Without Reason, Without Dream: Out of the Impasse

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Without Reason, Without Dream: Out O w h i r o

L u k e

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Impasse

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P e t t e r s o n

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U n i v e r s i t y 2 0 1 6

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Abst ract With the continual advancement of urban sprawl, our need for resources in outlying rural areas has magnified; yet these are the very areas we have often despoiled and rendered useless. This designled research investigation looks at ways to enhance the resource capabilities of these outlying areas, while simultaneously repairing the environmental damage and enhancing people’s awareness of the need to safeguard our environment. Owhiro Bay offers a harsh, exposed environment, considered to be one of the most unusable spaces to facilitate vegetation growth due to is exposed south facing orientation. The harsh environmental conditions

of howling gales and rising sea levels act as a large design barrier; in which the architectural intervention must adapt and overcome to be deemed successful. This design-led research investigation argues that the growth of elements within the natural world does not have to follow the traditional horizontal approach. Nor does it need to have direct exposure to the northern skies or fresh water, but rather utilise the surrounding environment. This investigation proposes that this can be achieved through by incorporating both innovative mechanics and human processes, creating a harmonious relationship between both

within the architecture. In the process of challenging the traditional this means the retirement of lateral growing systems, replacing them with interventions that utilise vertical space hence resulting in minimal impact on the already scarred and fragile site. The growing facility acts as the first production line which could be part of a network operating at a greater scale. Not only in the macro scale of Wellington, but nationally or globally, growing seedlings in order to replenish broken and scarred environments.

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By the end of the century the population of the Earth is going to double and the urban population is going to be four to five times as large as it is at present, the numbers of machines even larger, and the built-up area more than ten times greater... The present city – without reason, without dream – leads to dystopia and disaster. Utopias – without reason, with dream – cannot get us out of the impasse. There is only one road left – with reason and dream – which should take us out of the bad into a good place, which is not out of place, but in place – an entopia. Constantinos A. Doxiadis, Between Dystopia and Utopia

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Pref ace The quote on the opposite page by Greek architect Constantinos A. Doxiadis encapsulates the essence of this investigation looking at the damage that we as a growing population are causing on the environment. The title for this research investigation, Without Reason, Without Dream: Out of the Impasse, is derived from this passage. Doxiadis is reflecting on our current world, implying that if we keep living and expanding in our current means we are heading towards a disastrous reality. However, if we take reality and introduce aspects of dream from the Utopian way of thinking we end up with an entopia – the in between realm – in which can get us out of the Impasse.

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01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

I n t r o d u ct i o n

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S i t e A n a l ys i s

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Pr o g r a m m e A n a l ys i s

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Li t e r a t u r e Rev i e w

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C a s e S t u d i es

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Pr el i m i n a r y D e s i g n

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Pr o j ect Rev i e w

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D e v e l o p e d D es i g n

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C o n cl u s i o n a n d Ref l e cti o n

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01

I n t r o d u ct i o n

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Without Reason, Without Dream: Out o w h i r o

With urban sprawl encroaching into our rural environment it results in scarring and damaging of the natural environment. The thought of this damage inflicting itself onto the natural environment was a primary driver for the architectural response on the Owhiro Bay Quarry Site. The research investigation proposes the implementation of a new innovative design solution to tackle this problem. The investigation focuses on how an architectural intervention can provide a positive response to such a negative problem. The design methods and processes used within this design-led research investigation will be the vehicles facilitating the proposal to challenge the traditional means of vegetation growth, growing seedlings to ecologically repair scarred landscapes. The project intends to blur the boundary that has been established over time between mankind and machine - resulting in the utilisation of mankind’s abilities whilst simultaneously introducing aspects of machine, forming a harmonious balance between those who are willing to repair and those considered to be the destroyers. This investigation seeks to convert machines that were once used to destroy the landscape into something that now has a regenerative purpose, giving back to the environment. This research is primarily process based, where it follows a conventional methodology utilising both analogue and digital media. numerous iterative sketches were drawn, many digital models visualised, and physical models made, all in order to understand the relationship of the architectural intervention with site, and also its internal proportional relationships. At each stage of the

