Catherine Ahn

A Porous Poche

This thesis is an exploration of construction through demolition: building with building rubble. Conceptually unchanging euclidean geometries encase loose and fragmentary building debris, which, in turn, deform and undermine these seemingly permanent forms. Through a series of working models and drawings, the thesis investigates forms of excess, heaviness, and porous thickness, made possible by the current and projected surplus of low-quality concrete and brick rubble.

Sited along the edge of a decommissioned landfill in Jamaica Bay, Queens, the project is primarily concerned with a novel poche condition created using building debris and mesh. An expansive field of pixelated rubble structures serves to reclaim an abandoned waterfront for community activities and formalizes the unconscious act of dumping for the creation of habitable interior and exterior spaces.

In this set of studies, compressive (concrete and brick fragments) and tensile (cable, metal mesh) elements integrate structurally but are kept materially separate as an acknowledgement of potential future cycles of de-construction and re-construction.

Advised by Paul Lewis

Field Behavior (Video)*

The inverted rubble columns rely on each other’s weight to stabilize. As the columns fill up, the structure becomes more difficult to topple over.

*Video Editing by Jonathan Farbowitz and Catherine Ahn

Field Behavior
Deformation Test (Video)*

A 1”=1’-0” scale model is filled with cement rubble to approximate the loading conditions of a corner column. Asymmetrical deformations are caused by the difference in contiguity of the outer top cords versus the inner top cords.

*Video Editing by Jonathan Farbowitz and Catherine Ahn

Deformation
- Geometry
  Wireframe model studying the geometry of columns moving upward with the topography
- Geometry
  Wireframe model studying the geometry of columns moving upward with the topography
- Geometry
  Wireframe model studying the geometry of columns moving upward with the topography
- Geometry
  Wireframe model studying the geometry of columns moving upward with the topography
- Geometry
  Wireframe model studying the geometry of columns moving upward with the topography
- Geometry
  Wireframe model studying the geometry of columns moving upward with the topography
- Geometry
  Wireframe model studying the geometry of columns moving upward with the topography
- Geometry
  Wireframe model studying the geometry of columns moving upward with the topography
- Geometry
  Wireframe model studying the geometry of columns moving upward with the topography
- Geometry
  Wireframe model studying the geometry of columns moving upward with the topography
- Geometry
  Wireframe model studying the geometry of columns moving upward with the topography
- Geometry
  Wireframe model studying the geometry of columns moving upward with the topography
- Geometry
  Wireframe model studying the geometry of columns moving upward with the topography
- Geometry
  Wireframe model studying the geometry of columns moving upward with the topography
Geometry
- Assembly
  Compressive and tensile elements are kept materially separate, allowing for multiple cycles of construction and deconstruction.
- Assembly
  Compressive and tensile elements are kept materially separate, allowing for multiple cycles of construction and deconstruction.
- Assembly
  Compressive and tensile elements are kept materially separate, allowing for multiple cycles of construction and deconstruction.
- Assembly
  Compressive and tensile elements are kept materially separate, allowing for multiple cycles of construction and deconstruction.
- Assembly
  Compressive and tensile elements are kept materially separate, allowing for multiple cycles of construction and deconstruction.
- Assembly
  Compressive and tensile elements are kept materially separate, allowing for multiple cycles of construction and deconstruction.
- Assembly
  Compressive and tensile elements are kept materially separate, allowing for multiple cycles of construction and deconstruction.
- Assembly
  Compressive and tensile elements are kept materially separate, allowing for multiple cycles of construction and deconstruction.
- Assembly
  Compressive and tensile elements are kept materially separate, allowing for multiple cycles of construction and deconstruction.
- Assembly
  Compressive and tensile elements are kept materially separate, allowing for multiple cycles of construction and deconstruction.
Assembly
- Thick & Thin
  Model studying aggregate size, wall thickness, and opacity
- Thick & Thin
  Model studying aggregate size, wall thickness, and opacity
- Thick & Thin
  Model studying aggregate size, wall thickness, and opacity
- Thick & Thin
  Model studying aggregate size, wall thickness, and opacity
- Thick & Thin
  Model studying aggregate size, wall thickness, and opacity
- Thick & Thin
  Model studying aggregate size, wall thickness, and opacity
- Thick & Thin
  Model studying aggregate size, wall thickness, and opacity
- Thick & Thin
  Model studying aggregate size, wall thickness, and opacity
Thickness
- Field: Conceptual Plan & Section
  Inverted columns rely on each other’s heaviness to stabilize, necessitating a field condition.
- Field: Worm’s Eye
  Inverted columns rely on each other’s heaviness to stabilize, necessitating a field condition.
- Rooms: Conceptual Plan & Elevation
  Structural inter-dependence of columns is internalized within the rooms themselves through symmetry.
- Rooms: Worm’s Eye
  Structural inter-dependence of columns is internalized within the rooms themselves through symmetry.
Field and Room

