BOTTLES AS BUILDING MATERIALS CASE OF WATAMU by KIMARU ALEXANDER GATHIRU B02/40012/2011 BAR 613: RESEARCH THESIS THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI, DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING SCIENCE, SCHOOL OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. TUTOR: DR. L. SHIHEMBETSA “Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man.” -John Fitzgerald Kennedy- ii DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been presented in any other University or Institution for the purpose of awarding a degree to the best of my knowledge. This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the examination requirements for the award of the Bachelor of Architecture degree, in the Department of Architecture and Building Science at The University of Nairobi. Author:......................................................................... Date.................................................. Kimaru Alexander Gathiru Supervisor:................................................................... Date.................................................. DR. L. Shihembetsa Year Master:.................................................................. Date................................................. Arch. Erastus Abonyo Chairman:..................................................................... Date.................................................. Arch. Musau Kimeu iii To my unborn child iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the almighty God for the gift of health and for providing where need be. I do not take it for granted that I have been able to go throught this academic journey and seeing it through to the end. To my family who have given me the full support one could ask for. Dad, for the guidance and encouragement all through this journey. Always checkin up on me to make sure I am fine and well. Always leading by example, thank you for you are the man I always look up to. You have inspired me to become the man I am today and most importantly the man I am still becoming. Mum, for all the love and care that you have given to me. Through the rain and the pain, you have always been on my side, always there to help me up when I fall, to show me the way when I am lost, and now your only son has become a man. My big sister, Njoki. Thank you for always setting the bar high and setting records for me to break. I am now an ambitious man always plotting ahead thanks to you. I would also like to thank you for the much joy you bring at home. With all your stories exuberant personality, you always spark any room to life. My small sister, Ciku. Thank you for your support. You might not know this but you always keep me on my toes to keep pushing the limits. To my tutor, Dr. L.Shihembetsa, for your selfless guidance and input throughout the study. Year coordinator Arch. Erastus Abonyo for the lessons and critique encountered throughout this journey. To the chairman Arch. Musau Kimeu, for the helpful and dedicated input. All lecturers, Department of Architecture and Building science who turned up to give insight and counsel during the long crits organized. All your guidance and direction during my six years in ADD is utterly gratifying. I would also like to thank Watamu Marine Association for the cooperation they gave me as i counducted my fieldwork. Mr. Streve Trott, the Chairman of Watamu Marine Association, thank you for the direction you gave me on my study. Mr. William Nambuya, who is managing waste management at WMA, thank you for the tour and for sharing the knowledge of the research that was conducted regarding my study. I would also like to thank Nani Croze for your cooperation and for sharing the knowledge of how you constructed your house. To all my relatives, thanks for the love and support. Special thanks to my cousin Joe Ngechu for the major role he played in the writing of this thesis. To my friends from NYE, thanks for your endless support. Mashall, Alfred, Clinton, Emmanuel, George, Hillary, Bradley, Orlando, Edwin, John and Thomas you are all represented. To my colleagues in studio you made this enjoyable. Thank you for making studio hours lively and memorable. v TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction ................................................... 1 1.2 Background study ............................................. 2 1.3 Problem statement ............................................. 3 1.4 Research objectives ............................................. 4 1.5 Research questions ............................................. 4 1.6 Justification of study ............................................ 5 1.7 Significance of study ............................................ 5 1.8 Scope & limitations ............................................. 5 1.9 Definition of terms ............................................. 