b a y

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design process a critical analysis was undertaken in order to understand if and how the intervention was responding to the research objectives. This critical analysis was done through both the informal means of studio discussions with supervisor - Daniel K. Brown - and colleagues but also through the more formal means of critiques and reviews, both of which allowed focus to be retained. The project is divided into eight chapters, all of which facilitate development within the design process. • The first, Introduction, outlines the structure of the design-led research investigation, articulating the overall aims and objectives of the investigation. • The second, Site Analysis, which itself is broken down into four key aspects of site dynamics, articulating site specific issues of which the design experiments are to address. • The third, Program Analysis, articulates the program specific issues that are intended to be addressed within the design - seeking a developed understanding of the programmatic requirements and composition. • The fourth, Literature Review, seeks theoretical approaches in order to tackle the project objectives and current problems, the theoretical position adds another layer of complexity and rational to the project. • The fifth, Preliminary Design, is a display of the sequentially created iterations addressing

the design problem, aims and objectives. This chapter involves the use of visual aids such as case studies, sketches and digital modelling, collating all information into an architectural intervention. • The sixth, Project Review, deconstructs the project at its current point, reflecting on the preliminary design phase and articulating how the design should transition through developed design. • The seventh, developed design, builds upon the preliminary design proposal creating a cohesive design outcome that portrays itself as a solution to the research problem, aims and objectives of the investigation. • The final chapter, Conclusion and Critical Reflection, discusses the project’s overall findings, concluding what has been learnt, what strengths the proposal had, and also its weaknesses, and where the design could possibly expand to if the continuation of research was to extend beyond the scope of this design-led research investigation. The proposed scheme is forward thinking, displaying a solution to an arising problem. It is designing for a future relationship between mankind and machine, eliminating the overthrowing of mankind by machine that Doxiadis acknowledges in his text. The built intervention is required to be responsive to site, but also responsive to the wider environment, considered in scales ranging from the local context of Wellington through to National and Global scales.

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S i t e A n a l ys i s

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Exposed quarry site Valley and pond Panorama of site Contrasting rock materiality Point along coastline Valley Rough mountainside Aerial of point along coastline Quarry face Shoreline Exposed rock face

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Visu al An alysis Fig. 2.07 Fig. 2.10

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Owhiro Bay is a beautiful picturesque landscape dented into the South Coast of the Lower North Island. The surf comes crashing onto the shore, where it is faced by a steep mountainside, covered in wild shrubbery and beach grasses. Within the mountainside, terraced indentations are the scars upon the landscape left by what once was the Owhiro Bay Quarry. The site is rich in historical events, has interesting environmental conditions and many levels of geometrical relationships. This area has been stripped of its beautiful natural elements, leaving its raw self exposed to harsh conditions. It poses initial questions as to how this site can be replenished and transformed even into something that gives back to the environment from where something was once taken.

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Herit age An alysis Over the years Owhiro Bay has been the host site for many different historic events and purposes. Historic presence on the site stretches right back to the Maori mythologies. Certain mythologies say the red rocks on the shores of surrounding bays attained their colourings from the blood of the bait on Maui’s hook that he used to fish up Aotearoa. Other historic events occurring within the bay include shipwrecks where the first boat – Le Bella – was blown ashore in 1904. In the years passing 1905 the site has hosted a large gravel quarry and been home to thousands of livestock.

Maori Legends

First Shipwreck 1904

The Quarry 1905

Seal Poaching

Farmlands

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En viron m en t al An alysis The site possesses many extreme environmental conditions that can be extrapolated into design driving elements. To the eastern wing of the site lays a valley sweeping back towards the city; steep valley walls are overgrown with grasses and wild shrubbery. The greenery has been stripped away from the quarry site leaving a scarred indentation on the cliff face. The material palette on site is baron and consists of little variety. Three types of rock make up the coarse shoreline and minimal vegetation can survive on the mountain face, leaving the site almost bare and untouched.

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Geom et ric An alysis Geometric relationships are evident throughout the whole site and pose opportunities for them to influence the form and orientation of possible built forms. The initial geometric relationship extracted was the coastline. Owhiro Bay itself is an indentation into the South Coast; the quarry carries this indentation further inland. Secondly the relationship between the North Island and its sibling the South was prominent. Instead of these entities facing each other head on the South Island is only visible on a 45O pivotal rotation.