- Level +14 Plan
- Level +14 Plan: Collective Area
- Level +14 Plan: Classrooms and Individual Rooms
- Level +14 Plan: Garden
Level +14 Plan
- Level +26 Plan
- Level +26 Plan: Collective Area
- Level +26 Plan: Classrooms and Individual Rooms
- Level +26 Plan: Garden
Level +26 Plan
- Roof Plan
- Roof Plan: Collective Area
- Roof Plan: Classrooms and Individual Rooms
- Roof Plan: Garden
Roof Plan
- Section A through Theater
  The structure is elevated above the 2100 Mean Spring Tide datum with gabion mattresses.
- Open Air Theater*
  *Image by Akira Ishikura, with Catherine Ahn
- Circular Theater*
  *Image by Akira Ishikura, with Catherine Ahn
- Theater Details
- Kitchen Details
- Stair Detail
  The rubble and mesh system works as a foundation, retaining wall, and stair.
Collective Area Details
- Section B through Circular Room
  The structure is elevated above the 2100 Mean Spring Tide datum with gabion mattresses.
- Hypostyle Hall*
  *Image by Akira Ishikura, with Catherine Ahn
- Rectangular Room*
  *Image by Akira Ishikura, with Catherine Ahn
- Rectangular Room Details
  Walls are thinner surrounding the rooms to allow more natural light in. Artificial lighting is also provided.
- Circular Room Details
- Wall Detail
  Part of the wall is covered with an impervious layer, allowing the porosity of the wall to act as a thermal barrier.
Rooms Details
- Section C through Garden
  In the Cascading Garden, shown in the foreground, columns become smaller to accommodate the topography. Stepped Garden is visible in the background.
- Cascading Garden, Lower Level*
  *Image by Akira Ishikura, with Catherine Ahn
- Stepped Garden Details
- Column Detail
  Some Columns are filled with soil to allow for planting above.
Garden Details

Construction & Demolition Research (Video)*

Construction and Demolition [C&D] debris is collected separately from residential Municipal Solid Waste [MSW] and consists mostly of inert materials. Unlike metal or wood, concrete and brick debris have low reuse value, presenting an opportunity to explore structures that utilize the excess and heaviness of these materials and allow for irregularities and imperfection.

*Diagrams by Piao Liu and Catherine Ahn
*Video Editing by Jonathan Farbowitz and Catherine Ahn

