designboom · Creativity & design

Reclaimed Concrete Pipes Form Reusable Pavilion in Mumbai

A competition-winning proposal, Re:Concrete, reimagines discarded precast concrete drainage pipes as a public pavilion on Mumbai's coast, exploring a second architectural life for the material.

The design utilizes standardized concrete pipe sections, cutting and rotating them to create walls, seating, and light wells. This approach aims to give buried infrastructure a visible, public function, transforming elements designed for water transport into spaces for gathering and contemplation.

The project challenges the common practice of crushing obsolete concrete components into aggregate, instead retaining their original form and visible infrastructural character. This method preserves the embodied energy and manufacturing work within the pipes.

The modular, dry-connected, and reversible assembly allows the pavilion's configuration to adapt based on the availability and condition of local reclaimed pipes. Components can be easily removed and reused, avoiding the creation of a permanent concrete structure.

Situated in Mumbai, a city undergoing constant redevelopment along its coast, the pavilion serves as both a public space and a material exhibit. It highlights an alternative to conventional material disposal by showcasing the architectural potential of existing components.

Re:Concrete shifts the focus from material consumption to reuse, retaining the physical history of concrete while assigning it a new public purpose. The design team included Kaixin Su, Taoyu Han, Jialu Hou, and Shivani Rastogi.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.