Final Project: San Francisco's very own Recycled Structure

I've recreated Coit Tower to be made entirely out of glass. I chose Coit Tower because.... well, because it's Coit Tower. I've personally never been there and it's a landmark that I had never heard of until I moved to San Francisco (and I'm from the Bay Area). I find that to be strange, and I still have very little interest in this landmark. So, I decided it would be a perfect candidate as the first recycled monument in the city of San Francisco.

Final Research Paper: Recycled Structures

Recycled Structures

CIA 511 - Locative Media

Rachael Neimand

7 Dec. 2011

The end is to build well. Well building hath three conditions: 

firmness, commodity, and delight. 

-Translated from Vitruvius by Sir Henry Wotton (1568-1639)

  Mile high office buildings, million dollar mansions, and structure upon structure occupied by small business owners, groceries, and restaurant kitchens. These are the buildings that comprise the world that we live in; at least the bustling city life. When designers and architects first began to construct, they were creating Greek temples in the earliest centuries of civilization. Mostly on a massive scale, these structures consisted of stone columns and served religious purposes; the Parthenon in Athens is a prime example of this early architecture. Nowadays, buildings come in all shapes and sizes and stand to meet whatever one’s heart may desire. This is the beauty of the art and science that is architecture.

  Roman architect Vitruvius is one of the earliest writers on the subject. He believed that in order to call oneself an architect, one must:

              “...be ingenious, and apt in the acquisition of knowledge...should be a good writer, a skillful 
              draftsman, versed in geometry and optics, expert at figures, acquainted with history, informed 
              on the principles of natural and moral philosophy, somewhat of a musician, not ignorant of the 
              sciences both of law and physic, nor of the motions, laws, and relations to each other...”(footnote 1)

He very specifically outlines his reasons for these qualifications. As an architect, the ability to put visuals into words is important in noting observations, personal feelings, and client objectives. If one is unable to first and foremost construct words outlining a design, then the act of designing will be impossible. Naturally, following a description are the preliminary drafts of a design. In order to draft out ideas, one must be equipped with knowledge of geometry (to create successful shapes) and numbers (to produce legitimate measurements and eventual price margins). Furthermore, knowledge of history is crucial in drawing from previous ideas and learning from the success of previously existing structures. An example of this is brought up in my own work: I drew inspiration from the Holocaust Memorial Museum to create my own design for a building, and while doing so, I found that the architect designed the entire structure as a metaphor for the Holocaust. In this case, knowledge of history was a major part of the design.

     Continuing with Vitruvius’ parameters for an architect, having natural and moral philosophies will aid one when it comes to good decision making. The best people are those who care for the environment and for others. As an architect, a building should be environmentally friendly as well as existing for the good of the society and those who will be occupying the space, rather than, for example, existing solely for the greedy financial purposes of the designer. Also, a moral philosophy will assist the designer in fully complying to the needs of the client by avoiding arrogance and motives for personal gain. As far as being musically inclined goes, Vitruvius provides an example of a theater, and an architect who must be in tune with sound and tone in order to design a space to work with and enhance the music that will exist there. Finally, an architect must be greatly familiar with laws (political and scientific) in order to adhere to creating a safe and sensible structure. One qualification that Vitruvius did not discuss is the need to be connected with the fine arts; drawing especially. In order to be a good draftsperson, one must have fantastic drawing abilities. One must be able to create quick, readable sketches that clearly resemble the eventual product; and one must master perspective. The skills outlined above are significant in the pursuit of becoming a good architect, and once an expert in these various fields, one can pursue subsidiary skills that may be different and/or unusual when it comes to design. One can learn to incorporate a variety of materials and forms into a structure, further enhancing creativity, thus sparking greater interest toward the design.

     Designing structures with recycled materials in mind may produce the most interesting buildings of all time. After becoming familiar with architectural ideas and practices, one may come up with a fascinating design that involves massive wine barrels. Or, one may save money, and the environment, by creatively building a house out of more than a million empty bottles. One may even think to create a structure with large containers as dorm rooms! Sound possible? These three live structures are incredible examples of how a recycled building can be environmentally friendly, cost efficient, all while being aesthetically pleasing.

