DESIGN DIARY
andrew morrison
to be read in conjunction with the design studio blog which was updated throughout the year www.wsadt.net/category/andrew
D.DIARY 09/10
contents 06
profile
08
henrietta street
10
dissertation
12
primer
20
site
32
programme
35
development
42
precedent
49
conclusion
D.DIARY 09/10
3
profile Self sufficiency has always been an interest of mine; with mans ability to provide for oneself seen as one of the major satisfactions in life. The current process from which we rely on to obtain food in Britain (as outlined in my dissertation) is an extremely fragile system; one where the producer and consumer rarely come into contact and are detached. The over reliance on the ‘producer’ (a distant and incomprehensible entity), which the consumer has become subjected to has resulted in a system which, when analysed using fractal discourse, could fail if any branch of the system was to be broken. This would effectively result in the consumer being totally disconnected from the food chain. This fragility, coupled with the fact that Supermarkets within the UK only have 3 days worth of food in store, mean that unless we recognise and react to this crisis soon then we will risk social chaos similar to that associated with the developing world. A deep fuel crisis would cut consumers from the distributive network leaving a large proportion of the community facing the prospect of limited or in some cases no food.
fresh produce
a large variety of produce is available to the consumer through networking producers
self sustenant communities
A diagrammatic representation of a community of internet traders dealing in home grown produce. A collaborative approach to self sustenance is born. D.DIARY 09/10
5
16_Henrietta street
-Should the site remain vacant or should we now consider the potential of the site? -What form of architecture is suitable for such a site? -Is it appropriate to reinstate the missing half of No. 15 treating the street as an early-to-mid 18th century architectural set piece, or do we address the site by re-looking at the street as a showcase for high quality architecture that is representative of this generation?
the proposal: rear view of number 15 from henrietta place.
The study trip to Dublin provided the first design opportunity of the year; an inter-year competition based on a 2006 riai comPetition Brief. Principle questions were posed:
incubation has been established as a means of meeting a variety of economic and
september
An opportunity for a BUSINESS INCUBATOR has been identified, designed to accelerate the successful development of entrepreneurial companies in and around Dublin. Business
09
socioeconomic policy needs, which include; -creating jobs and wealth -fostering a communities entrepreneurial climate -diversifying local economies
from top, approach to number 15 from Henrietta Street. The east elevation is highly articulated providing a framework for activity within.
D.DIARY 09/10
7
dissertation ‘This dissertation seeks to develop a theoretical and practical understanding of the feasibility of urban agriculture, within the context of London. The application of urban agriculture as an accessible food source for urban communities is also examined. The results are then used to outline feasible and accessible methods of implementation within the wider urban environment. To achieve these aims, this dissertation initially establishes the current means by which London obtains much of its food and highlights the capital’s over reliance on imported goods. This provides an understanding of the fragility of such a system and investigates whether urban agriculture can become A means to an accessible food system in London’. a method of reducing the capital’s imports. The history of urban agriculture within London is assessed and it is from this understanding that the benefits of urban agriculture are then outlined. The case study of Cuba is used to highlight potential benefits and to manifest a rationale for urban agricultures application. In an effort to highlight the impact food production has on land use, differing dietary scenarios are used to depict London as an entirely self sufficient community. Through a graphical depiction, it is made clear that producing food for a population on which London imposes, impacts vastly on the both land it occupies and it’s ancillary. This dissertation concludes by suggesting feasible, innovative responses to the urban food abstract from the dissertation crisis and authenticates urban agriculture as an accessible healthy food source’.
‘AN EDIBLE URBAN LANDSCAPE
september
09
From left: Second World War posters were prevalent in a government bid to boost food stocks , whilst city inhabitants transformed public parks such as Clapham Common into areas of food production.
D.DIARY 09/10
9
primer The Primer was my first chance to react to the crisis with preliminary efforts contributing to home growing. ‘Life Box’ was initiated, a box designed to provide the ideal growing environment within the home and a time lapse was setup to record and promote the growing process. Once sown, the next 2 weeks saw ‘Life Box’ evolve from a sterile life less environment to one full of purpose and essentially nutrients for the ‘producer’ to consume. The flexible and portable nature of ‘Life Box’ became a an advert for home growing in areas which would not normally be associated with food production, also aiding others to visualise the food production potential of many disused spaces within the home or at work. It was never expected that ‘Life Box’ would create enough produce for one to survive, nor was it a prescriptive necessity for every household. It is simply a promotional tool for the renaissance of self sufficiency. The time lapse video http://www. wsadt.net/2009/11/life-box-time-lapse/ proved how a very small space could soon contribute towards self sustenance and would hopefully encourage others to follow suit; no matter how big or small the addition was, it go some way to reducing the over dependence on the current fragile agricultural system.
