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Reclaim, Regrow, Revive

Part 2 Dissertation 2020
Emma Le Lesle
Emily Cassidy
Pratt Institute | USA
Globally, we are expected to run out of oil reserves by 2050, leaving over 4,500 offshore oil rigs abandoned in the Gulf of Mexico. These rigs provide a protected area for corals to create alternative reef environments by attaching to the steel substructure. Reclaiming abandoned oil rigs and transforming them into a site of regrowth can revive the entire ecosystem.

The project responds to two major site conditions in the Gulf: the hypoxic dead zone, and the effect of rising ocean acidification. Converting rigs into sustainable harvesters of energy and food production can rehabilitate the marine ecosystem and the livelihood of Gulf Coast communities.

Farmland is disappearing and traditional agricultural methods continue to pollute our waterways. As the population increases, so does the demand for food. Alternative farming practices like hydroponics provide an opportunity to responsibly address this need.

Rather than control nature, we want to help all species reclaim their agency by creating architecture that acts as a mediator between the human and non-human. We can use knowledge and technology to put in place new, greener ways of interacting with the environment. Architecture becomes a site for positive human intervention, and a habitat for marine species.

Emma Le Lesle
Emily Cassidy

Tutor(s)
Gonzalo Carbajo
Daniela Fabricius
Eva Perez de Vega
2020
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