Thesis Abstract as of Dec 15th, 2009

We are now living at yield point of an Age of massive change in all aspects of the globe, in which we are becoming increasingly sensitive to our symbiotic relationship with the environment and the impact that we have on the vulnerability of the earth. This thesis will focus on the reutilization of waste as a byproduct of consumerism and how it is linked to the cultural and economic growth of society, in parallel with several systems, such as oil, environment, global warming, cultural impact, obsolescence, morale, politics, materiality, urban fabric, and cities. Where the thermodynamics of these systems integrate into an ecosystem that is constantly in pursuit of equilibrium and imparts an infrastructural framework on how we should approach these topics simultaneously in the near future. Where the notion of waste will begin to shift from something that is rejected into something that is accepted. I will focus on the diversity of waste as a material. As much of the waste we produce can be broken down into elements that are similar to the materiality that is already in existence in the field of architecture.

This thesis is partly written as a narrative that will run parallel with the research topic to allow for play and a sense of urgency, a strategy that enables all types of people and generations to act empathetically. In a dystopian setting positioned in the future of 2050 and based on the scenario of oil depletion. Where oil depletion and climate change leads to disastrous outcomes for Manhattan Island, at a time when negative political upheavals correlate an impoverished ecosystem, repressed by fear, famine, and idleness. At this time, heaps of waste will be left idle in the city as transportation by any means become obsolete. This will become an important and colossal issue to address, as there will be many implications that will affect the wellbeing of the city—health, lifestyle, infrastructure, and pollution. The intervention this thesis proposes is one that takes into account all the interconnecting global issues in year 2050 and seeks to reutilize garbage in a creatively articulate way so that harvesting natural energy, creating flood barriers against climate change become possible, at the same time remediating pollution, and reducing waste on the island