BioReaction by antonio nevada martinez

BIOREACTION NIGER DELTA

ANTONIO NEVADA MARTINEZ

5th Year Comprehensive Architecture project

Day 0 Premise

The Niger Delta is one of the most biologically diverse and dense regions on the planet. However, the discovery of crude oil 50 years ago has led to ecological and political damage that has all but destroyed the once thriving rainforest community. In their relentless quest for the “Sweet Bonny Crude,” the multinational corporations have built an infrastructural network for the exploration, extraction, and storage of oil. Now that many the components of that network are beginning to fail, either due to lack of maintenance, lack of production, or violence from local paramilitary groups, the proprietors are abandoning those components.

What they leave behind is a wretched and unliveable environmental disaster, but there are plants, animals, and people who still live there. And they will continue to live there because it is their land. This project’s purpose is to document the theoretical transformation of an existing unliveable area back into an environment where a community can live, and even thrive. It will be that very community

that catalyses the transformation of their own environment to suit their needs. Luckily, that is the Nigerians’ speciality. They often say, “If you can live in Naija, you can thrive anywhere else.” This characteristic is the result of a century of uninhibited foreign exploitation and an openly corrupt governing body. In the Delta, the corruption and exploitation is so concentrated that the people have taken to arms. After fifteen years of violent conflict, the situation has only become more complex, and in the worst of ways. Oil spills have increased exponentially due to the efforts of the paramilitary groups to steal oil from vandalized infrastructure in order to pay for weapons. The Delta has become one of the worst places to live in the world.

Like everywhere else in Nigeria, the people need to find a way to make it work on their own, and they will. In a

conversation with Dr. Anthony Adebayo, he told me, “The problem, is the people. The solution must also be the people.” As the head of the architecture department at the University of Lagos, he had plenty to say when asked about the role of the built environment in Nigeria. He, his colleagues, and his students have proven that the extreme complexity and contradiction that makes Nigeria so volatile, also makes it potent.

If necessity is truly the mother of invention, then the need present in the Niger Delta will bear a revolution. This revolution will begin in one place that represents many: where the inhabitants will reclaim the land and the responsibility for it. They will have to transform it into a place that people will want to live in.

But as of today, day 0, it is just one of hundreds of attacked, abandoned oil production platforms in Bayelsa State.

Premise Day 1 METHOD, CONTENT, SCOPE Past, Present, Future Setting Built Environment Natural Environment Site Analysis Program + Progression Initial Design Study Models Drawings Offshore Rig Found Material Taxonomy Model Salvaged + Source Life Safety Redesign Final Design Detail Model Digital Perspectives Final Drawings Chronology Local Precedents Design Precedents Thanks Day999Begin Again Elsewhere

13 20 21 28

50 54 56 58 60 64 70

72 76

90 92 96 98 108 130 138 142 6

Since I have not yet been to this exact site, this document will be a fictional account written about the comprehensive project as it could hypothetically unfold. The accounts of journalists, authors, historians, and my Nigerian friends will be the inspiration for the characters and events within. One could even say that this work is dedicated to those who have risked everything to gain those accounts, to tell the stories of those who are “invisible,” those who suffer indirectly from our lavish way of life. The setting for this transformation is one of the thousands of abandoned oil spills in the Niger Delta.

I will document it from the perspective of an architect that has travelled to a specific place in the Niger Delta, in order to be a part of this transformation. There will be six of us, from

different disciplines, unified as a team that will move to the site and begin remedeating the area. The local paramilitaries will stand guard through the weeks as the spill is contained, refined, and sent out in barrels to the black market to produce “startup capital.” Although there is not a need for much because the site has plenty of industrial design able to be repurposed into architecture. After a year, the oil is all but gone and clothes are being hung out to dry over pieces of the flow station. Another year later, the trees are back to full health while corn and cassava are germinating in half of the places seeds were planted. As more people come, the need arises for a more permanent transformation. Yet, it still feels like we are “squatting,” and it should feel like home.

The design process has dictated the chronology of the journal. s different exercises and analyses have been performed in the studio, the findings have been written about in the journal as though the findings occurred on site, in real time. The journal is used as a means for

organizing the information found during the design process, as well as creating an environment in the imaginations of those who read this.

Day 2 PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

site

This was chosen because it is a concentration of all that which is truly evil. It is not the only of its kind, but it is among the worst in the world. The Niger Delta has become an extremely complex system of issues since the Euro centric world discovered its wealth of natural resources in the 18th century.

Slave

This is where the oast meets the il ivers.

Since the Atlantic Slave Trade was abolished by the 20th century, Nigeria has been exploited for its oils, first palm oil, then crude oil. Multinational corporations have been extracting crude oil from the Niger Delta since its discovery in Ogoniland circa 1957. And since then, they have been spilling crude oil into the rivers. “The government documented 6817 spills over the last 25 years-practically one a day- but analysts suspect the real number may be ten times higher. The Niger Delta is one of the world’s most 200 ) polluted regions.”

But before all that, there were approximately 0 ethnic groups of farmers and fishermen. How has oil extraction

affected the fishing and farming industries? Its has been slowly spilling from a network of pipelines into Africa’s largest network of rivers. And that network floods throughout the year, spreading oil throughout the dense and diverse mangrove forest. (

Now they are a population of 0 million. Although this is where approximately 80% of Nigeria’s

, 200 ) total income originates, almost none of its income is distributed to the people of the Delta Region. And if you check their figures, companies like Shell, Chevron, and Texaco have paid out billions of dollars, but to the openly corrupt Nigerian federal government. Much of that was to ignore environmental and human rights regulations. Less than one percent of the country’s income was spent on public projects in the delta.”There are no hospitals, there are no schools, there is nothing. , u ) Yet, this is a rich area. I cannot accept that paradox.”

This specific site, an abandoned oil spill 00m north of wokiri, an Ijaw fishing town km south of Bayelsa State’s capital enagoa, was not chosen for being uni ue, but for being typical. I have

(

( l y

identified one of thousands of places in Bayelsa State that have at least one of each of the following conditions: an illegally burning gas flare, an active oil spill, an abandoned flow station, and a dozen pipelines . u , l l All of the places in the Delta belong to a network of damaged N l and/or unmaintained infrastructure that includes 5001km of petroleum pipeline. Because the pipelines are between 25 and 50 years old, u 200 ) they are beginning to leak due to corrosion. On top of that, there are numerous paramilitary groups that damage the pipes in order to (IRIN, July26 2010) steal the oil and refine it themselves. The pipes come are in bundles that carve through the network of rivers without consderation for the environment or people who occupy the area.

wokiri is just one of many towns split by km of these pipes, and at the head is what will become a place.