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Approach The interventions occupying the Owhiro Bay Quarry site are positioned based upon site dynamics and are responsive to growing trends in regards to urban sprawl and population increases. The programme housed within is to be of a nature that has the ability to give back to the scarred site, through the growth and production of vegetation. This will be analysed through the means of considered existing or proposed facilities understanding their physical attributes. Projects that will be used as case studies include: - Sky Greens, Jack Ng, 2011. - Engineered Biotopes, Anthi Graspa, Konstantinos Chalaris, 2010. - Mixed-use vertical farms, Brandon Martella, RNT architects

[ multi-program stack ] 17


Sk y Green s Mr Jack Ng

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Jack Ng’s (inventor and founder of Sky Greens) Singaporean vertical vegetation farm is the first of its kind worldwide. Constructed in 2011 the project was considered an experiment in order to increase productivity of vegetational growth. Once fully operational these vertical gardens began producing 800 kgs of vegetables every alternate day. This vertical growing farm consists of 35 towers each having 32 planter troughs on a rotating mechanism. The architecture housing this vertical farm is of a small nature only occupying 200 m2 of site space, thus meaning the ratio of production to land occupied ratio remains lower than its typical value – creating a more land efficient production process. This system provides a baseline on the premise that it is a plausible, although a higher level of integration into the architecture is required.

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Vertical garden sketches Exterior render of architecture Angled growing planes for sunlight Site configuration sketch in relation to sunlight Mechanical growing system

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En gin eered Biot opes Anthi Graspa and Konstantinos Chalaris

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Anthi Graspa (BA (Hons) Architecture Dip. Arch. RIBA) and Konstantinos Chalaris’s (Senior Lecturer at University of Brighton) proposal titled Engineered Biotopes, introduces infrastructure to be built in a city context, housing vegetation. The vegetation being housed within a building-like form is a representational feature expressing that nature is beginning to be less dominant over the built environment. Their proposal is over 100 metres in height, opening up to the sky and other elements of nature at the 80 metre mark. The benefits of the natural elements beginning to become exposed allows birds and other living organisms to pollinate plant life. Water tubes climb the building allowing irrigation and fertigation of the plants to take place. Unfortunately plans for this proposal were not obtainable but based on assumptions from the elevation and perspective the building is very large, housing not only the natural components but also commercial offices, introducing a dual program.

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Sketches adopting vertical growing systems Elevation of Engineered Biotopes Exterior perspective view of Engineered Biotopes Exterior perspective view of Engineered Biotopes

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Mixed Use Vert ical Farm in San Dieg o Brandon Martella

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Brandon Martella proposed a vertical farm in the central city district of San Diego. This skyscraper houses two primary programs; on the side of the building with higher levels of direct sunlight is a vertical farm, spanning from the third floor all the way up to the rooftop, encapsulated in a glasshouse-like structure. On the opposing side of the building are offices, using daylight rather than direct sunlight to illuminate the workstations. This 30 storey building possesses many functional aspects that are adaptable to this investigation, such as a primary vertical circulation method and a structural system holding the glass panels in place. This proposal has 13,000m2 of green wall space, probably significantly too much for a building that is to be placed on the Owhiro Bay Quarry site.

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Sketch offsetting building from quarry cliff face Elevation of mixed use vertical farm Exterior perspective view of mixed use vertical farm Component diagram of intervention

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Li t e r a t u r e Rev i e w

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Bet ween D yst opia an d Ut opia Constantinos A. Doxiadis

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Excerpt From The Text

The Design Opportunities

By the end of the century the population of the Earth is going to double and the urban population is going to be four to five times as large as it is at present, the numbers of machines even larger, and the built-up area more than ten times greater.

Doxiadis sets up the base principles for a problematic futuristic situation, where the earth has reached rock bottom, busting at the seems with human inhabitation and machines being a primary aspect of our lifestyle. In this fictional situation urban sprawl has taken over, resulting in there being minimal land left for occupation. Needing to escape this dystopian environment whilst still maintaining a grip on reality, the desire for an Entopia arises, a point of equilibrium were the balance of dreams and reality collide, relating back to the title, without reason, without dream; out of the impasse. How can the architecture be configured in order to change this outcome Doxiadis proposes we will end in, whilst simultaneously give back to the scarred environment it is situation on?

In a century from now, the total population will be of the order of twenty to thirty billion, the urban population about twenty times larger than at present, the economic forces, the machines, and the area of human settlements almost terrifying. By then they will be all interconnected in a total continuous universal settlement, into the ecumenic city or ecumenopolis.

