Permanence
Aligning Arch itecture, Nucl ear ''''aste, and the Public
by John Maher
Bachelor of Arts in Architec ture
Washingto n Unive rsity in St. Louis, 20ID
Submitted to the Depa rtment o f Architecture
in pa rtial fulfi ll ment of the requirements fo r the degree of
MASTER OF ARC HITECTURE
at the
MASSAC H USETTS INST IT UTE OF TEC H NOLOGY
February 20 14
© 20 14 John Ma her. All rights rese rve d.
The autho r hereby grants to MIT pe rmiss ion to reproduce and distribute
publicly paper and elect ronic cop ies of thi s thes is doc ument in who le
or in part in any medium now known o r herea fter created.
Signature of Author: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _---,,,--_ _ _ _-,--,----,-,-_ __
Depa rtment of Architecture
January 16,20 14
Certified b y: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _-;:-_.,---,,=,...-,
Brandon Clifford
Belluschi Lecturer in Architecture
Thesis Advisor
Certified by, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _----;;:-;--;-:;-.,-;-----;_
T a ke hiko N aga kura
Associate Professor of Design and Computation
Chair of the Departm ent Committee o n Graduate Students
PERMANENCE
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Permanence
Aligning Architecture, Nuclear Waste, and the Public
by John Maher
Submitted to the Department of Architecture on January 16th, 2014
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE
Abstract
Permanence is intended as a provocation to question the current relationship of time and
architecture. Architecture has always had a relationship with time, but historically this
relationship has been troubled. In 2013 we as architects are currently operating under a false
assumption that architecture should only be in a relationship with commodity. This is producing
architecture with a very short shelf life, and the architecture is secondary to the commodity it
houses.
Contemporary architecture only lasts for thirty to one hundred and fifty years and is constrained
by budget, the building industry and material warranties. Contemporary society is fast paced
and rapidly changing. This rapid change has manifested itself in our architecture and our
perception of scales of time. In the modern era, when something is considered permanent
it only lasts roughly one hundred years. Our perception of time in the future and the past is
small in the grand scheme of history. However, this has not always been the case. We have
produced architecture that spanned millennia in the past and when we did we've produced great
architecture.
How is it that great architecture of the past was able to overcome budget, and dedicate itself to
time? These great architectures all had great motivating factors that trumped budget, and were
perceived as permanent. The se motivating factors include; religion, body politic, or precious
resources such as water. The societies that built the architecture though that their way of life, their
government, etcetera, as permanent.
This thesis states that it is possible to align architecture back with time when dedicated to a
motivating factor without a limit of time. The thesis project aligns itself with nuclear waste.
Nuclear energy will be necessary to serve the energy needs of a rapidly growing population, and
as the technology becomes safer and more efficient it will be more prevalent in cities. The only
problem with Nuclear energy is the waste. I'm proposing an architecture that aligns nuclear waste
with the public through a public bath. Bathing is a tradition in most cultures that has lasted for
thousands of years, and will continue in some way for thousands more.
The time is 3013 and the site is an inundated Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has moved it's
nuclear research facilities to an island just east of what was once Central Square, and the nuclear
waste from the research is used to warm the waters of a public bath.
Thesis Supervisor: Brandon Clifford
Title: Belluschi Lecturer in Architecture
IOHNMAHER
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PERMA NENCE
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Permanence
Aligning Architecture, Nucl ea r ' '''asle, and the Public
by Joh n Maher
Thesis Committee
Brando n Cliffo rd
Belluschi Lecturer in Architect ure
Thesis Adviso r
John Ochsendorf
Professor of Building Technology and Civil and Environment al Engineering
Thesis Reader
Mark Jarzombek
Associate Dean and Professor in History and Theory of Archit«ture
Thesis Reader
JOHN MA HER
5
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Acknowled gm ents
First I'd like to thank my thesis advisor Brandon Clifford fo r his time, ded ication and help in
pushing the thes is fo rwa rd. Thank you to John Ochsendorf and Ma rk Jarzombek fo r sh aking
things up and the relentless hea lthy criticism.
To my fri ends Kyle and Kyle thanks for all the encourage ment and daily lunches. To Karina
thanks for the endless banter and laughs. To Toshi and Daniela for completing our thes is group.
You all made the thes is process really fun and working in studio rea lly enjoyable.