But right now, it is the site of an abandoned oil spill. And the people affected by it have been taking violent action for several years. But that has only made matters worse, and now the Ijaw people must find a new solution.

Day 7 SETTING

Day 3, 7:30, @Yenagoa

Three days ago, the Niger Delta eople’s olunteer orce ND attacked an oil production platform south of here. There was no word about the specifics, so it could have been bombed or just “bunkered.” Either way, there was crude oil spilling into the water. When it floods, and it will soon, the oil will contaminate everything in the area. This is our chance. Day 5, 6:00 @Yenagoa-Ewokiri The sunrise makes me appreciate being here. It is the dawn. Today we take a boat about 35km to the south. The driver says it will only take “an hours time, at most,” but it always takes longer.

There will be complications, but we will improvise. romptness isn’t a priority in Nigeria anyway.

Although, the earlier we get to the palace in Ewokiri, the better our chances will be. We will be on the Chief’s time and trying to gain his favor. How do I do that? We are coming to him first, to explain our motives and method clearly to him so that he will grant us his “blessing,” or the likes. I believe it is more of a formality than anything. DON’T HAND THE CHIEF ANYTHING WITH YOUR LEFT HAND. Afterwards, we will spend some time in the village, mingling with the locals and hopefully getting in on some lunch. Day 6, 13:00 @Ewokiri Last night was a huge success. The day before it was rough. It was not easy to explain our intentions to the Chief. He may still think that we are connected with an oil company. The oil company is the third, final, and possibly the toughest party we must gain the favor of. The easiest was the people. With the twelve students from Yenagoa, the original six, and the huge group last night from Ewokiri, there are enough interested people to begin almost immediately. Maybe even too many people. We had discussed the difficulties of supporting life in such an environment. But we have yet to go there. The heat should die down in a few days then we can ride to the site with our new friends from the NDPVF. It is less than a kilometer away north of Ewokiri. In the meantime, half of the team will go back to Yenagoa tomorrow, and the other three will stay to collect data. My goal is to take an inventory of the site for reusable materials. The other two have to collect samples and develop a scope of the ecological damage. Day 7, 20:20

We had to earn our stay today. The three that were leaving left early, around 6:00, and the rest of us helped with breakfast and fixing an old lady’s house. She was amused by everything we said, but seemed to think that we work too slow. Our “friends” from the NDPVF were less brotherly to us this morning, but were smiling at us by the evening.

Setting NIGER DELTA

NIGER DELTA REGION

EWOKIRI Pop. <20,000

1 of over 8000

ABANDONED OIL SPILLS

reported since 1975

ares

rigs

oil

pipe 17

Setting Day 10 BUILT ENVIRONMENT NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Day 9, 8:08 @the Site We are definitely coming back tomorrow. Although I walked the perimeter and much of the area of the whole site, there is so much potentially reusable stuff here. A rough inventory was made, as an attempt to categorize the materials according to their possible end uses. Within each category is a spectrum of usability, as some of the oil infrastructure is damaged from the attack and some needed replacing years ago. Right now it is only a list. It is the other two who are in too deep.

That spill isn’t as slow as we expected, and it turns out that oil was already spilling out from under the platform long before the attack. There are already clothes hanging up on the flow station equipment, but this place is far from inviting as of yet. Day 10, 8:08 @the Site (inventory) Wale and the other biologist have honed in on the spot where oil is spilling out. It is about 12 meters directly under the production platform, which will have to be injected with grout to stop the leak. That is a priority, and so is extinguishing the flare (which should have been done 2 years ago.) Day 11, still @ the Site

fter it rained all night last night, it occurred to me that the Delta is a ood plain, and it is currently the wet season as there is no summer or winter .Instead, it

is just hot and humid year round. We are located at about 5 degrees north latitude, so there is plenty of direct radiation to go around. However, during the wet season, there are too many clouds for any kind of PV system to produce any sufficient amount of electricity. There are however, plenty of palm trees on site that produce palm oil, which can be easily turned into biodeisel. The auxiliary area, dubbed the “grounds”, will most likely be the place for this sort of operation to occur, all composting and agriculture as well. But first, it needs to be remediated from Superfund status to brownfield before any agricultural endeavors can be seriously pursued. Even if we do get the brownfield set up, and begin remediation, we will need a greenhouse to produce food for the 24 of us who will initially live here. Day 13, all along the river As we were cruising in our speedboat back and forth from Ewokiri, and a few other villages in the area, we noticed that the gas flares were almost always burning upwards, with the smoke going straight up.

This indicates that there is hardly ever any wind, so cross ventilation will be difficult. We will have to design in a stack ventilation system

of sorts to keep air flowing in the lab spaces, dubbed the “catalyst.” 19

.rig

.oil

. are

.pipes

BUILT ENVIRONMENT: 1

Abandoned Oil Spill 20

swamp

contaminated trees

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT:

Tropical Mangrove Swamp on the Brass River 65 Meters Asl

rivers

what

elements compose an B ND N D IL S ILL nd how will they be used .rig

The flow station consists of many elements, all of which are in decent shape. The production platform is 21m wide x 36m long, and probably 10m high. There is already evidence of human activity (i.e., clothes hanging to dry, piles of ashes) in some of the support buildings and infrastructure.

.oil

The flow of the oil spill will need to be permanently stopped. Then the spill can be contained and dealt with on a local level.

. are

The on site flare will need to be put out immediately by Shell. Then the natural gas can be used and sold on site. Eventually, the flow will be stopped indefinitely.

.pipes

There are 12 pipes that run 36km south to Brass. They could continue to be infrastructure, just moving a different fluid, or they could serve another purpose all together.

WIND

The in the Delta is calm of the time, as indicated by the gas ares, with bree es at ms from the southwest year round. Fig.1 : January Wind

igures

Olatunde S. Eludoyin

Fig.2 : July Wind

: B. Pius Utang, C. Okoko Ogba, and

people

The have taken to arms and organi ed against The Nigerian ederal overnment and the il ompanies,but it only made things worse.

“Since they have refused to repent, what we are demanding is that Shell, AGIP, Chevron, Texaco, Esso, Mobil, pull out and let us see whether the Nigerian State can sustain our repression and total marginalization of our people, and the management of our own resources.” ( u u ,N l l lu ) Both sides of this conflict are funded by oil money. The paramilitary groups like MEND and NDPVF steal oil by “bunkering” at a pipeline or flow station, then refine it into gasoline that is sold in the black market. A large part of that money is spent on weapons, just as a large part of the money that the oil multinationals pay the federal government to fight back.

