Politis

Brazil: Mother and Daughter Built a House from Bottles - “It has our signature”

Published January 6, 2026, 09:20
Brazil: Mother and Daughter Built a House from Bottles - “It has our signature”

On the island of Itamaracá in Brazil, Edna and Maria Gabrielly Dantas have built a house using over 8,000 recycled glass bottles and reclaimed wood. This initiative is a response to the increasing pollution from waste, especially glass bottles, left behind after tourism. Edna, a socio-environmental educator, grew up in a family that reused materials out of necessity and awareness, a philosophy she passed on to her daughter, fashion designer Maria Gabrielly. The house, called Salt House, features seven rooms, glass walls, and structures made from recycled pallets, even roof tiles made from toothpaste tubes. The project sparks discussions about access to decent housing in Brazil and waste management, especially in tourist areas.