C&D Debris
- Site Overview
- Site Overview
  The project is located in Jamaica Bay, Queens, at the decommissioned Edgemere Landfill which operated between 1938 to 1991 and received about 1200 Tons of waste per day. Edgemere was the second to last remaining landfill in New York City.
- Site Aerial
  The peak of the Landfill measures 70 feet (21 m) high, which makes it one of the only sites in the area not in a flood-prone zone. The Landfill was declared a Superfund site in 1983 due to toxic oil drums found on site and received remediation.
- Site History: Jamaica Bay in 1852**
  **Image Source: New York Public Library Digital Collections
- Site History: Jamaica Bay 1917**
  **Image Source: New York Public Library Digital Collections
- Site Looking North towards JFK Airport
- Site Current Condition
- Site Current Condition
- Site Looking towards Manhattan
- Site Plan
  The proposed building is constructed along the edge of Edgemere Landfill, which requires retaining as water levels rise and shorelines change. The Mean Spring Tide is projected to be +4.0 above the current datum by 2025 and + 8.3 above the current datum by 2100.
Site
- Borthwick Castle in Scotland, 1430.
  Typical poche condition found in Scottish castles where service spaces and niches are carved out of thick walls. Walls define both niche and room.
- Villa Stein, Le Corbusier, 1927.
  In the 20th Century, service spaces became detached from exterior walls as a way to make the envelope as thin and light as possible. Thinness and transparency served as symbols for efficiency.
- Farnsworth House, Mies van der Rohe, 1951.
  In the 20th Century, service spaces became detached from exterior walls as a way to make the envelope as thin and light as possible. Thinness and transparency served as symbols for efficiency.
- Kukje Gallery, So-il, 2012.
  In the 21st Century, some interesting examples emerged where the exterior wall becomes thick again but is not opaque as in the earlier castles. In Kukje Gallery, chainmail encloses circulation spaces to the outside of a concrete wall, creating a thickness that is permeable.
- Toledo Glass Pavilion, SANAA, 2006.
  In the Toledo Glass Pavilion, double layered glass walls surround mechanical spaces, creating semi-translucent poche.
Poche
- Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut, Le Corbusier, 1950-1954.
  Aggregate-Glue Relationship: Mortar binds rubble of the previous church and becomes the glue for rubble fragments.
- Dominus Winery, Herzog and de Meuron, 1995-1998.
  Aggregate-Glue Relationship: A welded mesh gabion structure encloses basalt rocks and creates a rain screen for the building.
- SGAE Headquarters, Ensamble Studio, 2005-2007.
  Aggregate-Glue Relationship: The rubble is so large that friction takes place of glue and tensile members are reduced to thin rods connecting the rocks.
Projects Consulted
- Structural Study
  Inverted gabion structures are comprised of concrete construction rubble, mesh, and wires. Structures are denser at the bottom with smaller rubble and less dense at the top with larger debris. Through corbelling the structures provide horizontal cover and open up floor space.
- Structural Study
  Compressive and tensile elements are kept materially separate but are structurally integral. Rubble provides weight and friction, keeping the wires in place, while mesh and wires keep the rubble from falling out horizontally.
Structure

Catherine Ahn
c.ahn.sw@princeton.edu
@aanaanse
LinkedIn

Faculty Advisor
Paul Lewis

Contributors
Jonathan Farbowitz, Video Editing*
Akira Ishikura, Photomontage*
Piao Liu, Diagrams*
*as noted on images

BIBLIOGRAPHY

CONSTRUCTION & DEMOLITION DEBRIS

Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2015 Fact Sheet. United States Environmental Protection Agency, July 2018. epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-7/documents/2015_smm_msw_factsheet_07242018_fnl_508_002.pdf

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“Closed Loop Wallboard Collaborative.” Building Product Ecosystems, accessed July 30, 2019. buildingproductecosystems.org/closed-loop-wallboard

“Construction and Demolition Debris Landfills.” Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, September 25, 2018. pca.state.mn.us/waste/construction-demolition-debris-landfills

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“Construction Waste Management” Whole Building Design Guide, accessed June 7, 2019. wbdg.org/resources/construction-waste-management

Construction & Demolition Waste Management in the Northeast in 2006. Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association, June 30, 2009. epa.gov/smm/state-and-local-government-construction-and-demolition-cd-materials-measurement-reports

Construction & Demolition Waste Manual. New York City Department of Design & Construction, May 2003.

“Facilitating the Circulation of Reclaimed Building Elements in Northwestern Europe.” FCRBE, accessed July 6, 2019. nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/fcrbe-facilitating-the-circulation-of-reclaimed-building-elements-in-northwestern-europe

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Rae, Haniya. “An Exciting History of Drywall.” The Atlantic, July 29, 2016. theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/07/an-exciting-history-of-drywall/493502

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Rogers, Kathryn. Building Reuse: Sustainability, Preservation, and the Value of Design. Sustainable Design Solutions from the Pacific Northwest. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2018.

