Project Summery
The Bonsai Store seeks to utilize the conceptual idea of temporal experience of materiality as observed through the Ice Sculpture. The model’s interior uses reclaimed and found materials collected from eco-friendly warehouses, such as BigReuse and GreenHomeNYC. The Isamu Noguchi-inspired zen interior encourages viewers to take a breather from the fast-paced world of overconsumption and understand their circular economy role while experiencing a positive and peaceful interaction between self and reused materials. The interior includes 100% recyclable metal framed structures that hold bioplastic, which disintegrates within months, while steel frames last forever. As time passes, these materials will illustrate their natural process of disintegrating to reflect on the biological juxtaposition processes. The zen garden encourages the community to take a breather from the fast-paced overconsumption world and walk through the indoor bonsai garden. Additionally, community members can participate in curated workshops to understand how plastic can become a multi-used object. By embracing temporarily in materials, we can reclaim our environmental footprint by reimbursing ourselves into the natural world and gain control of our ecological footprint.
Site Research
The bonsai store is a collaborative project with Brooklyn Myrtle Ave Partnership. The partnership aims to revive the surrounding community and local businesses of Myrtle Ave. NYC sends 14 million tons of trash to landfills each year; 50% consists of single-use plastics and unused construction site materials.
The store sells Azalea bonsai, bonsai kits, and plastic bio pots, products that illustrate temporarily. The store also provides workshops such as plastic workshops where the community can understand how plastic can be reused and turned into everyday items and bonsai workshops where individuals can learn how to care for their bonsai.
Through the observation of temporality, the community is able to understand how time affects the natural process of materiality. Steel, an unchanging element, creates a frame structure to hold bioplastic, an ever-decaying material due to time and heat exposure. Through experimentation of material qualities, transparency and opacity of plastic and the curvature of steel are observed.
Material Research
Material Selection
Bio-plastic and steel were selected due to their juxtaposition of each other’s materiality. Bio-plastic is a flexible and durable material made from soybeans. When bio-plastic is decomposed, it is exposed to high heat and decays within months. Compared to regular plastic, which takes hundreds of years to decompose. When plastic is recycled, it can only be recycled 2-3 times before its fibers are too loose and unusable. For this project, bio-plastic of differing opacity levels and thickness will be utilized. The thicker and opaque the material, the longer the plastic will take to decompose.
Steel is 100% recyclable and can be melted down repeatedly to be reshaped. The rusting of steel does not deter the quality or function of the materials. This project utilizes found or unused steel collected from construction sites and collection warehouses, such as Build it Green NYC.
Experimentation
Through experimentation, the coiling and wrapping of steel were discovered. The coiling effect created a juxtaposition of organic and curvature elements that contrasted against the material’s cold and harsh qualities. After creating a steal framework, plastic was wrapped and stretched around the steel. The steel acts as the constant variable framework while the eco-plastic acts as an ever-changing element that will gradually decompose, leaving the framework to be once again bare. Through discovery, the wrapping of plastic creates holes through the volume and varying levels of opacity due to layering.
Concept Model
The experimentation of joining steel and plastic together. Joining methods include, coiling and wrapping. Experimentation of joining the two materials illustrates their juxtaposition of materiality, solid vs void, curve vs static, and reflectiveness of light.
Conceptual Model
Colored experimentation models reflect on how colored plastic creates differing emotion depending on wrapping technique. Different wrapping techniques include ranges of wrapping from fully wrapped plastic solids to wrapped structures with holes allowing natural light to pass.
Ideation Model
Steel framework coiled around itself to structurally support opaque and transparent plastic. This model explores how exploration of the two materials may be used to create structural or furnishing items in interior spaces. This model is an abstract modular object that may be dissembled
Ideation
Through research, the understanding of how plastic and steel can illustrate temporarily elements was discovered. Conceptualizing these ideas through a physical space began with ideation sketches of program activities and access. Utilizing the opacity levels and plastic layering allows the space to transition from public to private areas gradually. The conceptual model was inspired by the ideation model’s understanding of materials in a space. The model uses rough edge shapes with curving metal details. This was a beginning to understanding how programs and materials connected.
Mock-Up Model
The first floor provides an open public space for the community to view plant displays, bathroom access, and stair access. The floor also provides a private area for meetings and office workers hidden from layers of plastic. The second floor is a space dedicated to workshops. This floor is easily accessed through the two open staircases and hidden from the layer of plastic; creating a semi-private area for work.
Final Model
The final models interior utilizes reclaimed and found materials collected from eco-friendly warehouses, such as BigReuse and GreenHomeNYC. The zen interior encourages viewers to take a breather from the fast-paced world of overconsumption and understand the circular economy and their role in the community while experiencing a positive and peaceful interaction between self and reused materials. The interior includes metal framing structures that are 100% recyclable that hold together bio plastic that disintegrates within months. As time passes, these materials will illustrate their natural process of disintegrating to reflect on the natural process of rising and falling. By understanding the life cycle of materials, individuals can better understand the world that surrounds them and gain control of their footprint. By embracing temporarily in materials, we can reclaim our environmental footprint by reimbursing ourselves into the natural world.
Plans, Sections, and Axon
Physical Model
Diagrams
Lighting
Materials
Plasticity
Renders
Rendering of Entrance
Poster
