Plastic Futures in Architecture

This volume details the recent efforts of developing sustainable approaches to reclaim synthetic polymers and explore natural polymers in design production. Not long ago, plastic was envisioned as a miraculous material. Now plastic pollution has become an inseparable part of the environment. How can the built environment make use of this prolific and ‘miraculous’ material in an environmentally responsible way?

Plastic Futures in Architecture focuses on plastic derivatives and complications in three main modes: Being, Becoming, and Beyond. “Being” presents the concerns and prospects of plastic continuation. “Becoming” provides insight into the technological advancements in the processing and production of plastic in the built environment. “Beyond” discusses the experimental transformation of plastic applications from synthetic polymers to more sustainable polymers in design. It focuses on projects that outline a journey from awareness to innovation, recycling synthetic polymers and exploring the use of bio-based natural polymers through rapidly developing digital crafting capabilities and techniques.

RVTR's contribution situates the Infundibuliforms project as an experiment in producing a spatially plastic enclosure that dynamically transforms in its spatial form and volume. To achieve this, the project also advances plastic material systems: specifically elastomeric cable nets.