from top day 1, day 5 and day 11 stills taken form the time lapse recording
october 09
conceptual images were used to portray the notion of an automated agricultural system
D.DIARY 09/10
11
primer
‘Life Box’ would aid the creation of a new agricultural system, one composed of producers and consumers at every level. Together, both would give rise to a NODAL SYSTEM which could expand and contract in any direction in what would be known as ‘open source’ agriculture. The OPEN SOURCE system relies on the networking of ‘prosumers’, its survival relying on each node contributing to the system through the processes of producing and consuming. The ‘Life box’ would be the base entry level, i.e. the minimum requirements one needs in order to become eligible for the system. Collaboratively, prosumer communities would alleviate the over dependency on others to produce and hence reduce the devastating presence of the supermarket in towns and cities today. The primer was also a chance to explore how much of the system could be automated i.e. in the form of a remotely controllable form of agriculture. This would promote Life Box as a framework (through an internet user interface) for remote sowing, watering and harvesting after premises from the MIT into robotic farming. The question lies as to where the prosumer then interacts with the system? An automated system would suggest that the interaction came through the life box interface rather than having direct contact with the growing process. Both have merit, but it is now my decision as to where ‘ProSumer arcHitecture’ leads.
life BoX
will be part of a non contracting system where an infinite
tiling of cells is possible. The success lies in the fact that every node is both a producer and consumer, contributing to a more structurally sound agricultural model
november october 09
D.DIARY 09/10
13
primer
The next stage of the primer has involved thinking about the ‘life box’ system in more detail. I believe the strength of the proposal lies in the EXTENDED NETWORK itself; and, has led me towards exploring cyclical and closed loop systems where each micro-environment’s output becomes anothers input. The Biosphere ll experiment is example of one of these regulated environments which occurred in Arizona in the 1970’s. The experiment, and the unprecedented efforts made to ensure the system was kept enclosed, has made me question the practicalities and purpose of such a system. Realistically, one would never be expected to live in say Biosphere II apart from if it were for the purpose of scientific research. As long as each component of the micro environment offsets another’s output then a community doesn’t necessarily need to exist within a closed environment. The image right explores the SymBiotic relationship of different components within a system. For example, organic waste produced from living quarters could be converted to produce both CO2 for plants and mechanical energy. Through aquaponics, fish and crustaceans could fertilize the water for plants and crops which in turn oxygenate the water for the fish.... Individually, each component is function less. But when combined a system of PROSUMERS is created.
Early investigations into cloSed looP SyStemS were made in a bid to understand the relationship between different potential programmes
november 09
The community of ‘prosumers’ would communicate via the ‘Life Box’ web page, allowing any surplus produce which users may have to be advertised, with any wanted items being traded in return. From left: the home weB Page of the life box system was developed in conjunction with the uSer interface
D.DIARY 09/10
15
primer
The Primer has given me the chance to respond to a subject which I believe is extremely topical within today’s society. We must all respond to the notion of food Security
collectively, before it’s too late. An open
source network of P r o s u m e r s is one method to try to combat the issue. By providing and promoting a framework for this to exist we can hopefully go some way to protecting our cities from the inevitable urBan food criSiS.
the cost of each component from ‘life box’; view its assembly at www.wsadt.net/2009/10/the-birth-of-the-growing-machine/
december 09
The current agricultural system; structurally unstable where every ‘branch’ is connected directly or indirectly to every other, but will break in half if any branch of the structure is sethered.
