‘Waste to Wealth, Art of Reuse’- Learnings from Innovations in Urban Public Space Designs

Abstract

The paper aims to explore innovations in architecture & urban design (UD) of public spaces executed with materials created out of waste products to demonstrate concepts of circular principles as exemplar to the society at large. Focus on designing public spaces is to showcase- firstly, immediate need to address waste crisis; secondly, ways by which recycled waste can be adopted as a mainstream attitude. Trash need not be abused in landfills, rather can become input for production. Study objectives dwell in addressing developing countries, where paradigm of ‘Waste to Wealth’ becomes one of the fundamental criteria for emerging as Smart cities. Once civic spaces attribute responsibility to the impending environmental crisis, momentum gains at grassroot-community level as public spaces bear more visibility & appeal. Need for industrial ‘re-revolution’ is sensed to reverse the negative impacts and encourage upcycling culture with efficient management of Municipal solid waste (MSW) which forms largest component of a city’s waste-output. This study discusses theories and case studies which adopted MSW in innovative ways under two broad objectives of design- aesthetics and functionality. Highlight will be on Zero-waste economical urban initiatives to enhance imagery. The study derives a ‘Toolkit for public space design’ using MSW as framework for UD schemes.