Architecture Program

 

Date of this Version

Spring 3-2011

Comments

Published in 99th ACSA Annual Meeting Proceedings, Where Do You Stand, 2011.

Abstract

The deconstruction (DeCon) and repurposing (Re- Con) of existing structures and materials are worth- while and relevant endeavors given the potential for such procedures to be more economically and environmentally sustainable than conventional construction methods. Conventional construction methods often utilize virgin materials for produc- tion of architecture requiring extensive energy to harvest, process and manufacture the materials for use. Today we must face the fact that we exist in a carbon sensitive economy, and demand design approaches that reduce architecture’s impact on the environment. Our pedagogical goal was to de- velop a project framework to enable flexible ReCon design methodologies with potential to mitigate carbon consumption. To explore this goal, Archi- tecture and Interior Design students at the Univer- sity of Nebraska-Lincoln have engaged in a series of design studios and research projects that have looked for novel and innovative approaches for the DeCon and ReCon of materials and assemblies. The students used computation techniques such as parametric models, material prototypes, design speculations, and digital fabrications derived from the existing materials. The DeCon|Recon pedagogy sought to subvert material constraints and enable creative exploration of economical, novel and ma- terial efficient design methodologies for repurpos- ing materials.

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