In the end, both sides just want their share of the oil money.

25 24

RAIN . The site is in the Niger iver lood lain, so perennial

ooding spreads the oil around. The water level has been reported to rise meters in regular oods.

00yr vg ainfall

Nedboer_eng (yr.no.com)

s in any violent con ict, it is the civilians who suffer the most. These are the on which they must walk. Most of the landscape is contaminated with oil spills, so the

paths

people in the area can no longer fish or farm for sustenance. They must buy it. To do that, they walk to Ewokiri or another nearby village market to buy food and commodities that are imported into Nigeria. To get the money for that, they generally resort to â&#x20AC;&#x153;bunkering,â&#x20AC;? which is stealing oil from vandalized or leaking pipes. There is a whole workforce of people required to carry out a successful bunkering operation.

BUILT ENVIRONMENT The stealing of oil seems to be inevitable, and must be carried out by the local population so that they can make a living today, even though they are sacrificing their tomorrow.

Sun

The tropical is intense, and provides direct solar access to every possible facade, but is diffused for most of the year by overcast skies. When the sun does shine, it becomes extremely hot and muggy, so adequate ventilation and shading will be necessary to achieve a comfortable environment. However, photovoltaic energy will not be very beneficial so we will have to determine another means of generating electricity.

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT o .6 o N 6.3 W

Day 20 SITE ANALYSIS

Day 17, still @the Site It has occurred to J___ and several of locals that there are many valuable hardwood trees in the area that have fallen over and/or given into the contamination. This means that there is a considerable amount of lumber available for us to use. The logs will have to be sent 41km up river to the mill in Yenagoa to be made into planks. Plus, there is copious bamboo growing on site, so much that the locals hate the stuff, even though they use it for so many things. Most of the bamboo patches were going to be cleared anyway because they are beginning to protrude onto pathways.

There is a complex system of pipes, pumps, meter, and storage tanks coming off of the platform that could be of use. Some of the pipes are damaged right near the

pump house, but the vast majority of them seem to be in great shape. According to the map, these pipelines go all the way to the Brass terminal 35 kilometers south. Since oil no longer flows through them, all 6 of these pipes are up for grabs. The 4 large pipes, 40cm in diameter with 1cm thick steel walls, are roughly 20 years old, but still in good shape. Day 19, Yenagoa Finally got away from the site today, its nice to be in civilization again. The task for the day is to generate some conclusions about the environment so that we can begin the design process.

There is little climate data on this area of the world, so we will probably have to dig into some local Bayelsa archives and create our own diagrams from that data.

Most of the climate conditions are pretty steady and predictable, but I have been trained to analyze and diagram quantitative data, so that is what I will do. Plus, as a process, it always helps in design desicions. After all, we want this to be a building that harmonizes with the natural environment the way that local structures do, but we want it to look great while doing so. Day 20, Yenagoa (cyber cafe) Today was very reminiscent of my training in the U.S., in that I spent all day in front of a computer, and will for the next few. The first thing I did was put together a map with our relative location, because of the variation in the local opinion about how far we are from places.

The site is in the geographical center of Bayelsa State, roughly km from both enagoa where the money goes and Brass where the oil goes.

More importantly, we are in the middle of nowhrere, Nigeria. Which is good because this is kind of a guerilla operation that will be carried out with the cooperation of the local militants, NDPVF. I am not sure if militants is the best term anymore, but that is the term used by the media. They are probably somwhere in the middle of “militant” and “freedom fighter”, as they refer to themselves.

Site Model 000 SITE ANALYSIS

This model is an abstraction of a typical Niger Delta swamp production platform.

The depth of the drilling is not accurate, but is an average of various examples from different sources. It was constructed from materials that were leftover from previous projects of my own, and other students in the studio.

The base of the model represents the layers of earth,starting with cardboard for mud and clay, layers of various mixes of concrete as

impenetrable shale. There is a natural gas cavity above the crude oil, made from concrete dyed black.

Digital Model SITE ANALYSIS

km to Bayelsa State apital N , pop. 00,000

SITE ANALYSIS

Scale + Location

km ipeline to B SS Terminal 32

00m radius

0m N m . m

I I

00 meters to W I I pop. 0,000

40m 45m

20m

10m

16m 11m 18m 26m 10m

SITE ANALYSIS

eusable otential Oil Production Platform Oil Pipelines (sections) Natural Gas Assembly Oil Infrastructure Storage Silo Pump Houses Corrugated Metal Trusses Helipad Dock Cleared Land Living Quarters Maintenance Facility

Plan Diagrams

43 34

Sun rientation Standing Buildings

Plan Diagrams

aths

Nodes

3 Zones

Day 28 PROGRAM + PROGRESSION

ARRIVAL

is the part where the team of 6 researchers from different disciplines establishes an inventory of the usable objects on site and assesses the nature of the ecological destruction. There is a production platform in good standing, as well as a plethora of oil infrastructure pieces that could be adapted into useful structural components. There are also

three oil spills and a burning gas are on site that are called out in red. Now the team, mostly expatriates, must gain the respect of the local community, including the Niger Delta Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Volunteer Force leader Mujahid Dokubo-Asari and the Chief of Ewokiri.

REMEDIATION,

the phase of program development, should be underway

second

within the first month with the containment of the oil spills. The team will now begin to form an institute on the production platform that includes a live in facility and laboratory spaces. These spaces will be

shared between the 6 researchers, 7 NDPVF paramilitaries, and 10 local people. The members of the NDPVF will be accommodated with a fort and lookout on the platform, as well as a rudimentary facility for refining oil. This will develop capital for the remediation of the site, and cover living expenses and bribes. The grounds area to southeast will become brownfield development for the purposes of agriculture. Two of the buildings in this area can be converted into green houses and food storage/production facilities. The third would serve as a metal and wood shop where oil infrastructure could be adapted for reuse as architecture. The gas flare in the southwest will be extinguished and repurposed into a kitchen for the local community as well as the institute. This should invite locals from the adjacent community into the site.

GROWTH

should be possible within the first 2 years. As more people are displaced by the constant violent conflict, they will begin to seek refuge. They will be searching for a new place to live. The site should be able to support lives and needs of over 200 people.

