Of
the
thesis
entitled:ÌýTALES
OF
THE
MAUNSELL
SEA
FORTS
|ÌýA
Philosophy
of
Making
in
the
Anthropocene
Abstract:
The
Age
of
the
Anthropocene
is
marked
by
aÌýshift
in
power
between
the
relationship
of
nature
and
man.
For
the
first
timeÌýin
human
history
we
are
actively
shaping
the
environmental
systems
around
us
onÌýa
planetary
scale,
causing
repercussions
beyond
our
scope
ofÌýunderstanding.
AsÌýsuch
the
implications
for
how
we
as
a
species
should
live
in
this
paradoxicalÌýage
of
scarcity
and
abundance
are
undefined.
Although
mention
of
theÌýAnthropocene
has
pervaded
into
popular
culture
in
recent
years
the
study
ofÌýthis
geological
era
is
still
inÌýits
infancy.
Ìý
Elsewhere,
in
the
Thames
Estuary
twelveÌýmiles
off
the
nearest
coast,
a
collection
of
peculiar
structures
can
be
found.ÌýThey
are
the
Maunsell
Sea
Forts;
a
series
of
abandoned
military
installationsÌýcreated
during
World
War
II.
Primarily
constructed
out
of
steel
and
concreteÌýthe
towers
seemingly
appear
out
of
the
water.
These
outposts
had
a
successfulÌýcareer
defending
the
United
Kingdom
against
German
air-raids
throughout
theÌýwar,
until
they
were
later
decommissioned,
stripped
of
their
armaments,
andÌýleft
to
the
elements.
Since
then
theÌýtowers
have
been
sporadically
appropriatedÌýfor
a
variety
of
different
purposes
while
steadily
falling
into
ruination.
WithÌýan
aesthetic
almost
as
fantastic
as
their
history
the
Maunsell
Sea
Forts
have
aÌýunique
ability
to
capture
the
imagination.Ìý
Ìý
Utilizing
the
Anthropocene
as
the
backdrop,
the
Maunsell
Sea
Forts
as
theÌýprotagonist,
and
fictional
tales
as
the
vehicle,
this
thesis
investigates
whatÌýit
means
to
be
a
designer
and
builder
in
the
current
global
context.
ItÌýexplores
concepts
surrounding
transformative
use,Ìýmaterial
realities,
andÌýproductive
ruination
in
order
to
develop
a
philosophy
of
making
founded
on
anÌýacceptance
of
impermanence.
Told
through
a
mixture
of
essays,
stories,
andÌýillustrations,
this
thesis
creates
a
platform
to
speculate
at
the
role
of
theÌýarchitect
for
theÌýmodern
age.Ìý
The examining committee is as follows:
Supervisor:
AndrewÌýLevitt,ÌýUniversity of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ
CommitteeÌýMembers:
Rick Andrighetti, University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ
JaneÌýHutton, University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵÌý Ìý ÌýÌý
External Reader:
FredÌýThompsonÌý
The
committee
has
been
approved
as
authorized
by
the
Graduate
Studies
Committee.
The
Defence
Examination
will
take
place:
Ìý
Monday
JuneÌý5,
2017Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
ÌýÌý
6:00
PMÌýÌýÌý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
BRIDGE
Centre
for
Architecture
+
Design
A
copy
of
the
thesis
is
available
for
perusal
in
ARC
2106A.