Zero Waste Prototype

This design thesis proposes waste recovery in order to create a sustainable community. It suggests the full function of a prototype system of Circular Economy, beginning from waste recycling. Zero Waste Prototype emerges as an experimental model for the implementation of this system of reception, processing and reintroducing of garbage.

We suggest the exploitation of every economic dynamic of Syros, in the context of an organized system of circular economy that starts from waste recycling and introducing it to the production process. The product follows superlative circles of Creation – Use – Recycling and is designed with care to the capacity of reuse and disassembly of its parts. So, apart from the recycling process, the function of a special Institute of research and prototype production comes across as indispensable. The products are then headed for mass production through local industries and then for consuming. This circle ends with the product repair or disposal, leading to the recycling of their parts. Zero Waste Prototype is the actual infrastructure for this scenario of receiving, processing and reintroducing waste on the island, including the Recycling Factory, the Institute of research and prototype production and an Industrial Unit, functioning exclusively with recycled garbage. The establishment is to be placed at the overwhelmed landfill of Syros, in the northern part of the island, with the aim of arranging also the recovery of the spot. The intervention area is defined by three major rainwater streams leading to the sea, along with some significant installations for the waste management. The restoration begins by reintroducing the streams and controlling rainwater. For this purpose, the building itself is placed along the streams and at their meeting point, functioning as an organized system of water tanks. We propose, the reconstruction of the major intervention areas through sections – frames of space and time. These sections overall define the land geometry that is about to receive Zero Waste establishment. Land geometry is translated to surfaces which are going to house the various functions. Thus, three main space objects are created, the Fold, the Bridge and the Barrier, respectively responding to the Recycling Factory, the Institute and the Industrial Unit. Overall the facilities are developed over four levels, meticulously organized through flows of material, water, people and vehicles.