The City

An anthropocentric view of Antwerp

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The Intention

The remnants of industry and and ideas for re-use

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The Site

Understanding the sites context, existing infrastructure and history

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The Masterplan

Designing around four main contaminants: mineral oil, poly-aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals and benzene. This is also while setting out public and private clusters of buildings throughout the existing infrastructure.

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The Mycological process

Outlining the principles of mycoremediation and carbon store through the use of mycelium and phytoremediative planting.

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Mycelium

Utilising specific biological structures of mycelium in order to design facade panels.

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1:20 Sectional Model

Exploring the impact of the facade on internal spaces.

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Mycelium as a Texture

Exploring the use of mycelium patterns as a relief texture for internal plaster panels.

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Mechanising

Exploring how the spaces can open up and close down to invite people to the site

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Site Narrative

Exploring the proposed narrative of the public experience of space

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Architecture embedded in place has been a pivotal line of enquiry throughout Nancy’s practice and therefore the vernacular and both listed buildings and structures have become a focal point in the progression of her career. This thesis therefore considers the ruinous post-industrial landscape as a place-less fragment of the modern city and seeks to reconnect it reinforcing its historic connection to the cities economic growth from the industrial revolution. Sustainability can no longer be ignored through architectural practice and has also played a part in driving the design thesis.

The Anthropocene and climate change are in urgent need of addressing. The Anthropocene is the current epoch that some define as the point in which we have altered our environments on and irreversible planetary scale. This is greatly linked to the Industrial Revolution and the push for development within the Great Acceleration from the 1950’s onwards. Within Antwerp this is conveyed through the industrial externalities of modern and disused mass petroleum refining sites.

The thesis addresses issues within the Anthropocene with the intention to improve upon contamination left behind by the petroleum industry within the soil and air. This is done through utilising mycology (the study of fungus) as a biotechnology for bioremediation and CO2 down-draw/carbon store. Overall the thesis considers how architecture can be used as a tool to educate, facilitate and reconnect the city to its polluted landscape as a symbol for a new future built on the ruins of industrialism.