Shaping the Future of Construction: A Breakthrough in Mindset and Technology. World Economic Forum, 2016.

weforum.org/docs/WEF_Shaping_the_Future_of_Construction_full_report__.pdf

Ulubeyli, Serdar et al. “Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Plants Revisited: Management Issues.” Modern Building Materials, Structures, and Techniques, MBMST 2016.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. “Best Practices for Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling Construction and Demolition Materials.” US EPA, March 10, 2016. epa.gov/smm/best-practices-reducing-reusing-and-recycling-construction-and-demolition-materials

United States Environmental Protection Agency. “Organizations Working to Reduce the Disposal of Construction and Demolition (C&D) Materials.” US EPA, November 4, 2015. epa.gov/smm/organizations-working-reduce-disposal-construction-and-demolition-cd-materials

United States Environmental Protection Agency. “State and Local Government Construction and Demolition (C&D) Materials Measurement Reports.” US EPA, July 5, 2016. epa.gov/smm/state-and-local-government-construction-and-demolition-cd-materials-measurement-reports

“Waste Journeys: Construction and Demolition.” Open House New York: Getting to Zero, accessed June 5, 2019. journeys.gettingtozero.nyc/construction-and-demolition.html

Zero Waste Design Guidelines: Design Strategies and Case Studies for a Zero Waste City. Center for Architecture, 2017. aiany.org/membership/advocacy/filter/zero-waste-design-guidelines

GABION SYSTEMS

“Architecture with Gabion Walls.” Dezeen, accessed October 6, 2019. dezeen.com/tag/gabions

“Dura-Flex Wire Mesh Gabions.” Gabion Supply, accessed October 16, 2019. gabionsupply.com/duraflex-gabions

“Gabion Gravity Retaining Walls.” Terra Aqua, accessed September 25, 2019. terraaqua.com/gravity-retain.php

“The Great Gabion: 17 Examples of Architecture Beyond the Wall.” Architizer, April 9, 2019. architizer.com/blog/inspiration/collections/gabion

“Modular Gabion Systems: Gabion Retaining Walls.” C.E. Shepherd Company, accessed September 25, 2019. ceshepherd.com/modular-gabion-systems

“Specifications: Gabion Rock.” Orosi Rock, accessed October 16, 2019. orosirock.com/Gabion_Specifications_and_Gabion_Rock.pdf

GENERAL

Forty, Adrian. “Primitive: The Word and Concept.” In Primitive: Original Matters in Architecture, edited by Jo Odgers, Flora Samuel, and Adam Sharr, 1st ed., p 3–14. London; New York: Routledge, 2006.

Frampton, Kenneth, and John Cava. Studies in Tectonic Culture: The Poetics of Construction in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Architecture. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1995.

Reiser, Jesse, and Nanako Umemoto. Atlas of Novel Tectonics. 1st ed. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2006.

JAMAICA BAY

“8th Day in Rockaway: Exploring Rockaway Community Park.” OutdoorFest, accessed January 15, 2020. outdoorfest.com/community/2015/7/9/8th-day-in-rockaway-exploring-rockaway-community-park

“Broad Channel, Queens.” Wikipedia, accessed December 4, 2019. en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Broad_Channel,_Queens&oldid=929234909

“Buried Waste Drums Found in Queens.” The New York Times, March 9, 1983. (online article accessed January 20, 2020). nytimes.com/1983/03/09/nyregion/buried-waste-drums-found-in-queens.html

“DEP Completes $83 Million Upgrade to Jamaica Wastewater Treatment Plant.” New York City Department of Environmental Protection Public Affairs, accessed December 4, 2019. nyc.gov/html/dep/html/press_releases/14-102pr.shtml#.XehL3uhKh9A

“Edgemere Landfill.” everydaytrash, accessed January 20, 2020. everydaytrash.com/tag/edgemere-landfill

“The Edgemere Landfill.” Nathan Kensinger Photography, accessed January 20, 2020. kensinger.blogspot.com/2010/11/edgemere-landfill.html

“Edgemere Landfill.” Wikipedia, accessed November 25, 2019. en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Edgemere_Landfill&oldid=927876338

Green, Matt. “Rockaway Community Park.” I’m Just Walkin’ (blog), June 22, 2015. imjustwalkin.com/2015/06/22/rockaway-community-park

“Healthy Jamaica Bay: $23 Million Nitrogen Reduction Project Commences at Rockaway Wastewater Plant.” New York City Department of Environmental Protection Public Affairs, accessed December 4, 2019. nyc.gov/html/dep/html/press_releases/18-054pr.shtml#.XehL2ehKh9A

“I-Boating : Free Marine Navigation Charts & Fishing Maps.” Accessed November 23, 2019. fishing-app.gpsnauticalcharts.com/i-boating-fishing-web-app/fishing-marine-charts-navigation.html?title=JAMAICA+BAY+AND+ROCKAWAY+INLET+boating+app#12/40.6047/-73.7978