The present city – without reason, without dream – leads to dystopia and disaster. Utopias – without reason, with dream – cannot get us out of the impasse. There is only one road left – with reason and dream – which should take us out of the bad into a good place, which is not out of place, but in place - an entopia. Constantinos A. Doxiadis

ef-topia degree of quality

We as humans seek escape, a place where reality isn’t considered. A place where our dreams take a specific form which, with the passing of time, has taken the name of Utopia – for which is actually no place.

Entopia

dys-topia

What will happen to man within the city, and what is going to happen to the city itself? All signs show that the city cannot function and within its walls it will crush man; between its networks it will choke him to death.

Fig. 4.01 - Diagrammatic representation of dynamically growing cities merging , creating larger urban environments

topia

degree of reality

u-topia

Fig. 4.02 - Finding Entopia; halfway between dreams and reality

Fig. 4.03 - Sketch of possible architectural representation of theory

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Su pplem en t ary L it erat u re Rem Koolhaas Kevin Lynch

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Once, a city was divided into two parts. One part became the Good Half, the other part the Bad Half. The inhabitants of the Bad Half began to flock to the good part of the divided city, rapidly swelling into an urban exodus. Rem Koolhaas, 1972

Older features are dug out to be seen. New features are located where they produce the greatest formal and associative resonance... The technique implies that there must be room for new layers to come and even suggests that signs of the future, as currently interpreted should be part of collage. Kevin A. Lynch, 1972

The Design Opportunities

The Design Opportunities

Koolhaas’s theories can be implemented into an architectural solution much along the same lines as Doxiadis. With the intervention displaying the divide between the good and the bad, or reality and the dreamworld. Architecturally, the form based upon Koolhaas’s theories should display this transition as a slow eroding process where the building starts as a strong being emitting feelings of it being one with the “Good Half” transforming into something that can be acknowledged in association with the “Bad Half”.

Lynch’s architectural theory implies that the designed intervention should be a multilayered collage. Designing with this frame of mind allows for additional pieces of information to be integrated into the final built entity. Layers that can be considered in relation to the Owhiro Bay Quarry site include the rich historical events. Adding layers to the project allows the project to become didactic, teaching us something about its relevance whilst still being a piece of beauty.

Fig. 4.04 - Sketch of Koolhaas’ theory

Concluding Evaluation All three pieces of literature highlight differing aspects and positions, all of which are applicable to the design process. Doxiadis’s book, Between Dystopia and Utopia, is rich in detail and perspective on the future for the realm in which we reside in. Urban sprawl has taken over; predicted population numbers have exponentially increased, creating strains on the planet; the creating of machinebased solutions is choking the human species. Developing an architectural proposal based upon the principles of this disastrous environment will help address the objectives of this design-led research investigation. The interpretation of the literature and the responsive architecture to be designed from it will be a challenging process, resulting in an architecturally feasible solution. Introducing other theorists such as Koolhaas and Lynch allows the site responsive architecture to have a greater level of detail. Having an architecture that can be seen in multiple lights or perspectives allows the interpretation of the architecture to alter. Layering in other information that relates to the historical events or environmental conditions creates an architecture more responsive to site. Creating a didactic aspect within the built form allows inhabitants to experience an implied meaning from the architecture.

Fig. 4.05 - Sketch of Lynch’s theory

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C a s e S t u d i es

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Case St u dy On e Maria Lardi B.Arch RIBA Thesis Project 2012 Maquette Maria Lardi’s project; Maquette, presents some architectural elements that visually fall upon my design palette. Fig. 5.01

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Maquette; plan view Maquette; perspective view Maquette; aerial perspective view Maquette; perspective view Maquette; aerial perspective view Maquette; aerial perspective view Site application in section Site application in plan Site application in perspective Site application in perspective

Elements that can be extracted and used in an architectural intervention on site include the wharflike component, but also the exposed structural elements. The sketches display these characteristics on site, structural elements flowing down the terraced landscape to the shoreline then out into the water. Adapting this wharf-like structure into the production line of which grows the seedlings of which repair scarred environments.

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Case St u dy Two Takahiro Iwasaki Out of Disorder 2010

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Out of Disorder; perspective view of silo Out of Disorder; perspective of pylons Out of Disorder; perspective of water refinery Out of Disorder; overall perspective view Out of Disorder; perspective of vertical silo Site application in section Site application in plan Site application in plan

Japanese artist Takahiro Iwasaki has created a series of miniature models of power plants and large refineries. The model although not built portrays architectural qualities of which can facilitate the growing processes. The industrial aesthetic of the model is very pleasing and materially correlates to the design program of an industrial growing facility. The composition of vertical elements contrasted against the horizontal walkways creates an unique inhabitable space. A second aspect of the model that correlates to the design investigation is the aspect of dilapidation, coming back to what Diadoxis was saying about the world getting run to the ground, the aesthetic could be a representation of this situation.


