LENORA LI
What Remains
Where Nuclear History Meets Ongoing Disposal
The project draws from the geometric form of the containers used to transport and store radioactive waste. Their forms are abstracted into building volumes scattered across the site, echoing the distribution of the disposal areas while creating a new architectural landscape. Glass forms the primary architectural shell, using different levels of transparency and frosted finishes to create layered views, filtered light, and varying degrees of openness throughout the visitor's journey.
Three tilted cubic volumes create distinct angled spaces that shape different visitor experiences. Together they house an exhibition space introducing the history of nuclear testing, an immersive space conveying the immense power of nuclear explosions, and a contemplative space for reflection on the lasting impact of radioactive waste.
As part of the contemplative space, the original tunnel once used to access the nuclear test device is re-excavated and revealed as a preserved artifact. Rather than allowing visitors to enter, the tunnel remains an inaccessible vertical void, inviting them to look into a hidden fragment of the site's history. Its exposure transforms a buried piece of infrastructure into a quiet moment of reflection before the journey continues to the crater floor.
At the bottom of the crater, an installation of empty steel barrels references the containers used for radioactive waste disposal. Mirrored surfaces create the illusion of an endless field of barrels, encouraging visitors to reflect on the scale and permanence of nuclear waste.
By turning the descent into a sequence of spatial experiences, the project transforms an invisible history into something visitors can see, feel, and reflect upon.
Individual Work Fall 2025
Pre-design Research ↓
