Nexus of EcoSocial Thought

Exploration of alternative uses of plastic continues with Project Plastic NEST!

Plastic NEST (Nexus of EcoSocial Thought) revalorizes plastic and non-native plant “waste” and mimics nature’s regenerative principles to explore novel material properties. We use our hands and imagination to construct environmentally harmonious creations, from teacup frog keychains to phragmites and Japanese knotweed-wrapped domes.

With the voices of creative MakeHaven makers, Séliš tribe members, the Mapuche, and Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven community changemakers as guides, Plastic NEST will construct a geodesic dome using recycled plastic joints, discarded wooden beams, and woven phragmites and Japanese knotweed (two non-native plant species) textiles. It will stand as a physical testament to the promise of plastic recycling, along with other multifold purposes: a wall for plants to climb, a temporary shelter from the rain, an artistic canvas, and a commemoration of indigenous technology.

The COVID-19 pandemic magnified the impact of redlining in New Haven’s Newhallville neighborhood, exacerbating challenges such as limited access to natural spaces and community disconnection. To respond to these injustices, my team, Plastic Nexus of EcoSocial Thought (Plastic NEST), will collaborate with Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven (NHS) to construct a geodesic dome as an art installation/greenhouse at Shepard Street Community Garden. The dome will redefine conventional notions of waste by using repurposed plastic and “invasive” plant species as construction materials. We intend to create opportunities for residents to strengthen ties to each other and their environment by renewing an underutilized urban green space.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAFvrOq8XDs/aUdmWrXdDskDOtRAeyN6ug/view?utm_content=DAFvrOq8XDs&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor

Overarching Goals

• Responsible sourcing and transportation of materials
• Collaboration & Community-building
• Placemaking & psychogeography
• Emulation of Indigenous Practices
• Nature-friendly construction
• Promotion of a circular, regenerative economy
• Recognition of nature’s claim of human creations

The Process (an unexpectedly rocky one)

The following is a collection of triumphs and qualms experienced during the geodesic dome’s preparation and final construction. (Take it as an unfiltered glimpse into the process :) ).