LINK THE SYSTEM
Theresa Schwaiger
Theresa Schwaiger
2022
Supervisors_ Prof. Axel Kufus, Anja Lapatsch, Daniel Irrgang
MA Graduation Project_ Theresa Schwaiger
MA Graduation Project_ Theresa Schwaiger
By linking disciplines, materials, cycles and designs
The construction industry is responsible for high CO2 emissions and a large demand for resource-intensive raw materials. At the same time, there is a lot of potential to develop ideas and designs that make more sustainable use of building materials possible.
To explore more environmentally friendly materials, this project investigated the potential of geopolymers as a sustainable replacement of cement. Geopolymers emit 4-times less CO2 than cement and at the same time can be made from industrial waste materials. With this understanding and following the intention of using local waste resources – in the sense of „urban mining“ – the idea of producing geopolymers from broken bricks was developed.
In collaboration with the Technical University (TU) Darmstadt, we developed a strategy for the experimental procedure of the idea, which led to positive results. In the next step, the developed strategy was applied to present the new material in a tangible form – modular interlocking building blocks. The system can be extended with panels to demonstrate one further application of this design strategy. This project intends to show potential opportunities to develop more sustainable designs of products and materials.
The construction industry is responsible for high CO2 emissions and a large demand for resource-intensive raw materials. At the same time, there is a lot of potential to develop ideas and designs that make more sustainable use of building materials possible.
To explore more environmentally friendly materials, this project investigated the potential of geopolymers as a sustainable replacement of cement. Geopolymers emit 4-times less CO2 than cement and at the same time can be made from industrial waste materials. With this understanding and following the intention of using local waste resources – in the sense of „urban mining“ – the idea of producing geopolymers from broken bricks was developed.
In collaboration with the Technical University (TU) Darmstadt, we developed a strategy for the experimental procedure of the idea, which led to positive results. In the next step, the developed strategy was applied to present the new material in a tangible form – modular interlocking building blocks. The system can be extended with panels to demonstrate one further application of this design strategy. This project intends to show potential opportunities to develop more sustainable designs of products and materials.
Text by Thersa Schwaiger
