As an integral part of the
development of the societies, the architecture reflects their situation of a
period. In different studies we draw on knowledge from the preserved specimens
of architectural art and from them we make conclusions about the social,
economic and cultural development of civilizations. Thus, looking from a
similar but slightly different angle, we establish connection between the history
and the development of modern architecture and the generated waste from the society.
By the 19th century the majority of
generated waste were of organic origin. Handmade objects determine the need for
re-use – on the one hand their cost and on the other the symbolism of some of
the belongings for their owners. Since that time, there are many examples of furniture
of the poorer classes made from barrels and wooden crates covered with old blankets
and sheets for upholstery.
This tendency changes after the
industrial revolution and urbanization. The products suddenly diminish their
value and mind their mass production the skill to repair something broken is no
longer needed, because there is a possibility to buy something newer and more
modern. The commenced construction of apartment buildings in major cities, also
contributes to this effect. The storage spaces become smaller, which leads to
inability to keep different "things" kind of unnecessary but in good
condition, that after changing their original function would have logged back
into use.
To afford yourself to throw away just
because you can buy something new is an expression of supremedis play of
wealth. Through this feature a strong social division of people is outlined: between
those who can afford to throw and those to whom to discard is a sort of value.
Similar division, but in different
proportions we can find in a global scale between so called developed and
developing countries. Source: UNEP (2011)
1. In developing countries the percentage of organic wastes
is extremely high. Taking into account also the chronic shortage of raw
materials, it shows that the population preserves a big part of the inorganic solid
wastes with the purpose of their secondary use with another function, which we
call recycling. The lack of enough
buildings on the other hand, forces people to use these “re-materials” in
construction:
1.1. In the Brazilian poor districts, very often the buildings are so
close to one another, that there is no place for windows and even in daytime
they need additional lightening. Due to high price of electricity, they could
not use such lightening. Engineer Alfredo Mozer reaches an incredibly simple solution
to the problem. In transparent plastic bottles he pours a solution of water and
small amount of bleach, then hangs the bottle from the roof so that a small
part of the throat peeps above. So made this plastic "bulb" has about
60W power and lights easy and free the homes.
1.2. Another example again in Brazil
and again in plastic bottles is for the production of panels for water heating
through greenhouse effect, which is created in bottles when heated. Such
systems, however, on the principle of the heat exchanger are successfully
applied in the U.S. for conditioning in rooms.
1.3. After the devastating disaster
in Haiti a great shortage of medical care is felt. The NGO "Containers 2
clinics" sets up a mobile clinic consisting of two shipping containers.
Open for the first time in October 2010 the mobility of this medical center and
its rapid operational work gives a breath of fresh air to the medical services
in the country. Projects of this organization grow and thrive and this year it
is expected a similar structure in Namibia to be built.
1.5.We can find the next example for REchitecture in the developing countries
in the Palestinian lands next to Jerusalem. Young architects and engineers from
the Italian group ARCό undertook the difficult task to build school for the
local community. The main chosen material from them is the automobile tire. For
the construction of the complex of 350 square meters 2200 numbers of tires were
used, whereas the total price reached the negligible82 000€ for the
project in year 2009.
These are only some examples from thousands that could be
presented for buildings made by necessity, which examples in most cases we are
willing to overlook neglect.
2. This is not the case with projects from recycled
materials, built in the developed countries.
Here, for their perception by the public contribute two main factors. The
first one is the long-lived campaigns for recycling and ecological balance that
impose on society more responsible position. Second factor is the intervention
of architects and designers in the construction of such buildings. This greatly
helps softening the senses and balancing of forms in an otherwise difficult to perceive
composition being modeled to provoke.
2.1. The purpose of group of students
from Norway is provocation, when they build their small almost cubic 50 square
meters pavilion. It has been entirely
built from used doors and windows, a big part of them taken from the nearest
office building, which was prepared for demolition.
2.2. The Wing house of Arch. David Hertzwas built from Boing 747-200 and
really stands out from the rest. The
house is situated on a hilly plot of 220 acres in Malibu, California. Greatest
effect have the roofs of the building, which are actually
the wings of the airplane. Not only the wings but almost all parts of the
airplane are integrated in a “domestic” way in the house.
2.3. Interesting decision in the
interior design take BRC Design with their binary collection, made from old
circuit boards. Very powerful, it is aimed primarily at the computer generation
that wishes to have a "connection", even while resting.
2.4. House from containers. The first
impression for architecture from shipping containers is closely connected with
narrow and long unwelcoming space. The French architect Patrick Partouche fully
contradicts this idea. Incorporating 8 containers in a two-story building, he
achieved airtime and free interior design decision, which is not supposed by
the modularity of the elements.
3. Bulgaria in the context of REchitecture lies midway between the developed and developing countries.
The country relatively recently underwent a period of "needful" use of
recycled materials in construction (still to find fences from radiators and tires
in the countryside). It is associated with a denied regime, which further incites
negative reactions to such examples. On the other hand society goes through hits
boom of consumerism, leading to almost zero percent recycling (according to
EUROSTAT figures). These factors and the lack of legal prerequisites for such construction
put REchitecture in Bulgaria on hold.
This predisposes to an intensive future development, the seeds are just
beginning to sprout.
The examples concerned here show that despite the cultural
differences architectural language is common and unifying.
By intervening ,architects must show, that it is possible to
do REchitecture, so that it can be smooth
and desired perception for the people, who actually face it.