The production platform has now evolved into a school, high density housing, and mixed use. There is no longer a

need for a paramilitary fort and the institute has been stripped to the bare minimum. Now it must continue to sustain the life of the environment and educate the inhabitants. Housing on the platform will be open spaced, with units separated by thin walls and nearly communal bathroom facilities. Privacy will be considered from the perspective of the Ijaw who will permanently inhabit the buildings. Once the brownfield is able to produce agriculture, the site will be able to support more life. Food storage and a greenhouse will occupy the southwestern buildings, while the old oil silo will be converted into a waste management and composting facility. The gas kitchen will have expanded to serve the increasing number of inhabitants and visitors that need food. Several other speciality shops will have opened along the pipeline. The site systems will ultimately determine the maximum population of the site, but depending on the success of this initial experiment,

this type of transformation could occur in one of the several thousands of other similar sites in the Niger Delta.

3 Zones : Arrival PROGRAM + PROGRESSION

| 37 38

3 Zones : Remediation

3 Zones : Growth PROGRAM + PROGRESSION

rounds

lare

rrival

emediation

rowth

Space

roduction latform focus

rounds

as lare

Library Water Remediation Lab Soil/Plant Remediation Lab Internal Garden Toilets NDPVF Fort “Ex_Situ” Containment Room Break Room/Lounge Bedroom Bathroom Kitchenette Living/Dining/Entry Porch/Garden/Forecourt Each Unit Total Units: Subtotal :

PROGRAM + PROGRESSION Program Zones 1 2 3

Dock Agriculture Greenhouse Wood Shop Metal Shop Worship Waste Water Treatment Composting PV Inverter/Equipment Emergency Generator Water Collection Water Treatment

Subtotal : Kitchen Food Storage Dining Facility Laundry Subtotal : Total Square Meters : Total Square Footage :

Area (m2) Qty.

Total Area(m2 )

50 50 50 50 15 65 80 80

1 1 2 2 4 1 1 1

50 50 100 100 60 65 80 80

10 10 8 20 10

2 1/2 1 1 1

20 5 8 20 10 63 630

Notes

Living Machine + Food Production

Rooms are compact to suit culture 2 Units Share 1 Bathroom most meals eaten in community dining facility Each housing Unitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total Area Total Area for Housing

1215

10 900 600 100 270 50 40 40 50 7 10 40

2 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 4 1

20 3600 600 100 270 50 40 40 100 7 40 40

Access to Brass River Food Production (cassava, corn, yam) For food production Bamboo + Mangrove workshop Storage + Refurbishing of building materials Mosque + Church Adjacent to composting and water treatment area Adjacent to waste water treatment 2 housings for PV equipment housing for generator Rainwater collection, elevated and on the exterior Filtering and monitoring area

4907 190 60 50 50

1 2 2 2

Secured, covered, old gas flare One cold store + one dry store in old silo One per Kitchen Not for Machines, but handwash + hang dry area (covered but outdoor) 510

6632 71,386

2432 is interior space 26,177 interior space

Slow Leaking Oil Spill

Production Platform

Pipes

PROGRAM + PROGRESSION Oil

Arrival

The site contains an overwhelming amount of ecological to consider, along with an equally overwhelming amount of

destruction

opportunity.

Silo

Auxiliary Buildings

Oil Puddle

Burning Methane Gas Flare

Oil Spill

destruction opportunity

Spills will have to be contained and the gas flare extinguished. There will only be 24 of us living here at first, with a common goal of refurbishing the site into a livable and enjoyable place. The usable oil on site will be refined and sold.

ll oil e uipment will be decommissioned and repurposed. Bioreactor Ex-Situ Remediation

Housing

Confluence

ontained il Spill

PROGRAM + PROGRESSION Brownfield Redevelopment + Agriculture

Remediation Dock Compost Silo

ontained il Spill

Greenhouse

Wood shop

Metal Shop

as ontained il Spill

Kitchen + Dining 46

After the oil spill has been cleaned up, the remediation will move elsewhere, to a similar spot.

The oil platform will become a school for all ages, with an advanced course in oil spill remediation and brownfield

redevelopment. A housing element will still exist, but the primary function will be a school, with a community that flourishes around it. Several ancillary structures will have sprouted up, diversifying the program of the site.

PROGRAM + PROGRESSION

Growth

Day 35 INITIAL DESIGN

Day 34, Noonish, Auxilliary Building on Site About twenty of us have been living in the two smaller buildings on the grounds. We all spent the last few weeks planning the phases of this project and breaking down the site into three zones, The focus will be on the oil platform, which no longer has an active spill underneath it. Now that the spill has been contained and the bioreactor is set up and “running” according to W___. It should be a few months before the deeply contaminated material is consumed by the nurtured bacteria inside the bioreactor. Now that we have established a method and something of a timeline, I can begin formulating parti models and sketches of what will become of this dross scape. Day 35, 6:20, Auxilliary Building A.K.A. “Home” We spent the day discussing the site analysis and how to respond to the climate in our design.

The first model made 00 and it was of the existing

was at platform. It fit nicely into a cropped site model made from

discarded cardboard boxes. The next few iterations produced were very similar to the style of the platform as it was, with a mixture of Nigerian vernacular (which has become an A-Frame truss system with corrugated metal roofing. It was hard to move past this form because it made so much sense in this environment with these limited materials. All of the iterations will include a water catching roof, because three quarters of the people in the Delta dont have acces to potable water. So we were all prone to design a central water core where water could be treated and distributed. The design is also going to be limited by the pumps, tanks, and meters that are already on the platform. Since our program calls for both laboratory and living functions, the design will have to negotiate the seperation of these two areas. Day 36, almost Midnight I am writing to the rhythm (and light) of our new deisel generator. A___ and the boys have successfully refined enough oil to run the gen for 2 hours a day. The rest will be sold on the black market upriver about 3Km. Soon enough, it will be running on Biodiesel and we wont have to worry about the reprocussions of shady business.

The other five iterations we produced yesterday were deliberately formed around systems and programmed space. The forms still hung to the original butterfly roof of

corrugated metal and open plan. Open plan is crucial in Nigeria, especially to this project, because it is such a volitile environment the building must adapt to the flux. People want to do thier own thing with the spaces anyhow. On top of that, the program will probably change over time, from a laboratory to an institute to housing to a school, so the spaces should be extremely versatile. The very basic plan and sections drawn were to explore the possibilities and scale of the existing 40mx20m platform of space with a few extra levels. It is very far from architecture at this point, and it may never get there.

