NY Farming Tower

New York Farming Tower Heli Shah Savannah College of Art and Design Winter 2015 - Spring 2015 (ARCH 727/737) Professor Arpad Ronaszegi

Table of Contents 04 NYC Competition Background 09 Case Studies 15 Vertical Farming Systems 21 Site Analysis 29 Chelsea Demographics 33 Structural Analysis 39 Programmatic Planning 61 Building Experience 69 Building Evolution 73 Floor Plans 81 Building Section 87 Details 91 Final Renderings

Case Studies

09

Growing Up By the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth’s population will reside in urban centers and the population will grow by 9.1 Million. Applying the most conservative estimates to current demographic trends, the human population will increase by about 3 billion people during the interim.

The concept of indoor farming is not new, since hothouse production of tomatoes, a wide variety of herbs, and other produce has been in vogue for some time. What is new is the urgent need to scale up this technology to accommodate another 3 billion people. An entirely new approach to indoor farming must be invented, employing cutting edge technologies. The Vertical Farm must be efficient (cheap to construct and safe to operate). Vertical farms, many stories high, will be situated in the heart of the world’s urban centers.

If successfully implemented, they offer the promise of urban renewal, sustainable production of a safe and varied food supply (year-round crop production), and the eventual repair of ecosystems that have been sacrificed for horizontal farming.

60% of the human population now lives vertically in cities. This means that, for the majority, we humans are protected against the elements, yet we subject our food-bearing plants to the rigors of the great outdoors and can do no more than hope for a good weather year.

Vertical Farming

http://vertical-farming.net/vertical-farming/

Vertical Farming can be described as Controlled Environment Agriculture ( ) or in other words Building Integrated Agriculture (BIA) using artificial lighting in multi-leveled systems. Basically, high-tech greenhouses are stacked on top of each other to form Vertical Farms. By providing locally grown food to local communities Vertical Farms offer a fresher, cleaner, highly nutritious product grown at the doorstep of the consumer Global Challenges: Increasing world population (9 billion people by 2050) Increasing urbanization (today 50%; 80% urban population by 2050) Decreasing freshwater sources (70% of freshwater used for agriculture) Destruction of boo-diversity and our environment Decreasing fertilizer sources (Phosphorus) Decreasing arable land High CO2 emissions in traditional agriculture Climate change Seasonal, regional and climatic restrictions for agriculture Food waste (1/3 of produced food is wasted) Increasing demand for fresh, local and safe food Increased production per square meter http://www.archdaily.com/347418/hydroponic-pumping-station-winning-proposal-modelina/ Increased growth rates Increased nutritional value Decreased water use due to recycling water system Decreased land use (no arable land needed) Decreased fertilizer use Elimination of pesticides due to controlled environment Elimination of agricultural runoff Elimination of seasonal, regional and climatic restriction Growing food at the doorstep of consumers (in cities/homes) Access to fresh, highly nutritious and local food 98% less water needed 70% less fertilizers needed Faster growth rates Higher yields per square meter No pesticides needed No runoff of fertilizers or water due to closed system No negative impact on biodiversity and the environment No arable land needed due to soil-less cultivation Less surface needed due to vertical growing Theoretically energy self-sufficient (therefore reduced carbon footprint) No seasonal, regional or climatic restrictions due to closed system No food waste in distribution chain

Bosco Verticale

It is called Bosco Verticale because each tower houses trees between three and six meters which help mitigate smog and produce oxygen. It is also used to moderate temperatures in the building in the winter and summer.

The plants also attenuate noise. The design was tested in a wind tunnel to ensure the trees would not topple from gusts of wind. Botanists and horticulturists were consulted by the engineering team to ensure that the structure could bear the load imposed by the Plantagenet-reinforced concrete balconies are designed to be 28 cm thick, with 1.30 meter parapets.[14] Construction The green vertical towers that integrate plant life into their facade, but unlike many of those designs, here’s one that goes beyond being a mere concept. Designed by Boeri Studio (Stefano Boeri, Gianandrea Barreca and Giovanni La Varra), Bosco Verticale is a towering 27-story structure, currently under construction in Milan, Italy.

Once complete, the tower will be home to the world’s first vertical forest.

The Bosco Verticale is a system that optimizes, recuperates, and produces energy. Covered in plant life, the building aids in balancing the microclimate and in filtering the dust particles contained in the urban environment (Milan is one of the most polluted cities in Europe) The diversity of the plants and their characteristics produce humidity, absorb CO2 and dust particles, producing oxygen and protect the building from radiation and acoustic pollution. This not only improves the quality of living spaces, but gives way to dramatic energy savings year round.

Each apartment in the building will have a balcony planted with trees that are able to respond to the city’s weather -- shade will be provided within the summer, while also filtering city pollution; and in the winter the bare trees will allow sunlight to permeate through the spaces.