     In Stavoren, Holland, a hotel has made bedrooms out of 15,000 liter wine barrels that used to carry Beaujolais wine from the French chateau area. The interior still smells of wine, but constructing a building out of old barrels is a smart and sustainable way to recycle large amounts of material.(footnote 2) Furthermore, a creative man from Argentina named Tito Ingenieri built not just a room, but an entire house out of empty beer bottles. Interestingly enough, beer bottles in Argentina are usually returnable, so this man used bottles he found on the street, bottles that didn’t happen to be returnable, and what his neighbors saved for him. He managed to gather and save 6 million empty beer bottles for this structure. An extra plus to the home is the built in alarm: the wind makes the bottles whistle, warning him of a rising river.(footnote 3) This building is unique, green (literally, the bottles are green), and has saved millions of bottles from living in the landfill. Another recycled structure resides in Keetwonen, Amsterdam; dormitories made of the largest shipping containers in the world. Surprisingly enough, the rooms are spacious (some are fully equipped with bathroom and kitchen), well insulated, and of course, quite affordable. After viewing several pictures, I myself am extremely jealous of these students living in recycled containers in Amsterdam. A standard size, two bedroom, one bathroom dorm is 1x40‘x8’6” and appears to be decorated efficiently and in modern style. The front of the building looks like clean stacks of long, red containers, each built with large front windows, showing viewers that it is, in fact, a livable space.(footnote 4) This is one of the most incredible structures I’ve seen in my research, and possibly the most cost efficient. It isn’t that great of a sight from the outside, but the interior is quite stunning. The idea as a whole is a beautiful and sustainable one for living.

     While these structures are changing the ways people go about architecture, hotels and houses aren’t the only ones that can evolve from recycled materials. The Miss Rockaway Armada project is creating a raft to float down the Mississippi river; a raft made entirely of trash. The group of about 30 people behind the idea include performers and artists with various backgrounds and from many different artist groups. They plan to drop by different towns along the way to share their art and address environmental issues, with a focus on their belief in “a hands-on, live-by-example approach to creating change within our culture.”(footnote 5) In constructing, they’ve salvaged materials from dumpsters and construction sites, have been donated buckets of screws, and have taken advantage of found rope and blocks of foam. The Miss Rockaway Armada collection of individuals isn’t only building a recycled structure, but creating a piece of art with the sole intention of sharing findings and educating others, all while having fun and pursuing what they love and live for.

     Meanwhile, in Paris, France, a group of consultants calling themselves the Ginger Group has devised a plan to turn the city’s famous landmark into a giant tree. They want to cover the Eiffel Tower in 600,000 plants, dramatically decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the air (precisely 87.8 tons) and helping to “symbolize to the world France’s commitment to a sustainable future.”(footnote 6) This plan includes 12 tons of rubber tubing, an irrigation system to keep the 378 tons of greenery hydrated, and would cost 72 million Euros (about 97 million US dollars). City officials have yet to give permission for this plan to be effective, so for now it is just a proposal. However, it is a proposal that sheds new light on recycled structures. Instead of creating a structure using recycled materials, the Ginger Group wants to add sustainability to a structure that already exists; a national landmark no less. This is truly an idea that has the ability to change architecture forever.

     Architecture has come a long way since the days of Vitruvius. Over the course of a long history, structures have drastically altered from decade to place to individual person, and now, with sustainability in mind, has shifted to include the most unusual of building materials. Recycled structures are becoming the most sensible buildings in the new era. Not only are they environmentally friendly in a polluted world, but they are cost efficient during rough economic times. Recycled materials are meant to be re-used rather than neglected, and by salvaging recyclables to create something new - something extraordinary, even - environmental problems are being reduced and our own Earth, as well as the people in it, is thriving.

