POST WAR
In the current constructed environment, which already have many buildings that are either obsolete or in a state of neglect and disrepair, the issue of preservation should not be disregarded. Especially when considering the current global climate emergency, which has been exacerbated by wastefulness. The built environment is a major contributor to these challenges, so it should be part of the solution. Demolishing reusable buildings and constructing new ones in their place will only add to stresses on our planet’s finite natural resources.
For many years, the US military has built and maintained numerous military bases across 80 countries, totaling around 750 bases. The US has significantly more bases than all other nations combined, with an annual estimated cost of $55 billion for construction and maintenance. However, the Department of Defense (DoD) acknowledged the importance of maintaining military readiness and efficiency by closing some installations and redefining the mission of others. Ford Ord as one of the biggest military base at the west coast, for nearly 80 years, recruits reporting to central California’s Fort Ord considered themselves the lucky ones, privileged to live and work amid sparkling seas, sandy dunes and sage-covered hills. Fort Ord was added to the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of the most polluted places in the United States in 1990, four years prior to its closure as an active military training base. By taking Ford Ord as a case study, to assess and investigate a new approach to reconsidering the post-military life of military bases.
LOCATION: California, US
ON VIEW:May, 2023
AREA: NA
STATUS: Research