Thank you to Jimmy for popul ating a timeline with great images, it wouldn't have got d one
without you and to Susa nna for being happy eve ryd ay and building me a great modeL To our
class, it was a great 3112 yea rs. Thanks to anyone else wh o has helped me along the way.
Thanks to my friends back home, Jo n, Asa nte, Sa nj , Drew, Ram and Raj all your support through
the yea rs h as been great eve n th ough you just think I draw p ictures all day.
Finally th ank you to my fa mil y. To my pa rents fo r their endless support th rough out my
education, and never questio ning my goa ls. To my dad for sharing hi s des ire to make, and to my
mom for giving me a medium to express my ideas. To my sisters Alexa and Leroy (Ja mie) for
being excited about everything I do and keeping me at my best.
Thank you
IOHN MAHER
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TIME ...................... .
. ... ... ... .. .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . .... ... ... .. .. ... ..1Q
PERMANENCE ................................................................................ 22
NVCLEAR. ....................................................................................... 28
BATHING ............... .
. ... ... ... .. .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . .... ... ... .. .. ... ..5A
SITE ................................................................................................. 6Q
DESIGN............................................................................................ 78
FINAL ..................... .
. ... ... ... .. .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . .... ... ... .. .. ... t28
IOHNMAHER
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TIME
This fi rst time line illustrates our current perception of time. It shows the Great Pyramids , Jesus, MIT,
and 20 13. MIT is something that, in the modern era, we think of as permanent, and being aro und
"fo reve rn • The time lin e shows that in th e span of 4 ,55 3 years , MIT is just a sho rt blip of existence,
and we are currently closer to Jes us than we are to the Great Pyramids. It puts th e scale of time
I'm operating w ithin in a more tangible perspective . Even this tim eline is dwarfed by the length of
time nuclear waster remains radioactive . Nuc lear waste storage c urrently need s to be rated by the
U. S .NRC for 10,00 0 years, however some waste w ill remain radioactive for millions of years.
The ~ Pyrwnido at Giza
: 2684 s.c.
PERMANENCE
10
TIME
IOHNMAHER
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TIME
PERMANENCE
12
TIME
IOHN MAHER
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TIME
PERMANENCE
14
TIME
IOHNMAHER
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TIME
16
PERMANENCE
TIME
IOHNMAHER
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TIME
PERMANENCE
18
TIME
IOHNMAHER
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..................................................................TII;[~ ................................................................. .
·· .. ·· PERMANENCE·· .. ··
20
TIME
2013
IOHNMAHER
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HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS
Entertainment
1,933 yrs
Religion
1,476 yrs
Since current trends in architecture build for budget rather than time, I'm looking at
antiquities as a reference for relating architecture back to time. The research into these
building is for the motivating factors behind the importance of the architecture, rather than
just the form and structure. The societies that constructed this great architecture assumed
their motivating factors to be permanent and built the structure that housed them for
permanence.
The Colosseum was built to entertain the people of Rome. The Romans thought the
gladiatorial entertainment would last forever, but even when it did not, the architecture
remained and was transformed and used for something else. The importance of the original
program and the architecture is what preserved the Colosseum.
I'm also interested in the grandeur of the spaces within these buildings. The scale and the
massiveness of the structures add to their spectacle. The dome of the Pantheon was built
PERMANENCE
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HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS
•
•
Religion
1,887 yrs
Water
1,950 yrs
•
•
to honor Pagan gods, but is also a great architectural and engineering feat. From a design
perspective, the domes, vaults, and arches have great structural performance to help these
buildings last.
IOHNMAHER
25
CURRENT BUILDING TRENDS
26
PERMA NENCE
CURRENT BUILDING TRENDS
~~~~~I?.ckbein9
and'highIights how
chite,:ture has become. In
China buildings are being torn down before
they are even completed to make room for
newarchitectur. This new architecture
will probably only last for 30 years like the
architecture before 'ft.
IOHNMA HER
27
ENERGY STATS
The next three diagrams highlight some facts comparing nuclear energy to natural gas, oil,
and coal. Nuclear energy is cleaner, safer, and more efficient than the others. It makes
sense for Nuclear energy to proliferate world wide, with population growing exponentially
and energy use expected to grow with it, nuclear energy is the smartest option to fulfill
energy needs and combat climate change.
The diagram below shows C02 emissions per kWh of energy. Nuclear energy emits no
C02 during the actual energy conversion process. This diagram does not include embodied
energy such as mining the ore.