INITIAL DESIGN

1: 00 Study Models

Day 55 Offshore Rig Found

58 photo: Commercial Diving Directory

Day 52, Noon, Ewokiri Some interesting news came today, if you want to call it “news.” A seemingly shady source claiming to be friends with Gen. Asari said there is an offshore rig 14Km southwest of the Brass terminal that is “deceased; light no dey, people no dey.” What really interested me was the mention of the pieces of the rig, as though B_______ knew what we were doing here.

It could also be in his nature as a Nigerian to see the potential uses in things others have deemed useless. Perhaps he is not shady at all, just overly opportunistic, or overzealous. Either way, we will look for it this weekend when we head down to Brass. None of us have seen the terminal yet. Day 55, 7:07, Brass

The deceased rig exists, and is 0 m from the site, or three hours by boat. B_______ came back with a photograph (on a waterproof digital camera) of a jack up rig. This is perfect. We are going to bring all of the boats, and call on that favor from Governor Sylva and get his municipal rescue/private helicopter(s). Those cranes are coming first, and everything else is second. Day 57, 13:00

With the five boats we mustered up and one of the overnor’s helicopters we managed to get both of the cranes, some bar grate, and one of the huge jack up columns (across 2 boats, which had other

pieces in them as well.) The operation took all day though, for coming back was much, much slower. Today, three boats are going back to get whatever else they can. We aren’t the only ones who are going to salvage the materials from the rig, but it seemed that we were the first. Now that we got the components here, in the grounds workshop, what do we do with them?

or the rest of today, and at least tomorrow, we are going to take a specific inventory of the usable materials we have. This will also be a time to refine the

ideas behind the materials we have collected thus far.

Day 59 Material Taxonomy Model Salvaged + Source

Day 58, 8:08, Inventory (approximate) 60 Sheets of corrugated metal from the site. About 20 will need to be replaced within a year or so. 200 meters of 3cm cable and 110 meters of 5cm rod Endless Bamboo and contaminated teak and mahogany 6 x 35Km of 30cm diameter pipeline with 8mm thick walls 2 x 35km of 32cm diameter pipeline with 11mm thick walls >100 30cm x 12 x 15mm I-beams, each 4.5 meters long >200 14cm x 6mm HSS pipe, each 3 meters long 10 square meters of 11mm thick steel plate in various scrap sheets. 4 square meters of 18mm thick steel plate in various scrap sheets. Slew of oil meters, pumps, pipes, and tanks in all shapes and sizes. 1 super column from the jackup rig 2 cranes from the jackup rig 24 willing laborers and craftsmen. Day 60, 14:45 Its extremely hot today. I now know why the shading is so crucial, because when the sun doth shine, it shineth with great strength.

The heaps of corrugated metal will provide plenty of shade, but they get hot with the exposure. This means the roof will

need to be substantially higher than head height, and could act as means for stack ventilation. We began making little models to represent the materials we had at our disposal, so that we could move the shapes around in hopes of finding a successful building form. Because our generator is limited, we will also be conscious of the energy it takes to alter nominal or existing components. Because the I-beams we have access to are 4m long, we will design around that. The roof trusses and open web joists at the grounds buildings can’t really be altered anyway.

With such a rigid and industrial material palate, the Nigerian wood and woodworking will be crucial to making this place feel like home. Day 67, 18:00, Dining area A.K.A. “chop bar” It had occurred to some of us that some of the pieces from the offshore rig could be crucial in separating the floors.

ore importantly, the living units from the rig could be adapted to be used as walls for the laboratory spaces and other ha ardous goings on. Since all of the components

salvaged from existing oil structures is already coated in corrosion and fire proof paint, it makes sense to use it on the 1st floor.

Model Material Taxonomy Model

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Material Taxonomy Model

Materials are possibly the most crucial element determining the form and direction of this design.

This 00 aterial Study odel was made from locally salvaged media, just as the building will be made from locally salvaged materials. It is

shown in its exploded form to the right of each page, indicating locations of each specific material in the context of the overall form. The building of a physical model also allows one to examine the embodied energy of constructed components in the building. Another major design factor is limited electricity, which means only necessary alterations ought to be made on building pieces, as we cannot generate enough electricity for aesthetic operations.

MATERIAL TA ONOMY Model : Growth This project will epitomize adaptive reuse.

The rate at which materials can be found and adapted will determine the rate at which the building will grow. Many of the materials will be salvaged

directly from the site, and adapted in the workshops. Many of the structural members and some of the natural members will be taken from nearby areas and brought to the site by boats. The efficiency of transporting these materials will directly affect the pace of construction.

Model : Pieces The model was constructed in a matter that allows it to be exploded to show the materiality of all floors. As one moves through the spaces, the materials create a sense of place unique to the program of each space.

The purpose of this model was to develop a material palette according to the function of each oor. Each material is used to create a certain haptic quality that is appropriate for the space it occupies. This model is one of many vehicles used to determine the form of this building, because the form will be determined by the materials, not the other way around.

Trusses, oists, ig omponents

Bar

Model : Materials

rate

ipelines

ontaminated Trees into Lumber 69

orrugated

etal

Materials are possibly the most crucial element determining the form and direction of this design. This

oof trusses and open web joists from buildings on the site will be combined with members from a fallen offshore rig to compose the structure. Salvaged columns and crane pieces from a decommissioned

There is plenty of oil infrastructure on the site that can be adapted for reuse.

Decommissioned oil pipes can be reinforced and used as columns while the bar grate on site will continue to be ooring. The large tanks for oil storage can be altered and used as planters.

offshore oil rig can be brought to the platform via boat.

Source : Site Salvaged Natural

ll of the trees in the area that have been contaminated by the oil spill can still be used for lumber.

Mangroves, mahogany, teak, and bamboo are ubiquitous in the Niger Delta. As one proceeds to the upper levels of the building, the amount of wood used will increase. Wood will be used in private spaces and housing.

orrugated Sheet etal, ubi uitous to the region, is widely available both used and new. Two of the buildings on site will become the greenhouse,

and their old roofs will be cannibalized into materials for the new roof of the remediation institute on the platform. New sheets will be brought in as they become available, but none will be ordered for production.

Day 179LIFE SAFETY REDESIGN

Day 63, 21:20 We heard gunshots from right up the river today. They were the closest that I have heard, and there were about 200-300 shots fired in all. It’s hard to tell if it was a firefight or “celebration”, because all of the shots were from an AK-47. Nothing but white flags for the last few months would indicate some peace in the area, but this is such a volatile situation.

