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In Itamaracá (PE), an Educator and Her Daughter Transformed Trash into Home and Created a House Made of Glass Bottles That Became an Example of Sustainability and a Destination for Ecotourism.
At the Tranquil Praia do Sossego, on the Island of Itamaracá, in Pernambuco, a house made of glass bottles has become a true work of art and a symbol of sustainability. Environmental educator Edna Dantas and her daughter, fashion producer Maria Gabrielly, built a 70-square-meter residence using eight thousand bottles collected from the trash.
According to a report published by the portal g1 Pernambuco, the project, named “Casa de Sal”, not only became the family’s home, but also an ecotourism space that attracts visitors interested in a more connected experience with nature and the local community.
What is the “Casa de Sal”? A Work of Art in Itamaracá (PE)
The “Casa de Sal” is a seven-room residence located at Praia do Sossego, in Itamaracá. Its name is a reference to the sea and the sand, raw materials of glass. What makes it unique is its construction: instead of bricks, its walls were built with 8,000 glass bottles.
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Without a blueprint, without an engineer, and using scrap from the dump, a father spends 15 years building an 18-room castle for his daughter, featuring tram tracks, 13 fireplaces, and over 700 m², which may now be demolished.
“It is a work of art. It is, for me, my moment as an artist, every little piece of it you found in one way or another”, declared Edna Dantas, the project’s creator.
The Inspiration: From Trash on the Beach to a Sustainable Solution
The idea for the house made of glass bottles arose from a need and a restlessness. After moving to Itamaracá in 2019, Edna was shocked by the amount of trash discarded in the area. She and her daughter mobilized a group of 30 neighbors to clean the area and create a community garden.
It was during this cleanup that they noticed the enormous amount of discarded glass bottles. “I started to identify a lot of glass bottle waste, but a lot, a lot indeed. […] I talked to Gabrielly and said, ‘look, we need to start collecting these glass bottles and build our house’”, Edna recounted.
The Construction: 8,000 Bottles and the Strength of a Community Effort
The work on the house made of glass bottles began on May 1, 2020, and took a year and a half to complete. Mother and daughter were primarily responsible for the construction but had the help of the community in a large collaborative effort.
“Of the first 17 square meters, 90% was built by us. The flooring and the roof were done with the help of two families who are our friends”, Maria Gabrielly informed. The inspiration for the construction techniques came from the family’s ancestry, which had experience with eco-construction.
The Engineering of Sustainability: More Than Just Bottles
The sustainability of the “Casa de Sal” goes beyond reusing bottles.
- Thermal Comfort: The walls are double, with one row of bottles inside and another outside. According to Edna, “glass is thermal, both for cold territories and for warm ones. Glass controls the temperature”.
- Biodegradable Septic Tank: Since the area does not have a sewage system, the house has a septic tank that filters waste and generates water that is used to irrigate the garden and for composting.
- Reused Roof: The roof was also made with reused materials.
From Residence to Destination: The Birth of an Ecotourism Space
With its unique architecture and sustainable proposal, the house made of glass bottles has become a tourist attraction. Mother and daughter offer a room in the property for accommodation through Airbnb, with daily rates around R$ 168.
What they provide is an “eco-experience”. “We promote this meeting of the person with the territory, both with nature and with the people”, Gabrielly explained. Guests are invited to experience local cuisine, artisans, and life in the mangrove, in an experience of tourism that goes far beyond the conventional.
What do you think of this incredible house made of glass bottles? Would you dare to build your own? Leave your opinion in the comments!
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