15

Vertical Farming Systems

Aeroponic System

Aquaponic System

Hydroponic System

Aeroponics

Advantages Fast plant growth due to increased oxygen

Disadvantages Bacterial growth in root chamber Requires regular cleaning

Easy maintenance High cost operation Less need for water Reliance on the system Easy mobility Plants can be stacked so they require less space

If technological problems occurs, plants are damages in a short amount of time

100% access to the CO2 concentrations for photosynthesis http://www.gardeningsite.com/aeroponics/aeroponics-benefits-and-disadvantages/ http://wallyfarm.com/?page_id=521

https://viviennemackie.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/ohares-urban-garden/

Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium. It uses a small internal microjets, misters, and foggers that sprays the roots with fine, high pressure mist containing nutrient rich solutions. Because the roots are exposed to more oxygen, the plant tends to grow faster. It is also easier to administer all sorts of nutrients to the plant, via the root system.

A pump and sprinkler system creates vapors out of a nutrient rich solution, and sprays the result in the reservoir, engulfing the dangling plant roots. Plants are inserted into the platform top holes and supported with collars.

Aeroponics is often confused with hydroponics, since the two methods are similar and interchangeable, but In aeroponics the roots have no contact with any media, whereas in hydroponics, they do.

http://aerofarms.com/why/technology/

Aquaponics

Advantages 90% reduction in the usage of water than soil-based farming Significally faster plant growth No need for artificial fertilizer

Regular water testing

No disposal required of fish water or an artificial filter

Can not grow root crops

Organic fruits and vegetables Aquaponics is a food production system that combines conventional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as snails, fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic environment.

Freshwater fish are the most common aquatic animal species raised in Aquaponics system. The fish and plants selected for the aquaponic system should have similar needs as far as temperature and pH.

http://theaquaponicsource.com/how-to-aquaponics/ aquaponics-gardening/

http://aquaponics.com/page/recommended-plants-and-fish-in -aquaponics

Expensive to Setup Environment conditions need to be monitored

Easy setup for year round use

http://aquaponicsideasonline.com/how-to-care-for-fish-in-an-aquaponic-system

Disadvantages

Enables fish farming No weeding of the crops Less maintenance of crops

Regular feeding of the fish Electricity needs to be in use all year Extra weight of fish tanks and water Lighting control Climate control in located in cold climate

https://sites.google.com/site/aquapanaponics/4-project-updates/advantagesanddisadvantagesofaquaponics http://wallyfarm.com/?page_id=521

Hydroponics https://drannelinepadayachee.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/191/

Advantages

Soil is not required for hydroponics No need for huge farming land

Disadvantages

Limited production in comparison to field conditions Initial setup cost is high

Water stays in the system thus labor for watering of plants can be avoided Technical skill is required to maintain the equipments Lower water costs as water is reused in these systems Water borne diseases can quickly spread right through the hydroponic gardens No mulching, tilling, changing of soil and weeding If the hydroponic system fails it can leads to rapid plant death without soil as a buffer No scope of pesticide damage Limited planting options Easier to get rid of pests and diseases

The Organic Trade Association defines organic agriculture as a means of growing produce with minimal impact on the land. The vegetables, therefore, are free of residues associated with Synthetic pesticide and fertilizer use.

Hydroponics accomplishes all of the main goals set out by organic farmers, but takes it a step further to a level which is frankly impossible to ever accomplish with soil gardening of any variety.

When it comes to nutrients, unrefined mineral salts and animal-meal products don’t dissolve well in water, therefore we use high quality refined nutrients which are soluble in water.

The nutrients trace elements from the soil contribute to the nutritional make up of soil grown fruits and vegetables. In the case of hydroponically grown foods, in theory they do not have access to these trace elements – they rely on water to grow. However in order to combat this, hydroponic growers supplement the water supply with trace elements and compounds.

Plant nutrients used in hydroponics are dissolved in the water and are mostly in inorganic and ionic form. Primary among the dissolved cations are Ca2+ (calcium), Mg2+(magnesium), and K+(potassium). The major nutrient anions in nutrient solutions are NO−3 (nitrate), SO2−4 (sulfate), and H2PO−4 (dihydrogen phosphate).

Easy to harvest The one major difference with soil and hydroponics is that you can grow organic produce in soil.

Hydroponics, by nature are not organic – they require added nutrients to make them grown.

http://forum.grasscity.com/advanced-growing-techniques/1047288-diffrent-grow-systemsgrow-methods.html

http://dhdwallpaper.info/716-hydroponics-vertical-farming

http://www.inspirationgreen.com/assets/images/ Vertical%20farms/

http://www.maginezart.com/2014/12/hydroponic-gardening-easy-and-fun.html

http://www.maginezart.com/2014/12/hydroponic-gardening-easy-and-fun.html

Site Analysis

21

Tourist destinations in Manhattan

Central Park is an urban park in the central part of the borough of Manhattan.

18 minute drive.

Central Park A major commercial intersection and a neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan 15 minute drive.

