Process & Place: A study of heritage value in building deconstruction and material reuse

The proposed study expands on my ongoing research into the intersection of heritage conservation and the generation of architectural waste. Specifically, it understands the relationship between building demolition and heritage conservation to be both technically and conceptually linked. With this, the study addresses the “crisis of accumulation” both of heritage sites (Harrison, 2013) and growing landfills (Gregson & Crang, 2015) by exploring building deconstruction and material reuse. While this is a relatively unexplored field in Canada, practices are being developed in Belgium through both private and public institutions with growing infrastructural supports for these processes. The proposed study will explore the potential for re-used materials to not only achieve ecologically sustainable goals, but to communicate a sense of cultural continuity. This will take place in conjunction with an internship at the deconstruction and design collective, Rotor in Brussels, Belgium and with guidance from Dr. Stephanie Van de Voorde at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and professor Susan Ross at Carleton University.

Faculty Supervisor:

Susan Ross

Student:

Partner:

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Manufacturing and Construction; Sustainability & the Environment; Information and Communications Technology

University:

Carleton University

Program: