The Behemoth : Where Plastic Becomes Flesh and Architecture Remembers

We live in a world of crisis, our planet is unwell, and our future hangs in uncertainty. Plastic emerged as a revolutionary material in the post-World War II era. With its affordability, versatility, and durability, it quickly became a cornerstone of modern consumerism and the “throwaway” culture that defined mid-20th-century living. For decades, plastic was celebrated as a wonder material, a symbol of progress and convenience. Today, we are confronted with its darker legacy: plastic polluting our oceans, microplastics infiltrating ecosystems and even human bodies. Once revered, plastic is now vilified as a symbol of environmental degradation and unsustainable living. But let’s face an uncomfortable truth: we cannot entirely stop certain global phenomena once and all immediately. Populations continue to rise, cities continue to expand, and plastic remains embedded in modern life. The question is not whether we can eliminate plastic or not, but how we can right our wrong and rethink its role in our world. I believe design holds the power to challenge conventions and propose new paths forward. While architecture alone cannot solve all our crises, it offers a unique opportunity for intervention. What if we could transform plastic into a building material, one that is accessible, economical, and sourced locally from recycled waste? What if cities reclaimed ownership of their discarded plastics, creating a circular system where waste becomes a true local material? This thesis explores the potential of plastic as a material for architecture, and perhaps, as a tool for reimagining our relationship with waste, materials, and the built environment. It further explore how specific architectural interventions might influence psychology, perception, behavior, lifestyles, social hierarchies, and the political and socioeconomic fabric of urban landscapes.