By Mau Cheuk Ki, Pasu

ALCHEMY OF WASTE

“Many waste places have these ruinous attractions: release from control, free play for action and fantasy, rich and varied sensations.”¹

“Other waste places are too dangerous, or lack appeal because they cramp free action, or provide nothing for the imagination, or exhibit few human traces”²

WHY?

1. Simon Rodia 1954  2. Alison&Peter Smithson 1956  3. Clarence Schmidt 1967  4. Arta Isozaki 1968  5. Denial Libeskind 1979  6.Lebuse Woods 1995  7.Justin Plunkett  8.Tony Hobba 2012  9.AUB 2015

My thesis explores the relationship between electronic (metallic) waste and the formation of architecture, how the properties of fragmented (metallic) waste in urban areas are transformed and redefined. This thesis topic allows me to rethink the question of how reconceptualising the process of waste could improve the connection of our environment and humanity.

In architectural history, waste was realized after the post war “Patio and Pavilion by Alison and Peter Smithson, 1956” and the disaster “Re-ruined Hiroshima by Arta Isozaki, 1968”. The waste was considered as the violent debris to the

environment. It was useless and being abandoned, and became a fragment of living memories. Artists, theorists and Architects have begun to explore the possibility of waste’s properties. Due to insufficient exploration and developments, the potential of redefining waste is limited. Fragmented of waste can only be displayed without valuation, digestion, transformation and architectural integration.

Industrial revolution inspired many architects, the technology allow different fragmented objects to function multiplicity and dynamically. “Micromegas drawing by Denial Libeskind, 1979”. The collage proved that it is possible for various fragmented objects to form an innovative spatial order. “Inhabiting the Quake by Lebbus Woods, 1995” addresses the deconstruction world of architecture should be materialised by the waste’s fragmentation, repetition along with imaginative.

Under the capitalism with the fast pace technology development and replacement, tones of valuable wastes are generated in urban, space and ocean. Electronic (metallic) wastes are simply dumped to landfill which causes contamination. This is defined as “socio environmental disaster”³. The electronic, metallic waste contain over 60 rare earth element, ferrous and non-ferrous metal. The extraction of the valuable materials in the wastes reduces the disruption of the nature mining. African 15-year-old Kelvin Doe collect trash to make invention, transmitter machine.

Under the modernism and deconstructionism, the architectural language of fragmentation, placement, repetition, multiplication, arrangement and decomposition are vital to composite the ruinous and entropy qualities for the electronic, metallic waste.

WHAT?

1.Photo byDredingtoday  2. Photo by Geolocation  3. Photo by Duff  4.Photo by DIWYY                                                                              

USA and Europe export the electronic, (metallic) waste to the developing countries, Nigera, Ghana, China and Pakistan mainly. People, Scavengers in the developing countries collect trash to earn living.

In each day, there are 63000 containers of electronic, metallic wastes being shipped to Hong Kong Harbor and transport to China.

My design research is to explore the process of purification, extraction, formation and fragmentation. I shall redefine the architectural value of the fragmented electronic (metallic) waste via placement, repetitions, multiplication, rearrangement and decomposition.

Possible locations: Considered according to the areas where the electronic waste is being accumlated. Extreme electronic landfill area or Harbour or urban city

Possible Programs: 1. Design a living and workstation for Scavengers. 2. Design an interactive and experimental school laboratory or community centre to reutilizes, share and celebrates the properties of electronic, metallic waste and which achieves education purpose.

HOW?

Instruments of waste

By Mau Cheuk Ki, Pasu

1.By Mh  2. By Scottjarchambault  3. By Dutch Lab  4.By Steve Bauman  5. By Kurf Schwitters  6. By Frances Mcgeown

Stage 1. Identify, categories and understand the properties of both domestic and commercial electronic (metallic) wastes in various scales, the potential and the limitations of each component. This briefly forms various instruments for the spatial and form development. (Installation & Diagrams)

Stage 2. Map out the global and local movement of the electronic waste. To study the urban waste process via chemical and mechanical. How electronic waste impacts the living culture for the local scavengers of the relevant sites, landfill area / urban area, this formulates the essential programs for the enhancement of the local scavenger. (Research drawings)

Stage 3. Explore the transformation potential of the fragmented wastes via valuation, celebration, digestions (Mechanical and chemical), purification, arrangement, repetition and multiplication of the electronic (metallic) waste. To utilizes the spatial arrangements and materialize the physical form of architecture via drawings and modeling technique.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1 + 2. Kevin Lynch, 1981, Wasting Away, Sierra Club

3. David Gissen, 2009, Subnature, Princeton Architectural Press

4. Alberto Bertagna & Sara Marini, 2011,The Landscape of Waste, Skira Editore S.p.A

5. Joshua Comaroff & Ong Ker- Shing, 2006, Horror in Architecture, ORO Editions