VOLUME OF CO' PER kWH
PERMANENCE
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ENERGY STATS
IOHNMAHER
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ENERGY STATS
The diagram below shows the number of deaths per kWh. Nuclear energy leads with .04
deaths per kWh historically, this includes the disasters at Chernobyl, Fukushima, and 3 mile
Island.
DEATHS PER kWH
1111111111
PERMANENCE
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ENERGY STATS
IOHNMAHER
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ENERGY STATS
Th e diagram below shows the volum e of fuel per mWh , and nuclear energy needs a very
small amount of fuel to produce a very large amount of energy.
VOLUME OF FUEOL PER mWH
PERMANENCE
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ENERGY STATS
IOHNMAHER
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NUCLEAR
These photographs show current
storage options for low-level nuclear
waste. All of them involve a geological
burial of the waste to prevent human
contact. All of these places are in
remote locations away from the public.
What if we could harness the waste
as a resource and use it for a public
function?
PERMANENCE
36
NUCLEAR
--
•
•
..,:"
•
--................
---
~ ....::w.oI><IlT'<'
This map shows the locations of all the current Nuclear fac ilities in the United States, and
the proposed shipping routes of the waste, via tru c k, train or barge, to two remote locations
in Nevada and New Mexico. As Nuclear energy beco mes more w idely used in cities the US
it will no longer be feasible to ship the wast from all of the co untry to these two place. I'm
proposing to store the waste on site and use the heat to power a public amenity.
IOHNMAHER
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NUCLEAR
Yucca Mountain
Processing
1,260 ,h
Waste Tunnels
Nuctear Repository
800h
Th e Yucca Mountain nucl ear waste repos itory in sou thwestern Nevada, is th e offi cial
nucl ear waste repos itory in th e U.S. Th e waste us place o n rail carts and taken deep into
th e ground. W hen th e repos itory is fill ed w ith waste it w ill be capped w ith many feet of
co nc rete and left. Warning sign s fo r future civilizati ons have been designed to keep future
cu rious populations fro m disturbing th e sit e. This facility is for waste only, no research is to
be done at Yucca Mountain.
38
PERMA NENCE
NUCLEAR
•+
SaJt Storage
Th e Waste Isolati on Pilot Pl ant (WIPP) is a deep geological repos itory and research ce nt er
for nu clear waste. It is located in south east New Mexico. Th e repos itory is located w ithin
a 3,000 foo t thi ck, stable sa lt formatio n. Th e sa lt is important because, if it crac ks due to
geological instab ility or water groundwater begins to p enetrate th e waste zone , it se lf heals,
filling th e crac ks w ith more salt. WIPP is fo r both sto rage, and research.
IOHNMA HER
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NUCLEAR
•+
+
HOT WATER RESERVE
COLD WATER RESERVE
BATH HOUSE
STEAM TURBINI.
····-7'-
NUCLEAR RESEARCH
w
-1,..J
l,..J-
r
w
L:c. ____
...._
NUCLEAR WASTE COOUNG POOL
My project in Cambridge, MA is a co mbinatio n of a repos itory, researc h ce nt er, and publi c
bath. Th e nu clea r resea rch co ndu c ted produ ces th e nuclear waste, th e nuclear waste is
placed in waste poo ls to coo l, and th e stea m generated from th e long coolin g process is
used to warm th e bath ho use.
PERMA NENCE
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NUCLEAR
RADIATION PROTECTION
EARTH
LEAD
STEEL
CONCRETE
6 ••
6 ••
6 ••
6
6
1
6
i
WATER
WOOD
6 ••
6
I
Thi s diagram shows th e material thi ckness needed to reduce radiation produced to a safe
leve l when placed between a perso n and th e so urce of th e rad iation.
IOHNMA HER
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Historic and "Projected" Energy Consumption in the USA
(qUild rilhon BTU)
37.S
u .s
1776
1850
'""
1950
""
USA
LEADER IN ENERGY CONSUMPTION
100
NU CLEAR POWER PLANTS
800 BIL
kWh/yr
t
87,000
kWh/ca pita
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My Necessary Projections
NUCLEAR
,,
.. , .... -',/
RENEWABLES
HYDRO
WOOO
''''
L
2050 COAL
2100
OIL
FRANCE
LEADER IN NUCLEAR ENERGY
59
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
420 Bil
kWh /yr
o
•
' 0
80%
NUCLEAR POWER
40,000
kWh /c apita
IOHN MAHER
43
Th e c hart below shows rad iatio n exposu re fo r th e average person, and co mpares it to oth er
high risk jobs, disasters, and med ica l procedures. Radi ati on exposure ca n be dangerous
at extremely high levels, but w ith properly designed faciliti es exposu re to rad iati on ca n
be prevented. Th e bathhouse uses design parameters that prevent radiati on exposure
between th e research labs and th e bath house.
