Architecture & Circular Economy is an online Lecture by Peter van Assche conducted by Strelka Institute on 4th June 2020. The lecture video can be found on YouTube as it was streamed live. Peter van Assche is the founder of Bureau SLA, who transitioned into architecture following a successful career in experimental mathematics. In addition to his role as an architect, Peter van Assche serves as a supervisor for the Utrecht Beurskwartier and holds the position of lecturer in Architecture & Circular Thinking (ACT) at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture.
The Model of Doom
Architect Peter van Assche starts his lecture by speaking about the new ways of thinking and how it affects the paradigm shift within society, with an example of the ‘Model of Doom’. In this, he discusses a computer simulation program ‘World 3’ created by MIT scientists in 1970 to study the consequences of mankind’s actions on the world. The study showcases a collapsing scenario by the year 2070. The speaker then introduces his audience to the concept of Anthropocene, where human influence on Earth’s environment is significant, leading to a discussion on mankind’s responsibility and the beauty captured in images reflecting human impact. With this example, the speaker highlights the importance of human intervention in shaping the planet’s future.
With the help of various short clips and videos, Architect Peter discusses the relationship between humans and material use, highlighting the hypocrisy in the use-time and lifetime of products, for example, a bottle made of plastic is used for a very short period while it has a lifetime of one hundred years. With this, the speaker addresses the listeners and urges a shift towards sustainable practices. He puts forward a call for a more thoughtful approach to creating products with extended lifetimes to reduce environmental harm.
Circular Economy
The speaker, Peter Van Assche, discusses the concept of circular economy with the help of an example of his project that transforms waste into a pavilion, emphasising the importance of reusing materials and transitioning to a more sustainable way of thinking. Here the speaker introduces his project that creatively utilises the waste generated from plastic bottles and recycles them in panels that could be used as a cladding material for elevations and pavilions. This innovative adaptation of waste into a useful construction material highlights the potential of repurposing trash into functional structures.
An interesting comparison is drawn between the linear and circular economy approaches while emphasising the need to shift toward a more sustainable model of production and consumption. The lecture touches on the alarming rate of waste production especially in the construction sector and urges the audience to make an urgent and informed shift toward sustainable waste management practices.
New Vocabulary for Sustainable Architecture
The speaker raises an important question that all architecture communities should ponder: ‘What does new architecture look like?’ The important factor in bringing about a shift in societal paradigm, as per Architect Peter, is the materials. He suggests that Architects should emphasise letting materials speak and express cultural significance, which in turn helps create a reflection of societal value. This showcases the evolution of architectural styles and meanings over time. Architect Peter Van Assche urges designers and architects to explore the field of materials, sustainable architecture, and unconventional methods used to question the traditional perception of sustainability and advocate for a new vocabulary for sustainable architecture.
To understand the consequences of designing and materials, the speaker suggests architects engage more with building processes and learn from craftsmen. To bridge the gap between architecture and construction processes, architects must adopt a hands-on approach that fosters collaboration and mutual learning. The speaker then encourages architects to promote individuality in architectural design to cater to diverse preferences and lifestyles that challenge the notion of standardised housing and produce a unique personal experience. This dialogue is followed by a discussion on the importance of sustainable architecture in addressing global sustainability and climate change.
The lecture is an eye-opener for everyone along with the designers and architects to create a new relationship with materials that bring about a societal shift towards sustainability. The speaker highlights the issues and addresses them while providing a solution that he even practices. The lecture is a culmination of various interesting studies, predictions, real-life videos, and movie clips that would make one rethink the choices and responsibilities one carries for the planet.
Architect Peter Van Assche emphasises the importance of materials and urges architects to consider the lifecycle of materials in their designs as architects play a crucial role in the circular economy through their building designs that reuse materials, minimise waste, and promote sustainability. Reusing building materials is a crucial step toward global sustainability and offers new design possibilities and the speaker advises his audience and every other architect to consider the significance of reusing building materials for long-term sustainability and design innovation.
Bibliography:
Architecture & Circular Economy. lecture by Peter Van Assche (2020) YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BMb1xUSTYM (Accessed: 04 May 2024).
