Architecture and Waste: A (Re)Planned Obsolescence

Description

Architecture and design currently play a minor role in the design and construction of industrial building types, especially waste-to-energy facilities. Through comparing the well-established waste-to-energy industries in Sweden with less established engagements in the northeast of the United States, opportunities and lessons are revealed. This book presents a refreshed, design-led approach to waste-to-energy (WTE) plants, reflecting work done at Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD). Architecture and design currently play a minor role in the design and construction of industrial building types, especially waste-to-energy facilities. Architects have a role to play in integrating waste-to-energy plants physically and programmatically within their urban or suburban contexts, as well as potentially lessening the generally negative perception of energy recovery plants.

Professor Hanif Kara is a practicing Structural Engineer and Professor in Practice of Architectural Technology at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. His work is recognized as being linked with the research and education areas of design. He co-tutored a Diploma Unit at the Architecture Association, London from 2000 to 2004 and was Visiting Professor of Architectural Technology at KTH Stockholm from 2007 to 2012. As Design Director and co-founder of AKTII (est 1996), his particular 'design-led' approach and interest in innovative form, material uses, and complex analysis methods have allowed him to work on numerous award-winning, pioneering projects. Leire Asensio-Villoria is Lecturer in Architecture, Harvard GSD and Senior Research Associate. Andreas Georgoulias is Lecturer in Architecture, Harvard GSD and Senior Research Associate.

"This collection's primary editor, Hanif Kara, is well-known for his expertise in design structural engineering: he is, among other things, design director and co-founder of London-based structural engineering practice AKT II and professor of the Practice of Architectural Technology at Harvard Graduate School of Design. Consequently, this book presents a "refreshed, design-led approach to waste-to-energy (WTE) plants," reflecting work done at Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD). The volume compares the well-established waste-to-energy industries in Sweden with less established cases in the northeast of the United States." --ArchDaily