Radiation Exposure
mea,ure" '0 ", IOSoc".,... {m$vl
2.4 mSvlyr·· AVERAGE PERS ON
2S0 mSv dose·· FUKUSHIMA EMERGENCY WORKERS
4 .S mSv/y r .. UR ANIUM ORE MINER
2S00 mSv dose .. CONCENTRATED AREA CHEMOTHE RAPY
350 mSv/lifetime •. CHERN08YL DISASTER RELOCATION
10 mSv .. CT SCAN
800 m Sv/yr·· HIGH EST LE VE L OF BACKGROUNO RADIATION ON A BRAZILIAN 8EACH
100 mSv do se .• CA NCER RISK
1000 mSv dose .• CAUSES RAD IATION SICKN ESS
20 mSvlyr·· LIM IT FOR NUCLEAR WORKERS
1000 mSv dose .• CAUSES CANCE R IN SI 100 PEOPLE SEVE RAL YEARS LATER
9 mSv/ yr·· AIRLINE CREW TOK YO · NYC
700 mSv/yr .. THRE SHOLD FOR MA INTAI NING EVACUATION ZONE
S mSv/y r·· AVG AIRLI NE CREW
2S0 mSv/yr·· NATURAL BACKGROUND LEVEL IN RAMSAR, IRAN
0.3 rnSvlyr ·· NUCLEAR SU8MARINE WORKER
44
PERMA NENCE
10000 mS v dose .. FATAL WITHI N WEEKS
SOOO mSv do se .• KILL S 1/ 2 PEOPLE WIT HIN A MONTH
IOHN MAHER
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TIMELINE
[
Th e tim elin e is showing eras of tim e sin ce th e
inventio n of w riting in 4,200 B.C .. Th e im ages
o n th e tim elin e show important moments in
civilizatio n, nuclear discoveries, and arc hitectural
accomplishm ents. Th e graphs in th e backgrou nd
juxtapose population growth and types of energy
use. Everything past 2013 is future specu latio n.
Showing th e length of tim e nucl ear waste w ill still
be radioactive for, and specu lates th e fate of th e
hum an race.
46
PERMA NENCE
][
2013
TIMELINE
][
8RO:<Z£AGE
IR01<AGf.
ANCIENT EGYPT
--
,~"
,.-
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,~"
~
•
10000 YEARS
I
IOHNMA HER
47
TIMELINE
][
][
II II II
48
II
"....
II II II II II
II
'"-
PERMA NENCE
,-I
I
][
II
II
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II
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II II
, __ ,TIMELINE
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49
TIMELINE
[
l1<fOR.\IATlO:< AGf.
/
/
"- .. -... -...
~-
-.~
----~~.
PERMA NENCE
50
TIMELINE
- 3013
~----------------------------------"'---"--"---"'--""---""'---'-""'----"'--"-'--"'------------------------------------------------------.. .. ...•-'
,
-.--_. __ ..-..- ...-
IOHN MAHER
51
TIMELINE
- .. -.•.. .._--
I"
,"
I I
", I I::
PERMA NENCE
52
TIMELINE
N uc lear waste is still bubbling and w ill continu e
to bubble long past th e end of this timeline. Th e
tim e lin e is mea nt to put th e le ngth of rad ioactivity
in perspective. Th e waste w ill last long er th an
cu rrent human history.
NUCLEAR WASTE
STILL BUBBLING
.__.•....•..
_,
_._._-............._.
-- -----._-._--.-...-.. -"-'-'--------.. "'--.-._. ...•__._-. ..•_.-._------... '. --- --.- .
'-
-._-.........
"--
--- .._---..- . -........-.-
~'"
"-"
------.-...
--.
10000 YEARS
I
IOHNMA HER
53
ROMAN BATH S
YegGI. Fikret K. Bathing in the Roman World.