6 1.10 Organization of study .......................................... 7 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction. .................................................. 9 2.2 Solid waste in general .......................................... 10 2.2.1 What is waste? ............................................... 10 2.2.2 Solid waste generation. ........................................ 10 2.2.3 Brief history of waste through time and reclaiming from waste. ..... 14 2.2.4 Progression of reclaiming from waste. ........................... 14 vi 2.2.5 Design concepts of waste in architecture ......................... 18 2.3 Use of bottles in construction. ................................... 22 2.3.1 Use of bottles throughout history as building materials ............ 22 2.3.2 Bottle materials ............................................. 25 2.3.3 Bottle wall construction. ...................................... 28 2.4 Use of bottles as building components. ........................... 34 2.4.1 Roofing with bottles .......................................... 34 2.4.2 Bottles as illuminators ........................................ 35 2.4.3 Bottle heaters ................................................ 37 2.4.4 Bottles in installation ......................................... 38 2.5 Building using bottles. ......................................... 39 2.5.1 The Heineken Wobo bottle. .................................... 40 2.5.2 Buddhist Temple ............................................. 45 2.5.3 Tomislav Radovanovic plastic bottle house, Serbia ................ 48 2.6 Summary .................................................... 50 3.0 RESEARCH METHODS 3.1 Introduction .................................................. 53 3.2 Research design ............................................... 53 3.3 Research strategy .............................................. 53 vii 3.4 Time horizon of the study ...................................... 54 3.5 Data sources .................................................. 54 3.5.1 Primary data: ................................................ 55 3.5.2 Secondary data: .............................................. 56 3.6 Data analysis and presentation .................................. 56 4.0 RESEARCH FINDINGS 4.1 Introduction .................................................. 59 4.2 Case Study Projects ........................................... 59 4.2.1 Case 1: Community Group Workrooms ......................... 59 4.2.2 Case 2: Eco Tower ........................................... 66 4.2.3 Case 3: Mr. Samuel’s Residential house .......................... 73 4.2.4 Comparison of findings ....................................... 78 5.0 CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 Introduction .................................................. 81 5.2 Summary of findings and conclusions ............................ 81 5.3 Recommendations ............................................ 86 5.4 Recommendations for future research ............................ 87 viii LIST OF FIGURES Chapter 1 Fig 2.26. Calico Bottle House,Yermo, CA. 22 Fig 1.01. Bottles throughout its life , passing through many stages and processes. 1 Fig 2.27. Knott’s Berry Farm Bottle House Buena Park, CA . 22 Fig 1.02. Image of plastic bottles and waste dumped at Watamu beach . 2 Fig 2.28. Grandma Prisbrey’s bottle village. 22 Fig 1.03. Image of plastic bottle in the ocean. 2 Fig 2.29. The Wimberley Bottle House . 22 Fig 1.04. Figure showing material resource efficiency. 3 Fig 2.30. The Flowood Bottle House. 22 Fig 2.01. Image showing waste management hierarchy. 8 Fig 2.31. The six gabled house . 23 Fig 2.32. The tavern . 23 Chapter 2 Fig 2.33. The Chapel . 23 Fig 2.02. Image showing waste management hierarchy. 8 Fig 2.34. The Washington Court Bottle. 23 Fig 2.03. Image of secondary material. 9 Fig 2.35. Bottle House Gift Shop Alexandria, LA . 23 Fig 2.04. Image of post-industrial by-product . 9 Fig 2.36. Image showing a section of glass bottle in compression . 24 Fig 2.05. Image of post-consumer waste. 9 Fig 2.37. Parts of a glass bottle.. 24 Fig 2.06. Image showing three earths . 12 Fig 2.38. Internal pressure cause Tension stress in the External surface. 24 Fig 2.07. Image showing a large dressed stone. 13 Fig 2.39. Image of glass bottles. 25 Fig 2.08. Image showing reformulation of products after the end of their life span Fig 2.40. Image of cullet. 25 in Villa Welpeloo by 2012 Architects. 13 Fig 2.41. Glass made from recycled glass bottles. 25 Fig 2.09. The linear economy and waste management. 14 Fig 2.42. Image of plastic bottles. 26 Fig 2.10. Linear metabolism – cities consume and pollute at a high rate . 14 Fig 2.43. Plastic bottle wall construction. 26. Fig 2.11. Traditional Architecture Cycle . 14 Fig 2.44. Bottle wall made of Plastic PET