Normalizing Nuclear //

Year 3 // Professor Tracy Moir-McClean.

Prompt // Concrete.

Site // Phipps Bend Nuclear Power Plant Ruins.

CONCRETE

Concrete is more than just a material—it represents an idea and a process that reinforces the everyday nature of ordinary objects. As a material, concrete serves as both a structural support and an aesthetic element. As an idea and process, concrete addresses the routine aspects of life. It traces the journey of a door, from the tree that provides the raw material, to the harvester, to the factory, to the finished product, and finally to the door’s installation on hinges. This process has become "set in concrete," meaning the most efficient method of creating the door has been established and remains unchanged unless there is a need for innovation. Moreover, concrete embodies the concept of bringing together disparate parts into a unified whole—a principle that can be applied to design, requiring careful consideration of multiple factors.

NUCLEAR POWER

Reconstructing our understanding of nuclear power through the lens of time, seasonal and chemical changes, and the process by which nuclear energy is produced, offers a deeper awareness of energy consumption and its profound implications on humanity.