Bathin g is a tradition in many c ultures, and
has bee n so fo r th o usands of years. Peo ple
have always bath ed and w ill co ntinue to do
so fo r th ousa nds of years into th e future. Th e
bath house prog ram for th e project makes
sense b eca use o f it 's long history and use of
heat. Th e bath s are at different temperatures.
Th e fri gid ari um is th e co ld bath , and th e water
ca n be cycled to cool th e nucl ear waste. Th e
ca ldarium is th e hot bath , and th e stea m from
th e waste pools ca n be used to hear th e pool
water. Th e sud atorium is th e sa un a and th e
steam ca n b e used directly in this roo m. Bath
ho uses also had a natatorium , a large poo l for
swimmin g w hi c h is located at th e top o f th e
bathho use and th e very bottom. Th e heat fro m
th e nuclear waste can be transfered to heat th e
baths, and th e stea m can also b e used to turn
turbin es and power th e rest o f th e b ath ho use.
YegGI. Fikret K. Bathing in the Roman WOIld .. _. __ . _ .. _. __ . _ .. _ .... __ . _ ..
56
PERMA NENCE
ROMAN BATH S
"
".
'"
YegGI. Fikret K. Bath ing in the Roman World.
Thi s im age is showing th e structure b elow th e bath s and saun as . Th e steam or hot air
warm ed th e vo ids b elow th e pools and transfered th e heat to th e water or air in th e room
above. Th e project uses this sa me traditio nal strategy to heat th e bath house.
IOHN MAHER
57
BATH TYPOLOGIES
APODYTER IUM
TEPIDARIUM
Th e apodyterium is the traditional
c hanging room of the Roman bath.
Th e modern bath has showers and
lockers.
The tepidarium is the warm room
between the baths and saunas.
Th e tepidarium in the thesis is
conceptualized as the circulation
and ramps through the bath house.
CALDARIUM
FRIGIDARIUM
C!iI
~
Jl
~
Th e frigidarium is the co ld bath,
usually bathers transfer between
the caldarium and the frigidarium.
Th e cold water is transferred from
the frigidarium to the waste poo ls.
Th e caldarium is the hot bath,
where bathers spend the most
time. Th e steam from the waste
pools heats the water indirectly.
PERMANENCE
58
BATH TYPOLOGIES
SUDATORIUM
LACONICUM
Th e laconicum is the dry sauna.
Th e steam warms the surfaces but
never enters the room , leaving it
warm and dry.
The sudatorium is the sauna. The
steam enters the sudatorium
directly.
NATATORIUM
Th e natatorium is the largest pool
and is meant for swimm in g, the
temperature is moderate.
IOHNMAHER
59
1806
David Rumsey Map Collection
Th e next few pages show histo rical, current, and future maps of th e
Boston area. It shows th e hug e c hang es in th e land scape, and th e
mass ive amo unt of man-made land used th e co nstru c t th e city. Th e
infill above th e old marshland , and harbor is currently sinking and
is becoming more pro ne to flooding. I'm pro pos ing th at th e maps
of th e future, du e to sea level rise and storm surg es w ill return th e
Boston are to a map simil ar to th e o ne drawn in 1806.
62
PERMA NENCE
:,~I
"J'
I) - ~
:D~~W@»~
...
ADJAC£NT CJT1U.
,. ,.
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David Rums ey Map Collection
63
1888
David Rumsey Map Collection
PERMA NENCE
64
1903
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David Rumsey Map Collection
IOHN MAHER
65
2013 - Oft
This is a current map of Boston and Cambridge with at the current sea level. Over the next
few pages sea levels will rise, and the city will begin to transform.
PERMANENCE
66
2100 - 3ft
IOHNMAHER
67
................................................................ 22S0· Sft
..
·· .. ·· PERMANENCE·· .. ··
68
2500 - 10ft
IOHNMAHER
69
3013 - 15ft
Cambridge in 3013 after sea level has risen 15ft. The site for the project is what will
become an island just outside of where Central Square is in 2013. MIT has been
inundated, and my project proposes moving all of MIT's nuclear research facilities to the
small island. This isolates the research center, and creates the bath house as a destination
within the new harbor.
PERMANENCE
70
ANTIQUITIES
71
This site drawin g shows New Cambridge, with former Cambridge
submerged under water. It shows ferry routes to the bath house
and to Boston.
72
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.........