D.DIARY 09/10
17
tHesis site_ Blackfriars Bridge central london
RATIONALE_ London typifies many cities globally with the Soil Association estimating that it currently imports 80% of its food. The model by which London imports and sustains it food supplies is extremely unsustainable and cannot continue. Evidently, London’s population accounts for only 12% of Britain’s total population yet it requires the equivalent of the entire productive land of Britain to sustain itself. Current farming techniques need to react to the impending urban food crisis if we are to avoid global food shortages within urban environments.
december 09
a still from the time lapse video which can be viewed at http://www.wsadt.net/2009/12/blackfriars-bridge/ D.DIARY 09/10
19
tHesis
rationale_Site intensification and the pressures placed on site use have lead to a skyline dominated by high rise buildings across the capital. Developers seeking high returns on proposals mean ecological intensification and amenity space are rarely favoured, instead urban intensification is usually understood to be purely through built form. Innovative approaches are needed when searching for potential sites of amenity, with re use and renovation highly favoured. Blackfriars bridge is the only bridge in London to have a direct north south axis. The axial model explores this notion further
background_Blackfriars has two operational bridges at present, the earliest of which is the road and foot bridge (furthest west), built in 1769 and the other, the rail bridge is used by Thameslink and was built in 1886. tHe PillarS in between the two indicate where the original 1864 bridge stood and are what I intend to inhabit in my proposal.
by depicting the relationship between the differing axis which surround the site. The axis and isovist grids, which are governed by the protected views to St. Paul’s, will both heavily influence the parameters I have to work between.
right: green spaces in London are shown in black and include back-gardens, parks and waterways. All of which, if utilized, could help to increase the amount of food we produce in the capital. It is clear that as one moves towards the site the amount ‘green space’ diminishes.
december 09
1
3
2
1_the site at Blackfriars Bridge 2_Waterloo 3_London Bridge D.DIARY 09/10
21
tHesis
Parasitic forms caused by engineering works dominate the site at present, providing a finer grain of tectonic expression against the two existing industrial bridges.
The piers are the only remnants of the old London to Chatham Railway bridge which was dismantled in 1985 due to its inability to cope with the loads of modern freight.
december 09
The existing piers provide the opportunity for inhabitation, without the need for additional structural columns. The site is unique and potentially of huge significance within the centre of London D.DIARY 09/10
23
tHesis
Blackfriars are the only bridges in central London to have a direct north south orientation, providing the framework for potentially the ideal URBAN GROWING ENVIRONMENT. What is highlighted in the map opposite and in particularly the film, is that the site sits in the middle of a transport interchange. The static piers depict the remnants of the old London Chatham and Dover Railway, whilst in stark contrast, the rail and road bridges carry a hive of activity. Perpendicular to all this lies the Thames, a means to ferry passengers from east to west London. These components all contribute to the sites characteristics of an ORTHOGONAL AND NODAL TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE.
The complex web of infrastructure which surrounds the site has the potential to cater for the efficient distribution of goods
december 09
D.DIARY 09/10
25
tHesis
The site and infrastructure were modelled early on in a bid to understand the complex relationship the differing nodes of transport created. It was vital to analyse not only what was on the surface but, more interestingly, it was what was ‘sub-urban’ that created the greatest excitement. The thought is that it will become ever more intricate as the project progresses, with the ‘building’ being wired into position as and when it evolves. Principle moves are represented by the perforated plane which reacts to the differing systems which cross the site.
The differing modes of transport are represented by a variety of different thickness tubes, all to scale to one another. Ferry, road, rail, pedestrian, tube, sewage and bird connections have all been modelled at the respective heights that they occur.
january 10
D.DIARY 09/10
27
tHesis 01 The River Thames 02 Figure ground 03 Protected views of St Paul’s 04 Network of food markets 05 The direct web of food markets 01
02
06 Routes between existing markets 07 The proposed network of prosumers with the hub located on the site 08 The principle north south axis is juxtaposed to the
03
04
05
06
07
08
Site analysis_ coupled with the previously mentioned infrastructure model, analysis was needed at a larger scale.
meandering Thames
february 10
suBterranean city: A conceptual image depicting London, for all intents and purposes, being built more on rebutressed volumes of air than on solid ground.
D.DIARY 09/10
29
THESIS A day in the life of: each activity has been identified and plotted along the time line in an effort to understanding the frequency and overlap each activity brings. The X axis indicates the hours in a day with the Y highlighting the fluctuations within each use.
Programme_The MetroAg Innoversity is a new action learning
institution dedicated to initiating the processes necessary to create meaningful change in the agricultural and food sectors. In six cities worldwide, the Innoversity will convene multistakeholder teams from across the food system, to begin taking concrete steps towards more sustainable agriculture in cities.