To make matters worse, we have confined and thus concentrated the oil spill under our platform, where I am writing this before I go to sleep here.

Hopefully the low oil to water ratio keeps it from being too flammable. The ratio in the bioreactors is definitely oil rich enough to be flammable. I think. Day 65, 18:00 Our first encounter with the Nigerian Federal Police happened last night. Needless to say, it didn’t go well right off the bat. Shots were fired within minutes of the initial dialogue, even though the officer was a local since they spoke Ijaw the whole time. What a helpless spectator I was. Apparently, they have been tracking our progress (but they have no idea what we have planned). It seems difficult to explain at this point, especially if there are shots being fired. In the end, no one was killed, but O _____ was hit in the leg by a 30-30 round that ricocheted off of a pump line. The pump line was empty, but what if it had been full of oil, or a gas regulator, or the bioreactor.

The building plans must be edited first thing tomorrow, again, but this time with egress and fire safety as the priorities. It is safe to live here now, but the second floor, for

which we have primary structure in tact (possible waste of time), needs to be carefully designed. Circulation will become more accessible as a response to this as well. With that being said, the egress situation for J_______ and I____ is pretty bad right now, and its only one floor. There needs to be more ramps off of the confluence, and they all need to be accessible to everyone. Bar grate is probably the best material for the ramps, that linear type, as it is not flammable. In the meantime, the others can work out the logistics of getting everything we can off of the deceased offshore rig.

LIFE SAFETY

3 Iterations By introducing the offshore rig components, it became possible to structurally separate the repose (living function) from the dangerous catalyst (lab and bioreactor function). The catalyst on the first floor, supported by the existing platform, while the repose spaces will be on floor plates suspended from decommissioned cranes salvaged from the offshore rig. All of the vertical circulation will be suspended as well.

REDESIGN

Redesign

3 Models Three scale models were produced as a means for exploring the possible arrangements of floor plates, ramps, and cranes to optimize egress and structural separation. The supercolumn is placed in the same spot in all three iterations because it is furthest from the bioreactor (fire hazard).

The two models on this page are at 00 scale, and the model on the opposite page is 00. Difeferent conditions were explored in each model. The two on this page explored the possibilities of counterbalancing the cranes with other structural members, supporting the roof and systems, hierarchy, and geometry.

The larger model on the following page was an exploration of egress and the integration of the offsore structural members to satisfy life safety re uirements.

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Redesign Construction Model This scale model was made from found materials, just as the building would be built.

t 00 scale, the structure can be worked out to a level of detail that allows for a realistic analysis of feasability. Floor

plans are laser cut into the floor plates, but the walls have not been added, nor is the roof finished, because this model was meant to represent the construction methods.

Inverted roof trusses, salvaged from another building on site, were combined with the cranes and supercolumn to compose the roof structure. They also suspend the floor plates and

vertical circulation. Corrugated metal roofing feeds rainwater into a channel which carries water into the core where it can be stored and filtered.. 80

Redesign STRUCTURE Thiese images were created as an exploration of how the structural system might be built. It is also an illustration of how the concept might work. This structural system is dependent upon an extremely large footing, tons of steel cable in good conditions, and strong welds at the crucial points.

The unbalanced nature of the crane orientation is offset by integrating I beams and adapted pipes in conjunction with the cable tension system. In the diagram on the right,

the cables are red, so that heir geometry can be examined for missing links.

ll of the vertical circulation as well as the second and third oors are supported by this structural system.

The first floor is supported by the existing production platform.

Third loor

epose

Supports more of the living functions. This is where the rainwater treatment and catchment will take place as well. There are two styles of rooms on this floor, with a subtle hierarchy. All of the floors and walls are wood.

Second loor Water

Living functions are supported on this floor. They include bathrooms, showers, storage, and bedrooms. This floor is supported entirely by the offshore rig structure, separated from that of the catalyst.

REDESIGN Floor Plans irst loor

atalyst

All of the dangerous activities will take place on this floor. The bioreactor and labs are located on the left(NW) side of the floor plate, with ancilliary spaces on the right. The entire floor is supported by the existing oil platform, and the confluence is supported by existing oil infrastructure. The floor material is almost entirely bar grate salvaged from oil structures onsite and offshore.

on uence

Salvaged bar grate and decommissioned oil tanks, meters, and pumps compose the platform where paths converge. |

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REDESIGN Elevations

REDESIGN Perspectives

Day 313FINAL DESIGN DETAIL MODEL DIGITAL PERSPECTIVES FINAL DRAWINGS

Pin Up The photograph below is of the final pin up to what was an anticlimactic review. Nonetheless, all the work presented in it will be displayed over the next few pages. Sketches on this page were done in an effort to design a proper roof to provide ample shading and tie the structure to the ground in response to uplift.

FINAL DESIGN Detail Model

In order to understand and test the construction methods to be used in the building, I built a 1:10 detail structural bay model. The components were all salvaged from the architecture school, just as all of the real components would be salvaged locally.

t 0 one can really grasp the feasibility of connection methods, as well as begin to understand the energy consumed during fabrication of the building components.

Though the model completely crashed 3 times, each time taught me a new lesson about where connections had been weak. This was also a test of the structural system, which was fairly unprecedented. The model has since stood for over a week in front of the deanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office door.

FINAL DESIGN Digital Perspectives

Digital Perspectives

CATALYST REPOSE CONFLUENCE

COMPOSTING BIODIESEL GENERATOR AGRICULTURE GREENHOUSE METAL SHOP WOOD SHOP STORAGE

Site KITCHEN + DINING PLAN 1: 1000

10 20

50m

SECTION 1: 1000

Elevations

Sections S ST 00

100

101

FINAL DESIGN

1st Floor: The catalyst and confluence are both on the first level. All of the institute and laboratory functions occur on this level, which is composed of bar grate and salvaged oil rig dwelling unit walls. It is all painted in intumescent paint and fire rated for 2 hrs.

Floor Plans

2nd Floor: With wooden floors and walls, this floor is more private than the first, but still acts as a semi-public bathing, bathroom, and laundry floor. Because it is directly below the cistern, all of the water functions can be serviced without electric pumps.

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3rd Floor: This is the most private floor, where all sleeping and repose will occur. The floors and walls are made of wood, to contrast the industrial setting on the laboratory floor. The rooms were made to sleep 2-3, but in Nigeria, they will probably sleep 5-8.

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Roof: Corrugated metal salvaged from the site will serve to provide shade and rain cover for the inhabitants. The roof also catches rainwater and channels it into the central core where it can be filtered and distributed to the people.

