Architecture - says Dominika Małys, president of the scientific club.

As the student points out, properly processed and used paper can become a valuable raw material in designing ecological and creative architectural solutions. An example are the chairs in the faculty building made of cardboard, on which you can sit.

The exhibition consists of three artistic installations.

– The first is a big cloud of tracing papers that float over our heads and show how much material we use throughout our studies. The next one is A4 sheets of paper strung on strings. In this way, we obtained a dynamic and airy form symbolizing trees. The last installation consists of models that we placed on the wall. These are works by students of all years. Here we will see building layouts, building models at various scales, interior models and the smallest ones showing furniture - describes Dominika Małys.

Along with the exhibition, the students organized workshops for pupils from Primary School No. 7 in Lublin. The children had the opportunity to learn about the various possibilities of using paper in architecture and construction, as well as to make decorative elements and furniture from recycled paper and cardboard.

– The students' task was, among others, to arrange apartments, the designs of which were previously prepared by students. All elements were printed on foam board. Each student could create their own, unique interior. Interestingly, many projects included reading rooms for animals - says the club's supervisor, Dr. Eng. Arch. Rafał Strojny from the Department of Architecture, Urban Planning and Spatial Planning.

Through the workshops and the exhibition, the students wanted to draw attention to the scale of paper and cardboard consumption and initiate discussion on how to better achieve a closed cycle of using these materials, which will reduce waste and be more environmentally friendly.