“Jamaica Bay.” Wikipedia, accessed November 8, 2019. en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jamaica_Bay&oldid=925133793

“Landfill-to-Park Timeline.” Freshkills Park, accessed January 20, 2020. timeline.freshkillspark.org

“Map of Borough of Queens. Revised April 15th, 1917.” NYPL Digital Collections, accessed April 1, 2020. digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/fa8d28b0-0dbb-0131-56d6-58d385a7b928

Northeast Climate Hub “Rockaway Community Park.” Youtube, June 7, 2017. youtube.com/watch?v=S2qPcvJvdYI

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“NYC 3D Model Download.” New York City Department of City Planning, accessed December 4, 2019. nyc.gov/site/planning/data-maps/open-data/dwn-nyc-3d-model-download.page

POROUS WALL

Craig, Salmaan, and Jonathan Grinham. “Breathing Walls: The Design of Porous Materials for Heat Exchange and Decentralized Ventilation.” Energy and Buildings 149 (August 15, 2017): p 246–259. doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.05.036

Moe, Kiel. Convergence: An Architectural Agenda for Energy. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2013.

Moe, Kiel. Insulating Modernism: Isolated and Non-Isolated Thermodynamics in Architecture. Basel, Switzerland ; Boston: Birkhäuser, 2014.

POCHE

Allais, Lucia. “Formless Keepers: Kieslinger, Riegl, and the Dissolution of History.” In Formless. Manifesto Series 01. Zürich: Lars Müller, 2013.

Bergdoll, Barry. “Marcel Breuer and the Invention of Heavy Lightness.” Places Journal, June 12, 2018. doi.org/10.22269/180612

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Lucarelli, Fosco. “Walls as Rooms: British Castles and Louis Khan [sic].” SOCKS, April 6, 2012. socks-studio.com/2012/04/06/walls-as-rooms-british-castles-and-louis-khan

PRECEDENTS

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Gramazio, Fabio, Matthias Kohler, and Michael Hanak, eds. Digital Materiality in Architecture: Gramazio & Kohler. Baden: Müller, 2008.

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Klein, Kristine. “GH3 Designs Naturally Filtered Outdoor Swimming Pool for Canadian Park,” Dezeen, August 20, 2019. dezeen.com/2019/08/20/borden-park-natural-swimming-pool-gh3-edmonton-canada

Marani, Matthew. “T+E+A+M Simulates Natural Processes to Make Spectacularly Synthetic Materials,” The Architect’s Newspaper, May 21, 2018. archpaper.com/2018/05/team-simulates-natural-processes-to-make-spectacularly-synthetic-materials

Mosco, Valerio Paolo. Ensamble studio. Roma: Edilstampa, 2012.

Ursprung, Philip, Edward Tingley, Centre canadien d’architecture, Centre canadien d’architecture, Exposition, Heinz Architectural Center, Ausstellung, Schaulager, Ausstellung, and Herzog & de Meuron. Herzog & de Meuron: Natural History. Baden/Switzerland; Montréal: Lars Müller; Canadian Centre for Architecture, 2002.

STRUCTURE

“Angle of Repose Values for Various Soil Types.” StructX, accessed November 11, 2019. structx.com/Soil_Properties_005.html

Dobraszczyk, Paul, and Peter Sealy. Function and Fantasy: Iron Architecture in the Long Nineteenth Century. Routledge, 2016.

Geotechnical Engineering Calculations and Rules of Thumb, 2nd Ed: Theory and Practice. 2nd edition. Waltham, MA: Elsevier, 2015.

Jaeger, J. C., and Neville G. W. Cook. Fundamentals of Rock Mechanics. London: Methuen, 1969.

McCombie, Paul F., Jean-Claude Morel, and Denis Garnier. Drystone Retaining Walls: Design, Construction and Assessment. Applied Geotechnics Series 9. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group, 2016.

Minton, David. “Determining the Shapes of Three-Dimensional Angle of Repose-Limited Rubble Piles with Rotation.” AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts #39, October 2007, 35.14.

Torquato, S. Random Heterogeneous Materials: Microstructure and Macroscopic Properties. Interdisciplinary Applied Mathematics, v. 16. New York: Springer, 2002.