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Case St u dy Th ree + Fou r

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LEFT: Case Study Three, to the left, is the primary machine in the Iignite mine in Kolubara, Serbia. The huge digger presents elements of mechanicalism that be suitable to adapt into the growing process, where the machines begin to give back to the land, replenishing what they once took. RIGHT: Emscher Park Ruhr 1990

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Mining Machine in Kolubara Machine sketch for design Machine sketch in plan Machine sketch in elevation Mining machine in Kolubara plan Emscher Park walkway Emscher Park aerial view Emscher Park panorama view Sketches indicating design integration

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Emscher Park reuses run down industrial landmarks of the region and converts them into a newly inhabitable space, revitalizing the abandoned pieces of machinery. Elements of this project that could be adapted is the reuse of unneeded existing elements.

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Pr el i m i n a r y D e s i gn

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Sk et ch D esign Experim en t One Situated on the steep cliff face orientating itself south, the wharf component acts as if it is an extension of the body, reaching towards the impossible target, the horizon. The rotation in the lower portion of the wharf is a response to site dynamics, orientating itself towards the visible mountain ranges of the South Island. Both of these montages were created using the works of Douglas Darden, Wok Sok Choi, Mitch Rocheleau and Dustin Wheat.

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Sk et ch D esign Experim en t Two In response to the mankind and machine-made scaring on site, this is a representation of ruins, pieces of something that was once whole. Once there was a physical relationship between the entities occupying the cliff face and the elements in the ocean, but this connection has now eroded away from years of harsh environmental conditions. Both of these montages were created using the works of Mitch Rocheleau, Douglas Darden, Tom Noonan and Charles Correa.

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Sk et ch D esign Experim en t Three Situated in the mouth of the valley lie two halves, siblings who were once close, but over time have grown apart. Now wishing to be reconnected with each other, one reaches for the other across the valley, trying to rebuild what they once had. This montage extracts works created by Tom Noonan, Joseph Deane and Guiliano Fiorenzo.

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Prelim in ary D esign Proposal 21_04_2016

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Section of initial built composition Initial cylindrical growing tower Section of iteration two built composition Perspective sketch of third iteration Plan view of radial growing tower Iterative composition of building form development Sketch of mechanical building head

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[ present - 2016 ]

[ future - 2056 ]

Fig. 6.14

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[ future - 2096 ]


Urban Sprawl Predict ion s The three maps to the left illustrate Wellington’s urban sprawl predictions. In the Wellington City Council document researchers explain the predictions/trends in the population, the houses required and areas of growth. In the next 3040 years the council predict there to be an additional 50,000 residing in the area, resulting in the Wellington population being over quarter of a million. Key areas of growth expected by this time include Karori, Island Bay and Owhiro Bay. Expanding upon these trends one can forecast the urban sprawl and the city’s areas of expansion, further into the future.

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[ present - 2016 ]

[ future - 2056 ]

Fig. 6.15

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[ future - 2096 ]


Urban Grid Predict ion s In analysing an aerial view encapsulating all adjacent suburbs, trends in the urban grain can be recognised. Main roads coming from the city centre seem to branch off into two sub lines. A key example is the Newtown junction. Parallel to this arterial route is the Brooklyn branch, which has the facilities in order to become a primary route to new and expanding suburbs. The maps to the left, express possible configurations of future urban grids based off this type of junction and parallel arterial roads.

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Sit e Com posit ion The primary built form needs to be responsive to the environmental conditions of urban sprawl encroachment, and as such it will be situated at a geometric ‘hot-spot’. The interception of these site geometries occurs in the liminal zone, between high and low tide lines. With the intervention programmatically housing growing facilities this positioning also allows ample amounts of light to come across the Owhiro Bay ridge line. The location also facilitates the capability to utilize the vast amounts of sea water for irrigation and fertigation purposes, using salt water conversion methods. The intervention is a means of replenishment, the pivotal point between the road towards a Dystopian future and the road towards a livable Entopian future.

