KEVIN KURIAKOSE 1
Architectural Design Tectonics The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture BA Architecture 2013 / 2014
SYMBIOGENESE
etymology sym- + bio- + genese coined in german by the russian lichenologist konstantin mereschkowski, in a 1910 paper entitled ‘theorie der zwei plasmaarten als grundlage der symbiogenesis, einer neuen lehre von der entstehung der organismen’
noun (biology) The merging of two separate organisms to form a single new organism
PATH
LAYER
LINK
NODE
COMMUNITY
SYMBIOSIS
grüneHAUS The focus of the project was to create a hybrid tectonic system that would reclaim lost space that have fallen to urban decay through symbiogenesis. This system’s evolution is driven by the self sustaining, symbiotic relationship of the grüneHAUS and the maschinengeHÄUSE. These interact and merge to form new entities all the while providing all the necessary resources for agro-mechanical community that it houses to thrive
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LOST SPACE Tiorehen tiores et el imaio te digendi genist et inima velestis aut vid ut labo. Et fugitatia volorae eum, odiciment por receptat accat laborrum nectis ad qui optat. Aperumq uuntus, ipis aliquas pietur sam volendem ullaut aut unt lanim quatetur aut vit, se sentota tiatam eos etus, quam reperunt volori consecum voluptaquam qui duciam quiatus con 12
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After anaylsing the site through a series of mapping excercises we drew several conclusions. We realized that there was a deficit of green space around our site after our analysis of the built environment and one of the aims of the project was to bridge this disparity of built vs. natural spaces. By performing a GPS trace while trying to access the site and then mapping the various links that fed into the site we realized the site was diconnected from the rest of the city. Based on these conclusions we decided to develop the intersection between existing conditions while continuing to focus on bringing the residents of Leith closer to nature.
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Built
Green
Access
Links
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Inspired and influenced by the tectonic nature of the existing tram depot the idea is to create a greenhouse, with the humble gardener as the protagonist. The project will act as a node and a landmark that would not only attract visitors but also generate energy to fuel the self-sustaining agro mechanical community that will work and maintain the greenhouse together. This project focuses on the intersection of today’s cities with self-sustaining agricultural institutions that produce the necessary resources for an urban population. The design of this proposal focuses on the mosaic of modern day living with a mixing of urban spaces with natural spaces nurtured and by the gardeners with the help of the mechanics creating a single entity through symbiogenesis that functions as one. Cultivated and uncultivated land and forests. This proposal suggest reusing existing networks and repurposing existing space to create new urban spaces. The roads, lanes and paths support the city and rejuvenate Leith while protecting the production of energy, food, flowers and plants along these new spaces
‘Anon, out of the earth a fabric huge Rose like an exhalation’ - Milton, Paradise Lost
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At a larger scale the proposal will also consider a wide range of urban spatial policies like the provisions of green spaces and retrofitting existing buildings along with infrastructure renewal and increased non-motorized transport coverage while the symbiotic system proposed wil act as a node in the network of bridges that aims to create another rich layer in the urban fabric. This network seeks to link green spaces across the city.
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This system can be seen as a pilot for future projects that can plug into this vast newtork to create several nodal, sustainable symbiotic systems. A system whose evolution is driven by symbiosis, where elements interact and cooperate to merge and form new entities. These systems will be able to function both as autonomous entities and as a network.
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The project seeks to cater to the needs of the protagonist, the gardener, and seeks to provide a space to retreat and connect with nature. The initial concept of the housing scheme was for the housing to be linked directly with a greenhouse with a focus on the symbiotic relationship between the horticulturist and the greenhouse. The project was to be climatically responsive and the idea was to provide a semi-conditioned winter garden for the horticulturist that shared structure and components with the adjacent greenhouse.
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From the beginning we wanted to minimize the removal of buildings but to instead repurpose them. Some of the existing, unplanned, unaesthetic poorly conceived buildings will be removed to provide space for both projects. The greenhouse as well as the housing units emulate the form of the old tram-shed. The old tram-shed will be re-purposed into a market that will work alongside the closed greenhouse. The housing units will be enclosed in steel structure adjacent to the closed greenhouse and market.
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The entire scheme was organized along a grid, with the housing units organized around service cores. The elevation reflects this with access provided to upper floors by the service core. At this stage relationship with mechanic unit was superficial and as the proposal developed the machineHAUS starts to intersect more with the greenHAUS to create a communal space.
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Maschinengeh채use. Houses the mechanics that help maintain the project.
CO2
Residence Water Tank
The interchange.
Biofilter
The Ramp. Links the repurposed bridge to the project. Ramps around the repurposed Bingo Hall, that is now a Combined Heat and Power Plant. Shredder
The market. An open-air market that provides a retail outlet for the produce from the greenhouse.
Closed Greenhouse
Aquifier
Digester
Biogas Plants
The idea was to create a closed energy loop. At the center we have the closed greenhouse that generates heat and biomass that is converted into energy by maintained by the mechanics. The residents of the community also play a part in the cycle and derive its many benefits. The greenhouse provides all the essential needs of the community including food, water, heat and electricity. Everything from the sewage and waste produced by the community is reused in this cycle.
Hygenisation
Exhaust
Heat Exchanger
Primary Pit
CH P
Gasometer
Pl an t
zunftHAUS Turbine
gr체neHAUS
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Reclaiming Modern Ruins. Urban rot is a problem and since deindustrialization of the UK there are plenty of buildings that have been abandoned and let to rot and decay and considering today’s economy it is not an option to actually refurbish and re-purpose all these buildings. Why not help nature take over and reclaim these spaces as its own? It’s after all valuable space that has been lost. Controlled and nurtured by the protagonist, the garden, dilapidated buildings like this next to Leith can serve another purpose. Providing valuable biomass and acting as lungs to the city such buildings will be incorporated into the network and be part of the cycle to generate energy.
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The intersection becomes communal guild house that both residents of the machineHAUS as well as the greenHAUS have access to for recreational activity.
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1:200| Cluster Plan 43
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1:200| Long Section 45
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The structure was conceived as an independent steel portal frame structure that is made of the same repeating components as the greenhouse. This not only provides a semi-conditioned winter garden that provides passive heating but it also acts to protect the structure of the housing units which are made from exposed cross laminated timber (CLT). The portal frames with glazing would be installed and then the prefabricated CLT structure would be built within this rain proof environment.
Structural Model
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Access to the housing units is provided from a very public arcade which acts a spine for circulation. The units were designed to provide easily adaptable space for living with only the core services defined.
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1:100| Typical Unit Ground Plan 59
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1:100| Typical Unit First Floor Plan 61
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Using only slight variations of the typical unit one can adapt the units to many different configurations to provide for different numbers of occupants.
Early Developmental Models
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1:100| Summer Section 64
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1:100| Winter Section 66
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Temperature Sensitive Automatic Mechanical Louvers
Wall 10mm Lime Render 150mm Rigid Wood Fiber Insulation Air barrier WRB 140mm Structural CLT
70mm Exposed Screed Floor with Under Floor Heating 140mm Strutural CLT
Sylomer
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Thermal Blinds to reduce heat loss through South Facade
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‘If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden’ - Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
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