Phytoremediation Research and Visitor Center

Sant’Erasmo Island Venice, Italy

2023 Thesis Project

heavy meTals and conTaminanTs seek To desrucT The fishing acTiviTies. in This regard, The Technology of phyTo remediaTion will be used To clean The waTer and geT rid of conTaminaTs using planTs, as a means of upTake in The waTers of The lagoon planTs ThaT are good for remediaTion and sTopping The conTaminanTs will help bring prosperiTy To The lagoon

The aim of The visiTor and research cenTer on The old forT is conecTing people back wiTh The 17Th cenTury archiTecTure. recreaTing The ravelin and working wiTh The hornwork on sanT e’rasmo and lazaraTTo nouvo forTs. working wiTh The moaT To creaTe an area for phyTo remediaTion and a clean ecology for fish.

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The site was selected due to a myriad of reasons. As it had the lagoon waters flowing through it, the location has the contaminants potentially already on the site which is a great advantage for the projects feasibility. The site location also is a historic piece of land as it was used as a Ravelin to the Historic Lazzeretto Nouvo Quarantine hospital that was constructed during the Republic of venice. The Ravelin that was created after the fall of the sity has an interesting geometry that will greatly impact the form of the design.

The site sits at the entrance to the lagest Island of the Lagoon, so it is most visible and will attract tourist. The site will be accesible by water; through the lagoon, and by road network on the Island. Once active research will be conducted, the project aims to introduce the trees and olants all across the lagoon and beyond. Environmental concerns are most prudent in driving the project forward, but research, dining and learning will also benefit the community and tourists alike.

To have a better appreciation of the historical nature of the site, I analysed the geometry of the fort and the ravelin in order to inform the architectural design. the shapes are usually derived from platonic shapes, with protrutions called bastions, that give more area for shooting arrows and firing cannons. All fortification designs have high walls impenetrable. the first imperative of the design then is to restore the wall around the fort, as it has been demolished

Outwork

An outwork is a small, independent or semidetached fortification constructed or created outside the main fortification lines. The 17th century saw the development of outworks like ravelins, lunettes (demilunes), flèches, and caponiers to protect bastions and defensive curtains from direct battery.

Internal walkways Aquaponic Demonstration | Water feature

Environmental Strategies

Shown through a section of the phytoremediation labs

Natural Ventilation

The research center is equiped with natural ventilation fenestration on theexterior that is shaded from the southern sun by vertical wooden slats, this allows cool air to come in and ventilate the spaces

Rain Water harvesting

The research center is equiped with water tanks as well as the outdoor demonstration areas to filter natural water, and research on the contaminats in the atmosphere

Evapotranspiration

In the middle of the labs sit various breeze as well as the research conducted provide coolness and Oxygen to the

Natural Light

The careful consideration natural light to the complex need for artificial lighting various water fetures that bring about cool conducted on them The plants also the atmosphere of clestory buildings gives in the day hours, reducing the

The inclination of the roof to the south provides ample surface for solar power generation in the complex, to cater for the minor mechanical ventilation needed if the lab requires a more controled atmosphere for research

Ground source heat pump

The Island of Sant’Erasmo experiences winter and some cold weather, due to this the complex has been provided with ground source heatpumps to cater for heating needs