2024

Assembling Activism: Architecture as Political as Commentary in a Climate Crisis

Jordan Grant

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In a world grappling with the pressing existential threat of climate change, this thesis delves into the transformative potential of architecture as a persuasive instrument for political analysis and activism, asking: “How can critical interrogation and conceptualisation empower architecture to provide political commentary on the climate crisis and emerge as a facilitator of change?”

 

Set against a tenacious backdrop of escalating global temperatures and environmental devastation, initial research delves into climate change contributors, impacts, associated responsibility, and pathways to effective activism. The physical project begins with a culmination of this contextual research; presented through a video projection-mapped onto a dollhouse, entitled: ‘Playtime’s Over: The Big Picture on a Small Scale.’ 

The objective of this projection-mapped video is to represent immense global climate issues relative to an individual household to increase public relatability, with each of its nine rooms epitomising a relevant climate change contributor. The central dollhouse metaphor simultaneously serves as a poignant reminder that while the consequences of global warming are currently unfolding, future generations will bear the brunt of today’s negligence. A key outcome of this video is an emphasis on the importance of collective education, awareness, and activism in mitigating the climate crisis.

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Serving as a comprehensive prototype in response to the above issues, this thesis proposes a research and educational centre dedicated to sustainable building and living practices – placing architecture and the pursuit of knowledge, innovation, and advocacy at the forefront of a multidisciplinary approach. Rooted at the intersection of various research domains, the project’s theoretical investigation integrates climate-conscious building practices and materials, renewable energy applications, urban agriculture, and water management systems such as rainwater collection and irrigation, supplemented by minor explorations into sustainable transportation and fashion. In addition to modelling these solutions, the centre aims to inspire transformative societal change and highlight the necessity of collective climate action through its public platform. To visualise the complexities of this intersection between architecture and activism, the project employs an assemblage, projection-mapping, and 3D modelling-based design methodology.

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This thesis highlights the significance of increasing public knowledge about the climate crisis and collective activism. It demonstrates architecture’s ability to transcend its traditional role; to both reflect and reshape political and environmental narratives surrounding climate responsibility, by providing spaces that inspire, educate, and foster meaningful change.