As a prototype building that demonstrates how
infrastructural refuse can be salvaged and reused, the structural system
for this house is comprised of steel and concrete discarded from
Boston’s Big Dig utilizing over 600,000 lbs of salvaged materials from
elevated portions of the dismantled I-93 highway. Planning the
reassembly of the materials in as if it were a pre-fab system, subtle
spatial arrangements are created. These materials however are capable of
carrying much higher loads than standard structure, easily allowing the
integration of large scale roof gardens. Most importantly, the project
demonstrates an untapped potential for the public realm: with strategic
front-end planning, much needed community programs including schools,
libraries, and housing could be constructed whenever infrastructure is
deconstructed, saving valuable resources, embodied energy, and taxpayer
dollars.
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