Of
the
thesis
entitled: Reconstruction
Site
| Re-designing the
disposable
Expo
Abstract:
Building,
supported
by
the practice
of
architecture,
is
churning
resources
into
waste
at
an
alarming
rate. Our method
of
construction
has its
inevitable
conclusion
in
a
pile
of
rubble.
Lamentably,
the
natural resources
we build
with
are
finite,
and our
exploitation
of
these
has
nearly
reached
its
peak.
As
humanity
strives
for a renewable
energy
future, architecture
must
engage
in
the
renewable
use
of
materials.
In
the
long
term
future,
architects
need
to
design
buildings
so
their
materials can
be
recovered,
refurbished
and
reused.
Principles
for
designing
in
circular life
cycles
were
laid
out
by
McDonough
and
Braungart
in
their
2002
book,
Cradle to
Cradle.[1] In
more
than
a decade
since the
book
was
published,
there
is
little
evidence
that
the
process
of architecture
has
changed
to
support
design
for
disassembly
and
the
reuse
of materials.
This
thesis
aims
to
outline
a
method
of
design
for
material
reuse that
supports
a
healthy
circular
flow
of material
life,
death
and
rebirth.
World
Expositions
have
become
the
epitome
of
disposable
architecture,
with renowned
architects
designing
pavilions
with
an
intended
life
span
of
six months.
This
thesis
proposes
a
transformation
of
the
Expo
type
from
an
endgame of
waste
to
one
of
reuse.
A contemplated
Expo
Toronto
in
2025
provides
the opportunity
to
reclaim
a
reputation
for
showcasing
the
future.
The
proposed brief
for
such
an
Expo
challenges
countries
to
exhibit
stories
of
regeneration in
an
event
built
on
the
theme
of
reuse
and
recycling.
The
Expo
is an
ideal venue
for
the
design
of
prototype
pavilions
assembled
out
of
renewable
and reusable
materials.
This
thesis
proposes
two
pavilion
types,
which
at
the Expo’s
conclusion
will
be
immediately
reused
in
communities
across
Canada.
The first
type
is
designed
to
be entirely
recycled
when
it
is
no
longer
needed.
The second
pavilion
type
is
assembled
of
material
which
can
be
composted,
returning nutrients
to
the
soil.
The
resulting
buildings
will
be
adaptable
to
change,
reusable in
parts,
and
return
their
materials
to
circular
flows
at end
of
life.
[1]. William McDonough
and
Michael
Braungart, Cradle
to
Cradle
:
Remaking
the
Way We
Make
Things (New
York:
North
Point
Press,
2002),
166.
The examining committee is as follows:
Supervisor:
Committee Member:
Internal Reader:
Terri Boake, University of Waterloo
Jane Hutton, University of Waterloo
Val Rynnimeri, University of Waterloo
External Reader:
Paul Dowsett, Sustainable TO
The
committee
has
been
approved
as
authorized
by
the
Graduate
Studies
Committee.
The
Defence
Examination
will
take
place:
Thursday
January
5,
2017
1:00
PM
ARC
2008
A
copy
of
the
thesis
is
available
for
perusal
in
ARC
2106A.