Arctci-tecture for the global commons

Environmental agendas in architecture have enjoyed an increased attention recently, as a result of the emerging 'sustainable' design ethos. This framework of sustainability initiates a rethinking of the scale of an architectural site - a building must be understood as situated not only in a specific territory, but also in relation to a much larger and more abstract global environmental system. With this new systemic understanding of a "site," comes the opportunity for a different mode of architecture -- one in which the architect has a hand in designing not only the architectural object, but also tactics for and potential effects of its implementation. Operating in the spirit of Stewart Brand's Whole Earth Catalog -- a 1970s counterculture bible for "whole systems" thinking -- this thesis examines Antarctica as a testing ground for an expanded mode of architecture. Antarctica, with its extreme environment, scientific value, and legal status as a Global Commons, is a site that cannot be understood in any way other than through its relationship to a larger global environmental system. This reality, when combined with the continent's mystique, creates an unparalleled opportunity for architectural innovation.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Brennen, Andrea (Andrea Lynn)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ana Miljacki.

• Architecture.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/47840

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/47840