‘The Innoversity combines the traditional purpose of a university- education and researchwith learning from on-the-ground innovation, testing and piloting practical innovations in the field. The Innoversity is a shared platform for innovation and change between participating cities; it is a network for sharing and co-creating knowledge and experience gathered from projects all around the world’. Peter Senge, MIT based author, researcher & educator
The site will act as a service station for the many allotments which are envisaged as inhabiting the Thames. They exist in response to the growing need to produce within our urban environment. The allotments are all independently owned and are similar to barges in both appearance and structure. In order to maintain access along the Thames for the various modes which pass, the docking station will inhabit the northern bank and first arch way, keeping the three other arches free for ferries etc. This archway is only accessible during high tide, hence the symbiotic relationship between the allotment activity and the tidal range shown opposite. The majority of the other activities listed are to occur predominately during office hours, with peak flows occurring during the hours of lunch.
Promoting independent commerce within our urban environment
Germination will be one of the largest spatial volumes, nurturing seedlings which can either be exported, sold in the market hall or planted in one of the floating allotments. Germination will be closely linked to natural lighting levels which should also be plotted. Artificial light is seen as a potential means to enhance growth.
february 10
D.DIARY 09/10
31
tHesis
The relationship between different programmatic elements was explored, providing useful information on the technological requirements of internal environments and ideal spatial adjacencies.
Initial design moves are to concentrate mass to the north of the site around the area of the existing Blackfriars Station
The initial response is to
february
Early exploration of mass through physical modelling:
10
concentrate the massing to the north and to inhabit the existing piers with a pedestrian link across the Thames which will run through part of the proposal. The third part, as I like to think of it (part one being mass, part 2- pedestrian link) , is the external atrium which will run through the heart of the mass, providing a visual link between the various floors and functions. At this stage I envisage tHe floorS
from each level being the
most prominent aspect of the design, hence the reason behind modelling the mass though only planes which represent each floor. The floors could be separated using a truss or through the more conventional column. The reason for this is to maintain a maximum level of tranSParency and ‘honesty’ into the goings on within the building.
D.DIARY 09/10
33
THESIS
The crit the previous week has resulted in a refinement of the programme. I believe the proposal should be centred around the idea of a service station for allotments- which would predominantly be floating but could also help to provide materials, seeds etc to one of the many traditional allotments in the borough of Southwark. The reason for this is to ensure the programme informs the architecture, rather than the contrary. The programme is extremely unusual, along with the choice of site and I believe that it is this aspect of the thesis which should be as distinguishable as possible when viewing the project at later dates. This process of refinement has led me to believe that I should trim out aspects such as auditoria, meeting rooms, libraries etc and concentrate on the functional requirements of a service station. Offices, storage (for materials which are later sold to the public) and the market are the aspects which I intend to keep, along with cranes and robotic arms spanning between the existing piers tending to the barges below.
The notion of growing on water can already be found in New York : The Science Barge grows crops using a hydroponic greenhouse powered by solar panels, wind turbines, and biofuels. The crops in the greenhouse are irrigated by captured rainwater and desalinated river water.
I have started to visualise the nature of the service station from the south bank of the River Thames- the market hall present on the north bank and the more industrial activities spanning between the existing piers to the south. Also shown are further interpretations of the floating allotments which will inhabit the Thames. Initial studies indicate some sort of a control tower occupying the central most piers, with ancillary spaces such as offices and storage spaces also inhabiting this area of the site.
february 10
D.DIARY 09/10
35
tHesis
the existing piers provide the platform from which the proposed can sit
the proposal will allow access to be maintained
site axo
a 1:500 model which I used to explore the structural constraints of the site. Following
february
Below are a few images from
10
the notion of only using the existing piers to ground my proposal, I explored the geometry which was set up by these existing piers, whilst baring in mind the initial thoughts I have had on mass and programme. The main principles were to span between each pier whilst maintaining access beneath for passing traffic. Therefore, there is the inevitable contraction of geometry around the mid point of each span and the heightening of geometry above each pier.
D.DIARY 09/10
37
THESIS
Following on from my parameter studies which were completed earlier this week, I have started to relate the investigation to massing. The sketch below is based on the idea that form/ programme will be concentrated around each set of piers, with a pedestrian link spanning between. This is contrary to the initial response of a compact form to the north of the site. By spreading the programme across the site, the programme becomes embedded within the pedestrian link rather than it seen as a separate entity. The piers will provide the structure from which barges can dock and be tended to; with produce being transported vertically up to the pedestrian level where it can be sold to the general public. Each pier would have differing characteristics dependent on the produce which has been harvested at water level. Some could for instance, be characterised by the servicing of the barges whilst others would revolve around the activity of trading produce.
