High Density Architecture as Local Factory of Circular Economy

High Density Architecture as Local Factory of Circular Economy

Luis M. Valenzuela Rodrigo Tisi Lucas Helle 

Associate Professor, Director of Center for Territorial Intelligence at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez & Associate Researcher at Centre for Social Conflict and Cohesion Studies.

Associate Professor & DesignLab ’s Director of Research at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

Graduate Student at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

Page: 
985-996
|
DOI: 
https://doi.org/10.2495/SDP-V13-N7-985-996
Received: 
N/A
| |
Accepted: 
N/A
| | Citation

OPEN ACCESS

Abstract: 

For at least two decades, Chile has witnessed intensive processes of urban regeneration, mainly by a densification of vast areas. This article offers a new review of residential densification, not through the lens of building height or architectural massiveness, but rather by considering residential density as an opportunity to introduce circular economy cycles on a local scale. The article supports the hypothesis that a building, with a high concentration of households, is a chance to induce a small- scale alternative, which is less time consuming and demands less coordination than other initiatives that require system-wide innovations. In order to better extract the maximum value from resources, to recover and regenerate products and materials, it seems common-sense to design a process as close as possible to where the resources are used, as well as look into the architectural design of residential buildings and evaluate the degree of needed adaption to transform high density architecture into a local factory of circular economy. Focusing on a single case study in the city of Santiago, as an exercise of adaptation, the aim is to create a waste reducing design, with the possibility of redefining products and services.

Keywords: 

architectural building recycling system, circular economy design, residential density

  References

[1] Contreras, Y., La recuperación urbana y residencial del centro de Santiago: Nuevos habitantes, cambios socio-espaciales significativos. EURE, 37(112), pp. 89–113, 2011. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0250-71612011000300005

[2] Abramo, P., La ciudad com-fusa: mercado y producción de la estructura urbana en las grandes metrópolis latinoamericanas. EURE, 38(114), pp. 35–69, 2012. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0250-71612012000200002

[3] López-Morales, E., Gentrificación en Chile: Aportes conceptuales y evidencias para una discusión necesaria. Revista de Geografia Norte Grande, 56, pp. 31–52, 2013. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0718-34022013000300003

[4] Contreras, Y., De los “gentries” a los precarios urbanos: Los nuevos residentes del centro del Santiago. EURE (Santiago) [online], 43(129), pp. 115–141, 2017. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0250-71612017000200006

[5] Garretón, M., City profile: actually existing neoliberalism in Greater Santiago. Cities, 65, pp. 32–50, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2017.02.005

[6] Lopez-Morales, E., ‘Gentrification by ground rent dispossession: the shadows cast by large-scale urban renewal in Santiago de Chile. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 35(2), pp. 330–357, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2427.2010.00961.x

[7] Shertzer, A., Twinam, T. & Walsh, R.P., Zoning and the Economic Geography of Cities. National Bureau of Economic Research (Working Paper 22658), 2016. https://doi.org/10.3386/w22658

[8] Porcentaje de residuos reciclados en Chile y proporción de basurales y rellenos sanitarios; Chile Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, available at http://www.santiagorecicla .cl/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/REPORTE-SOBRE-LA-GESTION-DE-RESIDUOSSOLIDOS-2014-RM1.pdf

[9] Valorización de residuos solidos domiciliarios en la región Metropolitana; Chile Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, available at http://www.santiagorecicla.cl/ wp-content/ uploads/2017/10/Gestion-y-Valorizacion-de-Residuos-Solidos- en-la-RM21121.pdf

[10] Tarifa de manejo de una tonelada de basura para la municipalidad de Providencia; Municipalidad de Providencia, available at http://www.providencia.cl/tramites-y-servicios2/ cuidado-ambiental/item/download/496_d98ce9813dd4276b58266caddcbbbc71

[11] Producción y eficiencia de biogás en Relleno Sanitario Loma los Colorados; Globalmetane, available at https://www.globalmethane.org/documents/events_ land_20110701_hirsch.pdf

[12] Household Income Averages Survey INE’s Encuesta Suplementaria de Ingresos 2016, available at http://www.ine.cl/docs/default-source/ingresos-y-gastos/esi/ ingreso-de-hogares-y-personas/resultados/2016/esi_sintesis_2016_rm.pdf?sfvrsn=4)

[13] Vergara Vidal, J., El Edificio de altura. Una revisión de las aproximaciones desde la sociología para su estudio. Revista de Urbanismo, 37, pp. 1–19, 2017. https://doi.org/10.5354/0717-5051.2017.47059