La Casa de Botellas: A Home Built on Recycling

La Casa de Botellas is more than just a house; it's a testament to the power of recycling and creative problem-solving. Faced with economic hardship in the early 2000s, Alfredo Santa Cruz and his family began collecting discarded materials to construct their home. What started as a necessity evolved into a pioneering project that promotes ecological and social responsibility. The house is primarily built from approximately 1,200 plastic bottles for the walls, 1,300 Tetra Pak cartons for the roof, and over 140 CD cases for the doors and windows. The interior boasts furniture also made entirely from used plastic, including beds and couches. Concerned about flammability, Alfredo fills each bottle with either water (for light penetration) or dirt (for privacy and garden walls). La Casa de Botellas has been declared a site of municipal interest by the City Council of Puerto Iguazú and now operates as a museum. Alfredo and his family welcome visitors, offering tours and sharing their knowledge of sustainable construction. They also provide free home-building courses in Latin American countries, addressing both waste management and housing scarcity. A visit to La Casa de Botellas is an inspiring and educational experience, demonstrating how discarded materials can be transformed into a functional and beautiful home.