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Floor Plans 2nd Floor : Water S W S T IL TS SIN S I S IND ST I L SIN S L ND

1st FLOOR : CATALYST L B T BI

D S ST N S L IN L SS S T IL TS .D. . SIN S IND ST I L N S W

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FLOOR PLANS 3rd FloorS : Repose B D L N S W T

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Roof atches

ain Blocks Sun 107

Day 660CHRONOLOGY

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Day 665, Yenagoa, 21:45 I have been away from the Bioreaction for a couple of days and I already miss it. Probably because the construction has almost come to an end, with the exception of some intumescent painting. We went with red on pieces from the offshore rig, because they were kind of red already and because it is what we could get the most of.

Today we were ipping through the aerial photograhps taken over the last two years at the Bioreaction, it has been a pretty ama ing transformation.

From day one, when I was in the plane when the picture was taken, to day 660, when I was moving furniture around in the rooms on the third floor, so much has changed. Right off the bat we made the place better by cleaning up all that oil and putting out that fire. It was probably 2 months before we got the regulators fixed on the gas line and got the kitchen up and running. A week later, we had begun decommissioning all of the oil infrastructure and collecting the oil to be refined nearby. It seemed like a year before we got any real woodworking tools, but our oxyacetalyne setup had been refilled twice by then. Once we got the biodiesel generator going, we got the mig welders to work on all the salvaged I-beams and steel plate. It seemed like no time before the giant ass jack up column was brought in and set in the ground. It took a really long time to get the cranes to attach to the sides of the column. We did have to fabricate an unprecedented connection though, and once that was finished, hoisting the cranes up was no big deal. We should have pue the roof on right away, as the few months following the cranes being attached did not provide much rain, and we could have used much more surface area. The three guys who had been fabricating the bolt plates were like machines. It only took them 45 days to salvage the steel, cut it, shape it, and drill the bolt holes in 120 pieces. Quite a feat. It really transforms once the floor grids were mounted. Even though little to no weight could be put on them until the cables were all in place, they stood up for over a week without any suspension system at all. Welding the flanges and webs probably attributed to that. Having the roof over our heads was crucial too. We ran out of corrugated metal, surprisingly, but one of B______ homies knew where there was a stash. Luckily, there was also intumescent paint there. After the lumber began coming in from the mill at Yenagoa, the floors took almost no time at all. Woodworking is in the Nigerianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blood, and the craftsmanship and ingenuity in the 3rd floor bedrooms are a testament to that. I will be going back in a few days, to tweak the building systems. The pipes to the composting silo and the fire sprinkler system were having issues when we left, but there is not much left to do.

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CHRONOLOGY Arrival Day1

110

Arrival on the site reveals a slow leaking oil spill, burning gas flare, and a damaged and abandoned oil production platform. All of the surrounding flora is contaminated along with the river itself. There are no people on the site at this moment, but there are clothes drying near the auxiliary buildings.

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CHRONOLOGY Containment Day67

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After stopping the leaking oil, containing the spill on top of the water, and extinguishing the gas flare, the site has gained the attention of the local population. Every day more and more people from the village are helping with the decommissioning and deconstruction of the existing oil equipment.

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CHRONOLOGY Decomposition Day1 3

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The pipelines had not pumped oil in a while, but whatever oil was left in them was refined and sold for capital. The auxiliary buildings have become storage for corrugated metal sheets and I-beams that supported the pipelines. We have also collected several trees to be sent to the mill in Yenagoa.

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CHRONOLOGY Adaptation Day20

116

With the governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s helicopters and a few tugboats we got 2 cranes and a jack up column from an offshore rig. The bioreactor has been set up under the existing roof. A new ramp was added onto the confluence which will also support infrastructure to the generator and composting area.

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CHRONOLOGY Remediation Day289 118

Boats have been bringing in living units, cable, and bar grate from the offshore rig while we have been attatching structural components to the Jack up column. The soil is finally beginning to support local plant growth. All of the existing buildings have been converted, we should be able to move out of them soon.

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CHRONOLOGY Raising the Cranes 120

After attaching the cranes to the counter structure of beams and pipelines, we ate egussi at the newly completed dining pavilion. Next, we will raise the cranes and lock them in place so the 2nd floor grid can be installed. The bioreactor will be ready for another load of contamination in two weeks.

Day357 121

CHRONOLOGY Structure 122

Increased popularity and a need for more egress has initiated another ramp off the confluence and a dock to be built. Only the 2nd floor grid remains to be completed, then the timber beams can be placed within the grids and floor planks layed down. The first floor walls are almost complete.

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Day 30

CHRONOLOGY Substantial Completion 124

The bioreactor and laboratory have been in full swing. The last few lengths of cable were brought in to tie down the cranes and finish the second bridge. Wood planks and beams have been coming in from Yenagoa at an incredible rate, and the locals have been bringing in bamboo at an equal pace.

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Day510

CHRONOLOGY Flourishing 126

Now there are no concentrated sources of contamination on site, and the scene is thriving. About 20 of us have been sleeping on the 2nd floor for 2 weeks. Access to the upper floors is complete and in a few days the walls on the 3rd floor will be up, so many more will be moving in permanently soon.

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Day593

CHRONOLOGY Flourishing 128

We are treating the last batch of contaminated earth in the bioreactor as of Friday. Even though it hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rained in 3 weeks, we still have enough water to last another 2 weeks, thanks to the roof. About 60 people live on the platform now, and several more families show up at each meal. We will move on soon.

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Day660

Extras LOCAL PRECEDENTS DESIGN PRECEDENTS

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It is the regional style that inspired the concept behind my project.

ver my two, one month stays in coastal Nigeria, the most noticeably consistent style was reuse. It is the people

themselves who build shelters. At least 90% of structures are built quickly, and without design drawings of any kind. However, the materials are often reused, and the climate is always taken into account out of necessity. The dramatically organic, thriving built environment that is Lagos, is at times, absolutely efficient. It is constantly growing, dying, or under repair. It is locally grown, by the people who live there and need it, from the things that are generally deemed useless. At other times, in the same place, there is the exact opposite : the lavishly excessive spending of public monies.

Like the image below, with a satellite dish attached to a primitively crafted shanty, there is an interesting relationship between each material that composes the built environment. It is quite telling of the value structure of Nigeria,

possibly of the developed style. It is more of a global developmental, paradigm shifting style.

