Design
- Corridor / Balcony
- Tall Timber
- Pottery Museum
- ZeroWaste Center
- Inside Out
- Circular Urbanism
Professional
About
Contact
Design
Professional
About
Contact
In Collaboration with Amber Peiying Han
Advisor: Keller Easterling
Location: New York; Austin; Vancouver
Yale School of Architecture, Thesis
Introduction
The adaptive reuse of buildings and the salvage of their components have continually evolved through innovations in design and technology, yet the broader network of recycled materials and infrastructure is equally important but less explored. As more cities focus on densification with the goal of creating a more sustainable and circular model of material consumption, the built environment is being utilized as a material bank with the potential to support future development and to minimize carbon footprint.
Global C&D Debris Percentage
US C&D Debris Percentage
The three maps highlight key infrastructure locations that are essential to the building material recycling process in three selected cities. The critical steps in material circulation include transport, storage, processing, marketplace activities, reuse practices, and salvage from deconstruction.
Phase 1: Precedents Study
The research begins by examining city-wide initiatives and circular material practices in architecture, including visits to cities in Belgium and the Netherlands, which are known for successful examples of circular design. The identified precedents are categorized by their role across the construction value chain.
Phase 2: Urban Analysis
Three North American cities—New York, Austin, and Vancouver—were selected for further analysis using a framework derived from previous research. Each city was examined in five key aspects: the state of deconstruction and salvage practices, the network of waste transportation, the number and types of processing facilities, examples of material reuse, and the market environment for salvaged materials.
Phase 3: Intervention Designs
Three proposals have been developed based on the current state of each city, with the intention of facilitating a shift toward circular construction practices.
New York City
S: Temporary Material Showroom
Urban Analysis
Design Intervention
Temporary Material Showroom
Austin
M: Material Marketplace & Storage
Building on this strong foundation, Austin’s circular network can be further strengthened with dedicated material storage and marketplaces for building components. These spaces can be built near existing reuse stores and recycling facilities, reducing material transportation distances and creating a centralized reuse destination. Architecturally, the building is designed to adapt to typical warehouse steel structures, incorporating recycled items as partitions or enclosures while displaying them for sale. The material inventory itself shapes the building, serving as a dynamic representation of the city’s ongoing reuse efforts.
Urban Analysis
Design Intervention
Material Marketplace & Storage
Storage of Renew Fabric & Lumber (1/2)
Storage of Renew Fabric & Lumber (2/2)
Brick Wall (1/2)
Brick Wall (2/2)
Storage of Reclaimed Window (1/2)
Storage of Reclaimed Window (2/2)
Vancouver
This model empowers residents to decide how to develop the land and benefit from densification, while enabling planned deconstruction and reuse of building components on-site under community oversight. Temporary material storage facilities are established during construction, facilitating material exchange between communities. After development, these spaces can transition into material marketplaces or other community amenities, ensuring the continued circulation of recycled materials across different land trust communities.
Community: Single-family house owners who live within a specific geographic area agree to develop collaborative ownership of the land and decide what to build on top.
Land: The CLT retains the land, taking it off the real estate market and planing it under community control through nonprofit organization. Lot size and function can be planned and determine by the community members.
Buildings: Apartment buildings and townhouses are constructed, with each community member owning two or more properties. Members can move into the new apartments and lease their other properties for rental income or development.
Materials: The CLT plans and control the deconstruction and construction process of the buildings, materials can be sorted, recycled, stored, and reuse on site.
Urban Analysis
Design Intervention
Circular Neighborhood Development Model
Pre-Development
Construction & Deconstruction
Post-Construction