Footnotes

¹ Thayer, Bill. “Marcus Vitruvius Pollio: de Architectura, Book I.” LacusCurtius-Vitruvius on Architecture. Last updated 27 May 11. n.p. n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2011. <http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Vitruvius/1*.html>

[everything discussed in this essay about Vitruvius is sourced from the website listed above]

² Alter, Bonnie. “Recycled Hotel Rooms from Wine Barrels for the Oenophile.” Treehugger. 17 Dec. 2008. Discovery Communications, LLC. 2011. Web. 7 Dec. 2011. <http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/recycled-hotel-rooms-from-wine-barrels-for-the-oenophile.html>

³ Alvarado, Paula. “Guy Builds Massive House with Recycled Glass Bottles, Teaches you How to Do it (Video).” Treehugger. 3 Mar. 2010. Discovery Communications, LLC. 2011. Web. 7 Dec. 2011. <http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/guy-builds-massive-house-with-recycled-glass-bottles-teaches-you-how-to-do-it-video.html>

⁴ Tempohousing. n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2011. <http://www.tempohousing.com/projects/keetwonen.html>

⁵ Miss Rockaway Armada. Miss Rockaway Armada. WordPress and K2. Blog. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.missrockaway.org/wordpress/project-info/>

⁶ Liggett, Brit. “Ginger Group Unveils Plan to Transform the Eiffel Tower into a Gigantic Tree.” Inhabitat. 4 Dec. 2011. Inhabitat, LLC. 2011. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://inhabitat.com/ginger-group-unveils-plan-to-transform-the-eiffel-tower-into-a-gigantic-tree/>

Research Paper

DRAFT:

Recycled Structures

The end is to build well. Well building hath three conditions: 

firmness, commodity, and delight. 

-Translated from Vitruvius by Sir Henry Wotton (1568-1639)

Mile high office buildings, million dollar mansions, and structure upon structure occupied by small business owners, groceries, and restaurant kitchens. These are the buildings that comprise the world that we live in; at least the bustling city life. When designers and architects first began to construct, they were creating Greek temples in the earliest centuries of civilization. Mostly on a massive scale, these structures consisted of stone columns and served religious purposes; the Parthenon in Athens is a prime example of this early architecture. Nowadays, buildings come in all shapes and sizes and stand to meet whatever one’s heart may desire. This is the beauty of the art and science that is architecture.

Roman architect Vitruvius is one of the earliest writers on the subject. He believed that in order to call oneself an architect, one must:

“...be ingenious, and apt in the acquisition of knowledge...should be a good writer, a skillful draftsman, versed in geometry and     optics, expert at figures, acquainted with history, informed on the principles of natural and moral philosophy, somewhat of a musician, not ignorant of the sciences both of law and physic, nor of the motions, laws, and relations to each other...”

He very specifically outlines his reasons for these qualifications. As an architect, the ability to put visuals into words is important in noting observations, personal feelings, and client objectives. If one is unable to first and foremost construct words outlining a design, then the act of designing will be impossible. Naturally, following a description are the preliminary drafts of a design. In order to draft out ideas, one must be equipped with knowledge of geometry (to create successful shapes) and numbers (to produce legitimate measurements and eventual price margins). Furthermore, knowledge of history is crucial in drawing from previous ideas and learning from the success of previously existing structures. An example of this is brought up in my own work: I drew inspiration from the Holocaust Memorial Museum to create my own design for a building, and while doing so, I found that the architect designed the entire structure as a metaphor for the Holocaust. In this case, knowledge of history was a major part of the design.

Continuing with Vitruvius’ parameters for an architect, having natural and moral philosophies will aid one when it comes to good decision making. The best people are those who care for the environment and for others. As an architect, a building should be environmentally friendly as well as existing for the good of the society and those who will be occupying the space, rather than, for example, existing solely for the greedy financial purposes of the designer. Also, a moral philosophy will assist the designer in fully complying to the needs of the client by avoiding arrogance and motives for personal gain. As far as being musically inclined goes, Vitruvius provides an example of a theater, and an architect who must be in tune with sound and tone in order to design a space to work with and enhance the music that will exist there. Finally, an architect must be greatly familiar with laws (political and scientific) in order to adhere to creating a safe and sensible structure. One qualification that Vitruvius did not discuss is the need to be connected with the fine arts; drawing especially. In order to be a good draftsperson, one must have fantastic drawing abilities. One must be able to create quick, readable sketches that clearly resemble the eventual product; and one must master perspective. The skills outlined above are significant in the pursuit of becoming a good architect, and once an expert in these various fields, one can pursue subsidiary skills that may be different and/or unusual when it comes to design. One can learn to incorporate a variety of materials and forms into a structure, further enhancing creativity, thus sparking greater interest toward the design.