february 10 sketch study of one of the piers. Main features include the docking station, market and service area
long section through The Thames looking east which demonstrates the revised massing strategy
D.DIARY 09/10
39
THESIS
The decision to incorporate programme and in turn mass, along the length of the site has led me towards thinking about a structure which is deeply embedded within the form; hence the structural system becomes highly informative when considering the formal proposition. Origami, from ori meaning “folding”, and kami meaning “paper”, is the traditional Japanese folk art of paper folding, which started in the 17th century AD and was popularized in the mid-1900s. The techniques deployed in Origami were explored through physical modelling, with the aim of finding intricate structural solutions to spanning between to fixed points i.e. the existing piers.
Precedent_Photo courtesy Diller + Scofidio The dark side of domestic life is a recurring subject. The project Bad Press: Dissident Ironing (1993 - 98) uses men’s shirts to rethink the everyday task of ironing, coming up with unexpected alternatives for folding, buttoning and pressing a man’s shirt, and examining expectations of domestic perfection.
march 10
Origami sketch model were used when exploring the notion of embedded structures with it culminating in deploying these techniques to scale across the site. D.DIARY 09/10
41
THESIS
Barge calculations_ The study looks at the area between Waterloo and Tower Bridge, a 3 km stretch of the river Thames. I have started to calculate the potential ‘growing power’ of the barges, with initial calculations suggesting that the area between Tower Bridge and Waterloo (a 3km stretch of the Thames) could serve up to 836 people. This is based on the fact that there are currently 55 barges occupying this stretch of water, covering 33,000m2. A traditional allotment of 250m2 during the Second World War was estimated at providing enough fresh vegetables to cater for the annual needs of 6 people. These calculations do not take into consideration the fact that farming hydroponically on the barges could increase this figure. If London’s average population density of 4,800 ppl/km2 is applied to this data, then, if only the EXISTING barges are devoted to food production then this area of the Thames could cater for 34% of the population. There is the potential for this figure to increase if additional structures are proposed.
The data has all stemmed from my dissertation- a key book was called ‘The Allotment’ which claimed that during WW2, 1.3 million allotments were producing 2 million tons of vegetables each year. The standard allotment size was 250m2 and it is from this data that the calculations can be formulated
march 10
D.DIARY 09/10
43
THESIS
Design development_This spread displays the design in its primitive state. The programme is deployed along the length of the site, with the market for independent commerce at the public walkway level. The clarity of the structure is a characteristic which I believe should be distinct, much like the heavy industrial nature of the two neighboring bridges. However, what I feel is lacking is this initial design is the richness the programme brings and the lack of ‘green space’ at public level. There is a real opportunity for the public route to be heavily integrated with greenery, something which would be of great value in the centre of London.
long section looking east_ the form is starting to react to the different forms of programme, but greater variation is needed
from sketch to design_ points of contacted were created on every pier with structure and form spanning between
march elevation studies
10
cross section_ the form must maintain access through and is in close proximity to the existing Blackfrairs Rail Bridge
D.DIARY 09/10
45
THESIS
march
massing development_from the north bank of the Thames: conceptions of a ramping public route from one side of the river to the other with a ‘productive surface’ above (shown in pink). Independently owned allotments will be sized in accordance by the hours the individual has to spend each week; making it a far more manageable and feasible activity for many of London’s busy office workers. Cuba took a similar design approach, where the masterplanning of productive plots was governed by what was deemed suitable for one person to cultivate as a full time occupation. 500m2 was the maximum area for one individual, and with this in mind, I have abstracted the figure to an area per hour per week (12.5m2).
10
spatial investigations: initial sketches which explore the route across the site. The points at which the route becomes internal coincides where the programme is deployed D.DIARY 09/10
47
april-june 10
conclusion_the primer progressed the notion of self sufficiency, which was a key outcome of my dissertation. The thesis is providing a response to the urban food crisis, highlighting the need for change in the way we obtain our food in urban environments. The months of April to June will be spent developing the proposal in more detail , with particular efforts gearing towards an integrated structural strategy. How the structure relates to the form is also key with particular reference to its synthesis within the building fabric. A ‘green’ public route is something that I would like to bring out further in the design, through the deployment of public allotments. The notion of producing food on water needs to be clearly identified when viewing the project at a later date.
Project developments can be found at www.wsadt.net/category/andrew
D.DIARY 09/10
49
andrew morrison andycmorrison85@gmail.com