Reframing Imageries of Industrial Surplus

Abstract

This project investigated ways to reinvent and reinsert value into functionless, unimportant objects and places. The site chosen - Maleva Quarter, was formerly a brick manufacturing facility that was part of the Soviet military production ecosystem in Kopli. After Estonia’s independence, the factory facilities were fragmented and left behind as a collection of odd spaces. Thus, a recycled brick factory was proposed to reintroduce the material flows that existed in the past and insert relevance to the surrounding fringe spaces.

The methodology utilised was urban mining, which involves reclaiming construction waste and turning it into productive architectural components. The design exploration was centred around available materials in the area, resulting in a material-focused design, much like spolia - where the structure of old buildings drives the project’s visual and structural expression. Four building strategies were outlined depending on the structural systems of the existing buildings, the desired spatial quality and the characteristics of waste materials catalogued.

In conclusion, this project aims to encourage a more sustainable and resource-efficient practice in architecture amidst the depletion of building resources. Adopting this mindset could lead to more resilient and adaptive urban environments that honour their past while innovatively preparing for the future.