Time Square A 103-story skyscraper located in Midtown Manhattan.

20 minute walk.

Empire State Building A 1.45-mile-long New York City linear park built in Manhattan on an elevated section of a disused New York Central Railroad.

About 3 minute walk.

High Line Park A part of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway that extends from 59th Street south to Battery Park.

20 minute walk.

Hudson River Park

A 25-acre public park located at the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City, facing New York Harbor.

18 minute drive.

Battery Park

Parks in Manhattan 6 minutes walk.

Chelsea Waterside Park

4 minutes walk.

Clement Clarke Moore Park

5 minutes walk.

14th Street

10 minutes walk.

Dr. Gertrude B. Kelly Playground

http://nymag.com/news/features/31274/

Restaurant

Green Market

Urban Farming Educa-

Rooftop Bar

Modern Architecture

Rooftop Greenhouse

Hyrdoponic System

Aquaponic System

Aeroponic System

Form Study

Chelsea Demographics

29

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Structural Analysis

33

Aqua Tower, Chicago

HAP six Design, NYC

Studio Gang Rendering, Miami

Vocational School, Denmark

Frame Hotel, Dubai

Frame Hotel, Dubai

City of Dreams Hotel, Macau

Hearst Tower, New York City

The Gherkin, London

CCTV, Beijing

Exoskeleton

Core System

Beams

Columns

Structure

Programmatic Planning

39

UNITS FOR WORKERS

GREEN HOUSE

TWO BEDROOM UNITS

RESIDENTIAL

URBAN FARMING

ONE BEDROOM UNITS

LEARNING CENTER HYDROPONIC AQUAPONIC AEROPONIC

PENTHOUSE

OFFICE

BAR

COMMERCIAL GYM

MARKET

RESTAURANT

HIGHLINE LEVEL

TOP OF HIGHLINE LEVEL

3

30

Space Diagramming

Public Space

Commercial

Semi-Public Spaces

Restaurant

Private Spaces

One-Bedroom Units

Green House

Learning Center

Market

Three-Bedroom Units

Four-Bedroom Units

Bar

Two-Bedroom Units

Elevator Shaft

Aquaponic System

Vertical Circulation

Hydroponic System

Underground Parking

Aeroponic System

First Floor

Third Floor

Private Spaces

One-Bedroom Units

Two-Bedroom Units

Three-Bedroom Units

Four-Bedroom Units

Each Unit is designed to specifically fit a user type. The city life is busy so the design tries to incorporate a combination of units in the building that are different sizes and to further meet specific clients needs, each unit size has two types, one with farming and one without farming. The units without farming will be assigned a farming space in the Green House on the roof.

Kitchen Laundry/Storage

Bedroom Bathroom Bedroom

Living Room

Bathroom

Kitchen

Living Room

Laundry/Storage

Kitchen Laundry/Storage

One Bedroom

Two Bedroom

Three Bedroom

Four Bedroom

Building Experience

61

Typical Living Room

Market Rendering

Influences

High Line Connection

Restaurant Rendering

Community Park

Parking

Geothermal

Green House

Unit Detail

Conceptual Section

Restaurant

High Line View

Street View

Exterior Street View

Building Evolution

69

Build-able Area

Build-able Volume

Angled Walls to allow more Daylight

Pocket Balconies for Farming

Vegetation

Exploded Structure

Floor Plans

73

Site Plan Not To Scale

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et

10

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9th

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8th

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First Floor

Floor Plans

Second Floor

Floor Plan 1”=20’-0”

Aquaponic

Aquaponic

Aeroponic

Se (Highline (Highline Level) Level)

Third Third Floor Floor

Typical Type Typical A Type A

Fourth Fourth Floor Floor

Floor Plan 1”=20’-0”

Aeroponic

Aquaponic Aquaponic Aeroponic Aeroponic Hydroponic Hydroponic

Aeroponic Aeroponic

Top Floor

Green House

Typical Type B

Typical Type A

Fourth F Aeroponic

Fifth Floor

Floor Plan 1”=20’-0”

Aeroponic

Aquaponic

Aeroponic

Hydroponic

HVAC / Plumbing Diagrammatic Floor Plan Not To Scale

Fourth Floor Environmental and Plumbing Systems

B A

C

C

A B

F E

E

E

A

B

G

C

D On Floor E

E

FOn Ceiling G

A-Water Heater B-Chiller C-Plumbing Pipes D-Radiant Heating Coils E-Circulation Pump F-Cooling Ceiling Panels G-Aeroponic Farming

Building Sections

81

Building Section Not To Scale

Structu

ral Per

spectiv

Building Section

e Sect

ion

E

3/32”=1’-0”

Building Section

3/32” = 1’-0”

Structural Perspective Section Not To Scale

Pocket Balconies to Increase Sunlight for Farming

Building Details

87

Final Renderings

91

Learning Center Experience

Highline Walkway

Restaurant

Typical Living Room

22