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........................
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..................... .. ' 'llillill!lil~1J
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01..0 MIT
PalOuse de Monlclos, Jean- Marie. Etienne-Louis Boullee.
PalOuse de Monlclos, Jean- Marie. Etienne-Louis Boullee.
80
PERMANENCE
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Gray, Samuel M. Section of Paris Sewers, Circa 1884.
Gray, Samuel M. Section of Paris Sewers, Circa 1884.
IOHN MAHER
81
ANTIQUITIES
Vault
1 m
L
Dome
"".po.....
These primitive geometries are found in the histori cal precedents I've researched, and have
all been adapted for use in the bath house and nuclear research facility. Vaulting, domes,
columns, and buttresses all provide spatial and structural qualities to the architecture. The
modern permanent architecture relates to the precedents by re-purposing these spatial
strategies.
PERMANENCE
82
ANTIQUITIES
----------- --- ----;.:
----------- --~
------------------------------- ------------------------------- --- --- ------------------ ------ ~~~~-~
--~
-- ~
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------ -;OHN MAHER
83
_________________________________PI\OGI\Alvl
______________ --------------------
t
---- --PERMANENCE ---- -84
PROGRAM
COlD WATER RESERVE
HOT WATER RESERVE
t
BATH HOUSE
NUQ.EAR RESEARCH
NUa.EAR WASTECOOUNG POOL
These three diagrams show flows of systems, people, heat, and the relationship between
the public and the researchers. The building cools as the steam gets further away from the
heat source of the waste pools.
IOHNMAHER
85
CONSTRUCTION
~...".,
@
86
PERMANENCE
--
CONSTRUCTION
-- --
@
IOHNMAHER
87
CONSTRUCTION
To bring th e architecture into th e realm o f rea lity th e co nstru cti on sequ ence is show n o n
th e prev ious t wo pages. First a maso nry arch is built, th en a fo rm wo rk is placed insid e
th e stru c tural arc h to ac hi eve th e necessa ry geo metry. C oncrete is po ured b etween th e
arch and th e fo rm work. Th e interior o r th e space is surface in stone, and bo uld ers and
constru ctio n rubbl e from th e razed zones o f C ambridg e are used as fill above th e arc h. Th e
mass is needed to preve nt th e transmiss io n o f radiatio n th rough th e wa lls. This process is
th en repeated to co nstru c t th e building.
Th e draw ing on th e right shows mo re detail ed flows o f th e steam th ro ugh th e spaces and
out o f th e larg e ve nt pipe. It shows th e turbin es w ithin th e pipe th at prov id e electri city to
th e building. It shows th e material co mpos itio n and th e amount o f steam used to heat eac h
space.
88
PERMA NENCE
CONSTRUCTION
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COMPR£SSION
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89
SECTION
..............................................................................................................
This is sectio n shows th e va ri ety of spaces w ithin th e architecture.
Th e buried spaces at th e bottom o f th e sectio n are fo r th e nu clear
resea rch and th e waste poo ls. Th e larg e shaft th at run s th rough
th e center o f th e sectio n is fo r ventilatio n o f steam from th e waste
poo ls. Th e shaft also de live rs th e steam to th e bath ho use, and
powers th e turbin es along th e shaft. Th e top of th e building is a
water reserve. Th e water reserve has a warm side, for th e ca ld ari um
and natato rium , and a co ld sid e for th e frigid arium and th e waste
poo ls. Th e doc k o n th e right sid e of th e sectio n is th e entrance fo r
th e resea rc h fac ility. It's used to transp ort fu el and scientists to th e
lab. Th e publi c entrance is fro m th e hillside to th e left o f th e sectio n,
th at is for access to th e bath house o nly.
Th e bath ers first proceed to th e apodyterium w here th ey change
fo r th eir pool ex p eri ence. Th e entire bath ho use is accessed by
a ramp that w inds th ro ugh th e poo ls and sa un as . Th e outdoor
poo l is located below th e water reserve, and has views to Boston,
C ambrid ge, and th e new harbor.
Th e experi ence of th e bath ho use wo uld be dark, damp, and steamy
w ith shafts o f light fro m th e ve nts b ein g th e o nly natural light.
Th e walls are in c red ibly thi ck and heavy, to both prevent radiation
expos ure, and also so th e building w ill last tho usands o f years . Th e
use o f co mpress io n o nly forms is also helpful in that it removes stee l
from th e construction and so th e steel w ill not decompose and crac k
th e co nc rete.
