Plastic Futures in Architecture

From Recycled Synthetic to Bio-Based Polymers
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-041-01188-0
Verlag: Taylor & Francis

Buch, Englisch, 232 Seiten, Format (B × H): 174 mm x 246 mm, Gewicht: 590 g

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.

These project discussions will serve as an invaluable resource for students, educators, architects, product designers, practitioners in global sustainability, material innovation, digital fabrication technologies, and computational design.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate, Professional Reference, and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Baharlou, Ehsan

Fachgebiete

• Technische Wissenschaften Maschinenbau | Werkstoffkunde Produktionstechnik Fertigungstechnik
• Geisteswissenschaften Architektur Architektur: Berufspraxis
• Geisteswissenschaften Architektur Innenarchitektur, Architekturdesign
• Geisteswissenschaften Architektur Gestaltung, Darstellung, Bautechnik
• Geisteswissenschaften Design Produktdesign, Industriedesign
• Technische Wissenschaften Maschinenbau | Werkstoffkunde Produktionstechnik Computergestützte Fertigung
• Geisteswissenschaften Architektur Ökologische Aspekte in der Architektur

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Plastic Techne: An Introduction Part 1: Being 2. Being Plastic: Living in the Plasticene 3. Plastic Imitating Life: Future Potential for a Controversial Material 4. Syntopia 0—Anthropos I Human: From “Designer Matter” to “Critical Material” 5. Breathing Enclosures & Engineered Living Materials Part 2: Becoming Becoming 6. Sustainable Polymers in Architecture: From Recycling to Bio-Based Innovation 7. Infundibuliforms: Experiments in Spatial Plasticity 8. Hybrid Composite Manufacturing: Plastic Futures for Architecture 9. Nature's Blueprint: Redefining Plastic Designs 10. Plastic Plus Part 3: Beyond 11. A Path Towards the Biomaterials Age 12. ChitoFold: Designing 3D Forms from 2D Gels Towards a Fuel-free Future 13. Chitin-Based Biocomposites: Sustainable Alternatives for Architectural Applications 14. Toward Natural Fiber Architecture: From Synthetic to Bio-Based Composite Building Systems 15. Malleability as a Driver for Design: Activating Alternative Resource Flows with 3D-Printed Biopolymer Composites

Über Autor(innen)

Ehsan Baharlou, Dr.-Ing., is an Assistant Professor of Architecture and the Director of Computational Tectonics Lab at the School of Architecture, University of Virginia. His research agenda unfolds through three interconnected streams: Computationally Driven Material Ecologies, Circular Robotic Fabrication for Performance and Living and Regenerative Architecture. He investigates regenerative architectural technologies across scales—from microscale material formulations to full-scale assemblies. His work has been internationally exhibited at the French Pavilion in Venice Biennale 2025 and at the 2025 Chicago Architecture Biennial. He has also co-edited a special issue of the International Journal for Architectural Computing (IJAC), advancing computational design discourse by foregrounding ecological levers such as autonomy and interdependence.