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Sit e Plan The overall site plan uses aspects from the geometric analysis expressed on the previous page combined with the trends recognised in the growth of the city at an urban scale. With the overlay of an ordering system on site, some pieces of the grid begin to be filled in and built upon. The primary access way channels itself up the cliff face aligning its landings with the existing quarry terraces. The vertical growing tower positioned at the geometric hot spot acts as a pivotal point, becoming the hinge of the grid. Feedback: The site plan is beautiful. It could be advanced further if it enabled the viewer to understand where the concept comes from without ever showing the grid of the suburban encroachment.

Initial Building Pads

Vertical Growing Tower

The First Inhabitable Form

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Fig. 6.18

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Th e Begin n in g of In h abit at ion The first means of site habitation, the first building to occupy the terraced landscape. This building acts as the viewing platform at the top of the climb. Feedback: This shot is very alluring. Great Job. It still hovers in the realm of conceptual design rather than preliminary design, in that the important focal element at the top is totally unarticulated. To become worthy of this strong focus, the top element needs to develop an identity that is recognisable and compelling. Consider the materiality, rather than it just poured in place.

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Fig. 6.19

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[ vertical transition - 85 000 mm ]

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[ observatory - 110 000 mm ]


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Pr o j ect Rev i e w

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Not es From Crit iqu e Daniel K. Brown (DKB) Guy Marriage (GM) Chris Young (CY)

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Other Comments from Critique: The analysis drawings outlining the prediction of urban development are great in relation to evidence of the research-led process of this design. (DKB) Compositional relationship between the inhabitable form on the mountainside is interesting, could be a means of first seeing that the building out in the liminal zone is actually a vertical farm. It introduces a surrealist notion to the project. (DKB) Nice collection of elements on site. (GM) The overall aerial composition is both captivating but experimental. I particularly love how the line work and render leave the central drawing. See if the render leaving the central image might inform the viewer about something important that would not otherwise be seen. The components in the water need to be transformed from a diagrammatic representation to real... (DKB) The hero shot looking back upon site is fantastic. Awesome drawing. Very dynamic. Perhaps encourage more line work on the white page and more alluring colour would make it even more amazing. It could also use a stronger presence of how one was to enter the building. (DKB) The image orientated to look up the central core of the building is another astounding hero shot,

elegantly suggesting final render and in-progress hand drawing simultaneously. Ensure that in Phase Two Developed Design you introduce evidence of habitation – how the building is used. (DKB) The idea of the vertical growing towers is interesting; the composition on site works with this. (CY) Interesting building. Consider how the building can adjust its temperature level through an architectural way derived from a tectonic relationship to the narrative in order for the space to breathe. Through the introduction of a BMU or something controlling the amount of opening panels. (GM + DKB) Consider the circulation methods used in the architectural interventions, make use of lifts rather than heaps of stairs. (GM) Questions Raised: How would the mechanics proposed for the harvesting and collection of these grown seedlings work? (CY) Why mechanical? Would it not be nice to introduce a human aspect to the process? Consider human inhabitation and human engagement with the architecture. (DKB) What specifically will you be growing? Will it all be one thing? Or will there be a diversity to the crop? (GM)

Summary of possible development: Articulate the site plan in a way that implies the gestures of rotation without the indicative grid being present. Let the architecture inform the pivotal relationship between grids. Also consider the relationship that this connection plays; are the two arms of the pivot connecting multiple entities? Introduce more elements of truth about the architectural intervention. Consider the articulation of the core of the building. Will it be a central core or a fragmented core? Figure out a way to introduce human engagement to the architecture in a haptic sense. Possibly have workers who are in charge of the cultivation rather than robotics. Consider whether all aspects of the growing facilities need to be rotational. Could it facilitate different plants which need varying amounts of light? Develop the floor plans to display more of a narrative rather than just being a diagrammatic representation of what the floor plan is. Introduce aspects of asymmetry to break up the cylindrical volume of the building, providing a more dynamic piece of architecture.