IOHN MAHER
91
,
t
SECTION
This is sectio n shows th e va ri ety of spaces w ithin th e architecture.
Th e buried spaces at th e bottom o f th e sectio n are fo r th e nu clear
resea rch and th e waste poo ls. Th e larg e shaft th at run s th rough
th e center o f th e sectio n is fo r ventilatio n o f steam from th e waste
poo ls. Th e shaft also de live rs th e steam to th e bath ho use, and
powers th e turbin es along th e shaft. Th e top of th e building is a
water reserve. Th e water reserve has a warm side, for th e ca ld ari um
and natato rium , and a co ld sid e for th e frigid arium and th e waste
poo ls. Th e doc k o n th e right sid e of th e sectio n is th e entrance fo r
th e resea rc h fac ility. It's used to transp ort fu el and scientists to th e
lab. Th e publi c entrance is fro m th e hillside to th e left o f th e sectio n,
th at is for access to th e bath house o nly.
Th e bath ers first proceed to th e apodyterium w here th ey change
fo r th eir pool ex p eri ence. Th e entire bath ho use is accessed by
a ramp that w inds th ro ugh th e poo ls and sa un as . Th e outdoor
poo l is located below th e water reserve, and has views to Boston,
C ambrid ge, and th e new harbor.
Th e experi ence of th e bath ho use wo uld be dark, damp, and steamy
w ith shafts o f light fro m th e ve nts b ein g th e o nly natural light.
Th e walls are in c red ibly thi ck and heavy, to both prevent radiation
expos ure, and also so th e building w ill last tho usands o f years . Th e
use o f co mpress io n o nly forms is also helpful in that it removes stee l
from th e construction and so th e steel w ill not decompose and crac k
th e co nc rete.
IOHN MAHER
iO J
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This exterior rendering shows the building in a cold winter. The steam pouring out of it
shows it's warm and is meant to be a source of warmth during the long Boston winters.
Since the heat source is infinite the steam will continue to flow for thousands of years.
IOHNMAHER
113
This rendering shows the view from the exterior natatorium , Th ere are views of Boston and
the surrounding marshy harbor. The water is warm enough fo r year rou nd use. Th e steam
pouring out of the building forms a winter oasis.
WASTE POOL
Th is is a view of th e waste pools
at the bottom of the buil din g.
The bright blue glow is from the
radiation escaping the waste but
the depth of the water prevents
any danger.
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11 9
12 1
123
SUDATORIUM
Th e sudato ri um is th e humid
sa un a. It is filled w ith steam from
th e waste poo ls.
125
127
FINALBOARDS
PERMA NENCE
130
FINAL BOARDS
PERMANENCE
NUCLEAR
ANTIQUITIES
NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL
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FINAL BOARDS
SITE SCENARIO
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DESIGN STRATEGY
RO.'vIAN BATH
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PERMA NENCE
132
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FINAL BOARDS
IOHNMA HER
133
FINALBOARDS
PERMA NENCE
134
FINAL BOARDS
IOHN MAHER
135
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Moslafavi , Mohsen , and David Leatherbarrow. On Weathering : Life of Buildings in Time.: MIT, 1993.
Rieg l, Alois. The Modern Cult of Monuments : Its Character and Its Origin . Cambridge: MIT, 1982 .
Yeg UI. Fikrel K. Bathing in the Roman World. New York : Cambridge Unive rsity Press , 20 10.
Perouse de Monlcios , Jean-Marie. Etien ne-Louis Bou llee. Paris: Flam marion,
1994 .
Gray, Samuel M. Section of Paris Sewers , C irca 1884 . Digital image . The History of Sanitary Sewers.
David Rumsey Map Collection . David Rumsey Historical Map Collectionl The Collection.
Energy.gov. Department of Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 20 14
What 10 Do with Nuc lear Wasle? DWDE. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013 .
Merchant , Brian . "Securing Long Term Nuclear Waste Storage "Not an Urgent Problem ". 10 Sept. 20 14 .
"Fi rst High- leve l Waste Shipment." SSC News. SSC, 20 Jan. 20 10
"NRC: United State Nuclear Regulatory Committee." NRC. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 20 14.
IOHN MAHER
137
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THANK
YOU
IOHNMA HE R
139