Analyzing the Human Sphere With the Circular Economy Model in Post-Earthquake Construction: Meche’s House

Abstract

Meche’s House is a post-earthquake house construction in Pedro Carbo, Ecuador. This article is based on the analysis of this construction under a specific model called Circular Economy (CE). The CE analyzes the flows of matter and energy, ensuring that everything recirculates in the system, causing the so-called waste to become a nutrient for new processes. This article explains the traditional concept of CE, based on the butterfly model by Ellen MacArthur Foundation which inserts flows of matter and energy in two spheres: biosphere and technosphere. However, this article inserts and analyzes a new one: the human sphere. The system for the construction of Meche’s House is analyzed especially under the latter sphere, to understand the local people as a resource within the system flows, emphasizing the post-earthquake context.