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D evelopm en t Sk et ch es Building Form

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Fig. 8.01

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D evelopm en t Sk et ch es Plan Configuration

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Fig. 8.02

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D evelopm en t Sk et ch es Mechanical Components

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Fig. 8.03

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D eveloped D esign Proposa l 07_06_2016

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Urban sprawl is a continually expanding issue, encroaching into our rural environment, resulting in the scarring and damaging of natural elements. This design led research investigation aims to provide a viable solution through introducing a program that has the capability to repair scarred environments, enhance people’s awareness of the need to safeguard our natural environment, and reconfigure traditional growing procedures. The architectural intervention is based off the theoretical frameworks established by Diodoxis, where he acknowledges that with our current means of living and city expansion we are currently heading for a dystopic future. Change is needed now, we need to get out of the impasse. The theoretical framework enables the design to dynamically response to a forthcoming situation, which needs to be addressed now before it is too late. The resulting architecture blurs the boundaries that have been established over time between mankind and machine, forming a harmonious balance between those who are willing to repair and those considered the destroyers. The resulting architecture is a functioning vertical growing farm, facilitating the growth of seedlings used to ecologically repair scarred environments such as the Owhiro Bay Quarry site, which was the vehicle for this investigation.

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The design and exploration of this vertical growing facility as a program is an issue with minimal current investigation by the architectural profession, despite our thirst for land development whilst simultaneously wanting to maintain a lush natural environment. This design led investigation questions how architecture can help respond to such a disastrous situation where urban sprawl has encroached dramatically into the natural environment. Due the systems put in place within the architectural intervention having minimal real world application the processes of water conversion and vertical growing would need a higher level of schematic design. These advances in the schematic design will enable that architecture to become more plausibly operational and functionally sound.

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Work s Cit ed

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Arch Daily,. Engineered Biotopes. ArchDaily. N.p., 2010. Web. 11 May 2016. Doxiadis, Constantinos A. Between Dystopia And Utopia. Hartford: Trinity College Press, 1966. Print. p. 1-89. Iwasaki, Takahiro. Out Of Disorder. Colossal. N.p., 2013. Web. 24 April 2016. Koolhaas, Rem. Exodus. Architectural Association, 1972. Print. Lardi, Maria. Architecture.Design. N.p., 2016. Web. 20 April 2016. Lynch, Kevin. Site Planning. Cambridge: M.I.T. Press, 1972. Print. p. 80. Martella, Brandon. Vertical Urban Farm In San Diego. designboom | architecture & design magazine. N.p., 2013. Web. 12 May 2016. Ng, Jack. Sky Greens. N.p., 2016. Web. 10 May 2016.

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Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig.

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Paul Hillier, Exposed quarry site, Photo, 03 March 2016 Paul Hillier, Valley and pond, Photo, 03 March 2016 Paul Hillier, Panorama of site, Photo, 03 March 2016 Paul Hillier, Contrasting rock materiality, Photo, 03 March 2016 Paul Hillier, Point along coastline, Photo, 03 March 2016 Paul Hillier, Valley, 03 March 2016 Paul Hillier, Rough mountainside, Photo,03 March 2016 Paul Hillier, Aerial of point along coastline, Photo, 03 March 2016 Paul Hillier, Quarry face, Photo, 03 March 2016 Paul Hillier, Shoreline, Photo, 03 March 2016 Paul Hillier, Exposed rock face, Photo, 03 March 2016 Heritage analysis, author’s own image Environmental analysis, author’s own image Geometric analysis, author’s own image

Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig.

3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13

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Vertical garden sketches, author’s own image Exterior render of architecture, Web, http://www.skygreens.com/about-skygreens/, 10 May 2016 Angled growing planes for sunlight, Web, http://www.skygreens.com/about-skygreens/, 10 May 2016 Site configuration sketch in relation to sunlight, author’s own image Mechanical growing system, Web, http://www.skygreens.com/about-skygreens/, 10 May 2016 Sketches adopting vertical growing systems, author’s own image Elevation of Engineered Biotopes, Web, http://www.archdaily.com/70953/engineered-biotopes-piraeus-tower-2010-competition, 11 May 2016 Exterior perspective view of Engineered Biotopes, Web, http://www.archdaily.com/70953/engineered-biotopes-piraeus-tower-2010-competition, 11 May 2016 Exterior perspective view of Engineered Biotopes, Web, http://www.archdaily.com/70953/engineered-biotopes-piraeus-tower-2010-competition, 11 May 2016 Sketch offsetting building from quarry cliff face, author’s own image Elevation of mixed use vertical farm, Web, http://www.designboom.com/architecture/vertical-urban-farm-in-san-diego-by-brandon-martella/, 12 May 2016 Exterior perspective view of mixed use vertical farm, Web, http://www.designboom.com/architecture/vertical-urban-farm-in-san-diego-by-brandon-martella/, 12 May 2016 Component diagram of intervention, Web, http://www.designboom.com/architecture/vertical-urban-farm-in-san-diego-by-brandon-martella/, 12 May 2016

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4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05

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Diagrammatic representation of dynamically growing cities merging , creating larger urban environments, author’s own image Finding Entopia; halfway between dreams and reality, author’s own image Sketch of possible architectural representation of theory, author’s own image Sketch of Koolhaas’ theory, author’s own image Sketch of Lynch’s theory, author’s own image

Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig.

