A Vision on the Beach
In the early 1960s, Alfred Heineken, while visiting the Caribbean islands, noticed two major problems: the beaches were littered with empty beer bottles, and the local communities lacked adequate building materials. To tackle both issues, he came up with a revolutionary idea: the World Bottle, or WOBO, which could be used both as a beer container and as a brick for building.
Designing the World Bottle
Collaborating with architect John Habraken, Heineken developed the WOBO with a square shape and interlocking design. The bottle was intended to be laid horizontally, bonded with mortar, and stacked to create walls like bricks. In 1963, Heineken produced 100,000 bottles in two sizes, 350 mm and 500 mm, enough to construct small structures.
Resistance and Limited Use
Despite the innovative concept, Heineken faced resistance from his own marketing team, who worried about the brand image and potential misuse of the bottles. As a result, only two WOBO structures were ever built—both on the Heineken estate in the Netherlands.
Beer to Bricks: The Heineken Bottle That Could Build Houses 🍺
A Vision on the Beach
In the early 1960s, Alfred Heineken, while visiting the Caribbean islands, noticed two major problems: the beaches were littered with empty beer bottles, and the local communities lacked… pic.twitter.com/IkFuXhbl1s— Detective Tiger’s Stories (@TigerDetective) October 7, 2024