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LOCAL PRECEDENT Masaba Close

The majority of my stay in Lagos, Nigeria was spent in Masaba Close, a student housing complex on the University of Lagos Campus. There were four masters of architecture students who lived in the room officially, but would often sleep 6-8 people. The living situation was much more loosely structured than one would find in any U.S. university. I

t was much safer though, because there was a sense of community from this arrangement of spaces around a semi public space. The shared courtyard,

centered on an almond tree, was generally occupied. All of the students, and a few who were not students, watched out for eachother, trusted eachother. In the â&#x20AC;&#x153;securedâ&#x20AC;? U.S. apartments, people are suspect of eachother.

y experience here will in uence the design of the Niger Delta emediation xperiment living spaces. This is where I learned more truth about

the culture, and subculture of Nigerians of all socioeconomic classes. At least three of the guys I met here will most likely come with me when this begins.

During the Day, the beds are stacked to open the room up for daily activity. t night, the beds are unstacked so that people can sleep in the same small room.

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omplex

oom

Day Night

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LOCAL PRECEDENT Bolajiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Catfish + Poultry Farm + House

This is a typical farming compound in Wakajaye, Ibadan, Nigeria. Typical in that catfish and poultry are the main sources of Protein in the area, followed by beef and goat.

It is also typical that he proprietor of the farm live within the confines of the walls, in an extremely efficient dwelling.

The house is situated in the opposite corner of the poultry pen, but directly across form the three catfish ponds. The walls of the house are CMU with mortar finish, the bare essentials. All the furniture, (one couch, twin bed, plastic chair, gas range) was donated by Bolajiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family.

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Afolabi House

Mr. Afolabi designed built this four storey multifamily residence in Ibadan, Nigeria without the use of any drawings. The plan drawing to the left was drawn by me during my two week stay there.

It is a good example of Nigerian vernacular architecture in that it has stood for three decades and is comfortable inside despite the lack of air conditioning or consistent electricity.

There was a market within walking distance where we got each dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth of perishables. The gas stove was complimented with pressure cooking pots to conserve gas usage, and was necessary due to the electricity only being available for 5% of the day. Operable windows throughout each floor allow for effective cross ventilation and cooling even in the seemingly isolated parts of the house

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NIL

Science Block,

Also known as the this complex in tropical Nigeria has been standing for almost 50 years. It was designed by British architect John Godwin, who is now an adjunct professor at the UNILAG Department of Architecture. The design, while reminiscent of the modern style, was considerate of the Nigerian culture in at least two ways. First, there is a large interior courtyard with a rainwater runoff management system. Second, the building was made to require as little maintenance as possible, because

it is common belief and there is plenty of evidence to support it that there is no maintenance culture in Nigeria.

This is only actually true with respect to foreign designed structures. It is because the local design traditions are usually ignored by foreign architects, who have a different sense of permanence than that of Nigerians. Godwin also designed fenestration and floor plans to provide ample daylight into every classroom in the block. This was possibly done with enough foresight to predict the fall of the electrical infrastructure that would come within a decade of the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s completion.

Local Precedent University Of Lagos Faculty Of Science by John Godwin

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DESIGN PRECEDENT Oil Rig Resort by Morris Architects ne of hundreds of ulf of exico tourist destinations that were going to be blown up. The Houston based

firm transformed one of the 4000 rigs in the gulf into a high end luxury hotel that can sustain itself. These kinds of projects will be in extremely high demand after the fall of the oil industry.

Where there once was a burning gas are, there is now a wind turbine for generating electricity. However, with

all the high end luxury living styles and accommodations, the amount of electricity generated will need to be massive. Part of sustainability is reducing the amount of excess that we consume, and this type of tourist destination is overly excessive. It takes a lot of consumption of nonrenewable resources just to get to the resort, and to get supplies there. But, no matter what, it is far better than an oil rig or an abandoned structure in the ocean.

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loor Level A C CP D E G H L M P T V X

Aquatic Show seating Conference Level Central Plant Dive Bell Entertainment Level Guest Rooms Helipad Lobby Marina Pool Level Swimming Pool Elevator Escape Buoy

oom SH BD JZ BL EX SC

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nit

Shower + Toilet Folding Bed + Couch Jacuzzi Tub Balcony Extendable View Port Shipping Container

From Infrastructure To Architecture Big Dig Building Big Dig

ouse

DESIGN PRECEDENT Two Projects by Single Speed Design 6. Cladding includes rainscreens from recycled peirs (Big Dig Building) and precast panels using recycled aggregate. 5.The roofs are activated with shading devices (Big Dig Building) and gardens with water reclamation (Big Dig House). 4.Inverset panels are reused as floor plates and are welded to the primary structure. Light steel framing is used for infill and vertical circulation. 3.At this stage, the projects still resemble the off ramps. The original structure is left in tact, and there are additions to allow for multiple levels. 2.Recycled box beams and salvaged steel are used for primary structure. 1.Bearing walls and columns poured with concrete that reuses aggregate collected during the bigdig.

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SsD 1.

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BUILDS UP from that which was broken down.

Thanks :

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Jen Sheilds

David Thaddeus

and To my advisors and professors at the N harlotte School of rchitecture during this th ear omprehensive rchitectural roject.

Ed Kashi

To and other photojournalists who provide the perspective seldom heard or seen, so that people like me can be inspired to see opportunity in that which is generally portrayed as just another distant disaster that we are all unconsciously connected to.. I bought Curse of the Black Gold : 50 Years of Oil in the Niger Delta, a photographic journal by d ashi and edited by ichael Watts, after reali ing that 0 of oogle image search results related to the Niger Delta on ict were in the book. Shortly after reading the book, and the associated National eographic aga ine article I contacted r. ashi for permission to use his photos, because while they were the only photographs of the Delta, they were also very beautiful and telling. e granted me permission on the following conditions . d ashi is credited for all of the hard work that went into capturing the images. . I note my alteration of all of them on hotoshop for my own aesthetic and diagrammatic reasons. ther photojournalists whose work was altered and used in this document are Brian Shadd, To all of the students,faculty, and advisors at N harlotte School of rchitecture and niversity of Lagos Department of rchitecture, and friends in Nigeria and in the .S. who have either contributed to the notions expressed in this document, or helped me along the way, especially

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Dale Brentrup, AnthonyAdebayo, Afolabi Family, Demas Nwoko, Ademola Dasylva, and the UNILAG M.Arch 1 Students.

Antonio Nevada Martinez

Comprehensive Architectural Project UNC Charlotte School of Architecture Fall 2010-Spring 2011

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