Designing structures with recycled materials in mind may produce the most interesting buildings of all time. After becoming familiar with architectural ideas and practices, one may come up with a fascinating design that involves massive wine barrels. Or, one may save money, and the environment, by creatively building a house out of more than a million empty bottles. One may even think to create a structure with large containers as dorm rooms! Sound possible? These three live structures are incredible examples of how a recycled building can be environmentally friendly, cost efficient, all while being aesthetically pleasing.

In Stavoren, Holland, a hotel has made bedrooms out of 15,000 liter wine barrels that used to carry Beaujolais wine from the French chateau area. The interior still smells of wine, but constructing a building out of old barrels is a smart and sustainable way to recycle large amounts of material. Furthermore, a creative man from Argentina named Tito Ingenieri built not just a room, but an entire house out of empty beer bottles. Interestingly enough, beer bottles in Argentina are usually returnable, so this man used bottles he found on the street, bottles that didn’t happen to be returnable, and what his neighbors saved for him. He managed to gather and save 6 million empty beer bottles for this structure. An extra plus to the home is the built in alarm: the wind makes the bottles whistle, warning him of a rising river. This building is unique, green (literally, the bottles are green), and has saved millions of bottles from living in the landfill. Another recycled structure resides in Keetwonen, Amsterdam; dormitories made of the largest shipping containers in the world. Surprisingly enough, the rooms are spacious (some are fully equipped with bathroom and kitchen), well insulated, and of course, quite affordable. After viewing several pictures, I myself am extremely jealous of these students living in recycled containers in Amsterdam. A standard size, two bedroom, one bathroom dorm is 1x40‘x8’6” and appears to be decorated efficiently and in modern style. The front of the building looks like clean stacks of long, red containers, each built with large front windows, showing viewers that it is, in fact, a livable space. This is one of the most incredible structures I’ve seen in my research, and possibly the most cost efficient. It isn’t that great of a sight from the outside, but the interior is quite stunning. The idea as a whole is a beautiful and sustainable one for living.

[Discuss green Eiffel Tower]

[conclusion]

¹ Thayer, Bill. “Marcus Vitruvius Pollio: de Architectura, Book I.” LacusCurtius-Vitruvius on Architecture. Last updated 27 May 11. n.p. n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2011. <http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Vitruvius/1*.html>

[everything discussed in this essay about Vitruvius is sourced from the website listed above]

² Alter, Bonnie. “Recycled Hotel Rooms from Wine Barrels for the Oenophile.” Treehugger. 17 Dec. 2008. Discovery Communications, LLC. 2011. Web. 7 Dec. 2011. <http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/recycled-hotel-rooms-from-wine-barrels-for-the-oenophile.html>

³ Alvarado, Paula. “Guy Builds Massive House with Recycled Glass Bottles, Teaches you How to Do it (Video).” Treehugger. 3 Mar. 2010. Discovery Communications, LLC. 2011. Web. 7 Dec. 2011. <http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/guy-builds-massive-house-with-recycled-glass-bottles-teaches-you-how-to-do-it-video.html>

⁴ Tempohousing. n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2011. <http://www.tempohousing.com/projects/keetwonen.html>

Final Project Proposal

Recycled Structures


For my research paper, I propose to discuss architecture that integrates recycled materials. I've always been interested in architecture, and I plan on eventually making that my career. Using recycled materials in building structures is not only environmentally friendly, but it's a piece of art!

With my research, I will discuss the design of buildings in general - including the parameters of a safe, legitimate structure - as well as the integration of found objects into building.


For my project, I propose to create these recycled structures in Google SketchUp and place them in Google Earth (probably around San Francisco).