Alamar’s Material Warehouse

Alamar's Material Warehouse incorporates the flow of disregarded materials and objects. The building acts as a machine where materials, objects and waste is collected, repaired, disassembled, categorized, reused, recycled and upcycled before returning to the public. Especially Alamar, an outskirt of Havana, could benefit from a circular economy.

Parallel to the Cuban Revolution a reuse and repair mentality emerged among Cubans. In the early days of the revolution American technicians left the island and so did their technical knowledge. Therefore, Fidel Castro had to invest in the knowledge of technical education. 'Worker build your own machinery' and 'To beat imperialism in the battle of replacement parts' were slogans which triggered a makers movement. The inventiveness of Cubans became more explicit during the Special Period, a time of harsh conditions remarked by the lack of products. In order to survive these circumstances, the government published 'El Libro de la Familia', a handbook to repair, re-use and retrofit stuff around the house. This resulted that Cubans perceive objects completely different compared to our Western perception. Every object could be reused, repaired or reinvented. \nUnconsciously Cubans created a sustainable reuse society in opposition to our Western throw-away society, which is defined by planned obsolescence. As Cuba is on the brink of opening up to the world it will also open up to new material and capital flows. Therefore, Cuba should respond to the changing conditions. Instead of making similar mistakes our Western throw-away society made, Cubans should embrace mentality and knowledge and be a sustainable example to the world. \nAlamar's Material Warehouse incorporates the flows of disregarded materials. It functions as a machine which collects disregarded materials and turns it into valuable resources through disassembling, sorting, repairing, recycling and up-cycling. Currently waste-management buildings are alienated from communities however this typology could be beneficial. They create valuable resources, teaches about the importance of garbage flows and reduces. In a response Alamar's Material Warehouse is designed as an exposed machine. A building where visitors can experience the flows, logistics and activity of the building. Welcome to Alamar's Material Warehouse where disregarded materials are not considered as waste but as a valuable resource.