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Maquette; plan view, Web, https://marialardi.com/2012/05/27/visiting-the-science-of-natural-oil-final-model/, 20 April 2016 Maquette; perspective view, Web, https://marialardi.com/2012/05/27/visiting-the-science-of-natural-oil-final-model/, 20 April 2016 Maquette; aerial perspective view, Web, https://marialardi.com/2012/05/27/visiting-the-science-of-natural-oil-final-model/, 20 April 2016 Maquette; perspective view, Web, https://marialardi.com/2012/05/27/visiting-the-science-of-natural-oil-final-model/, 20 April 2016 Maquette; aerial perspective view, Web, https://marialardi.com/2012/05/27/visiting-the-science-of-natural-oil-final-model/, 20 April 2016 Maquette; aerial perspective view, Web, https://marialardi.com/2012/05/27/visiting-the-science-of-natural-oil-final-model/, 20 April 2016 Site application in section, author’s own image Site application in plan, author’s own image Site application in perspective, author’s own image Site application in perspective, author’s own image Out of Disorder; perspective view of silo, Web, https://danielkbrown.tumblr, 20 April 2016 Out of Disorder; perspective of pylons, Web, https://danielkbrown.tumblr, 20 April 2016

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Out of Disorder; perspective of water refinery, Web, https://danielkbrown.tumblr, 20 April 2016 Out of Disorder; overall perspective view, Web, https://danielkbrown.tumblr, 20 April 2016 Out of Disorder; perspective of vertical silo, Web, https://danielkbrown.tumblr, 20 April 2016 Site application in section, author’s own image Site application in plan, author’s own image Site application in plan, author’s own image Mining Machine in Kolubara, Web, https://danielkbrown.tumblr,20 April 2016 Machine sketch for design, author’s own image Machine sketch in plan, author’s own image Machine sketch in elevation, author’s own image Mining machine in Kolubara plan, Web, https://danielkbrown.tumblr, 20 April 2016 Emscher Park walkway, Web, https://danielkbrown.tumblr, 20 April 2016 Emscher Park aerial view, Web, https://danielkbrown.tumblr, 20 April 2016 Emscher Park panorama view, Web, https://danielkbrown.tumblr, 20 April 2016 Sketches indicating design integration, author’s own image

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6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 6.25 6.26 6.27 6.28

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Plan view design experiment one, author’s own image Perspective view design experiment one, author’s own image Plan view design experiment two, author’s own image Perspective view design experiment two, author’s own image Plan view design experiment three, author’s own image Perspective view design experiment three, author’s own image Section of initial built composition author’s own image Initial cylindrical growing tower, author’s own image Section of iteration two built composition, author’s own image Perspective sketch of third iteration, author’s own image Plan view of radial growing tower, author’s own image Iterative composition of building form development, author’s own image Sketch of mechanical building head, author’s own image Macro predictions, author’s own image Micro predictions, author’s own image Site placement rational, author’s own image Site plan, author’s own image Habitable form, author’s own image View to horizon, author’s own image Aerial composition, author’s own image Growing planes - 40 000, author’s own image Vertical transition - 85 000, author’s own image Observatory - 110 000, author’s own image Elevations, author’s own image Contemplation upon site, author’s own image Vertical growing planes, author’s own image Sections, author’s own image Hybrid sections, author’s own image

Fig. 8.01 - Collection of sketches one, author’s own image Fig. 8.02 - Collection of sketches one, author’s own image

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Collection of sketches one, author’s own image Exterior perspective, author’s own image Site plan, author’s own image Site building plan, author’s own image Floor plan - 42000, author’s own image Floor Plan - 60 000, author’s own image Floor plan - 98 000, author’s own image Upward perspective, author’s own image Downward perspective, author’s own image Water conversion perspective, author’s own image Rendered components, author’s own image Section call out one, author’s own image Section call out two, author’s own image Aerial perspective, author’s own image Collection of model photos, author’s own image Collection of model photos, author’s own image Collection of model photos, author’s own image

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