Precisely Loose: Unraveling the Potential of Particles

Abstract

Random, irregular, erratic, arbitrary, unspecifiable, and unpredictable—particles. In a post-extractive future, our reliance on standardized materials, continuously sourced through the exploitation of raw resources, will no longer be sustainable. Instead, architecture will increasingly contend with materials that defy standardization. This thesis focuses on these non-normative materials—particles, encompassing construction demolition debris, manufacturing defects, naturally occurring gravels, and locally sourced mineral waste. Ubiquitous yet underutilized, these materials hold potential not only for use, but also for reuse. However, they are often dismissed as rigid and unpredictable ingredients that require precise manipulation and cumbersome processing in order to achieve predictable results. What kind of architecture could emerge if we embraced the inherent nature of these particles, not as rigid materials to be controlled, but as dynamic, fluid entities? By embracing their uncertainty as a generative design agent, how would design approaches and construction processes transform? This thesis presents a catalogue of precisely loose methods for engaging with particles. These methods offer an alternative design approach that moves beyond the obsession with refinement and control over material behavior. By pouring, pushing, reconfiguring, and containing—in lieu of identifying, cutting, placing, and stacking—this series of interactions explores the potential of plurality, investigating how loosely controlled particles can adapt to collaborative construction processes. In doing so, this thesis redefines architectural material culture rooted in rubble, offering a framework to reimagine our relationship with the irregular, the unpredictable, and the overlooked.