TOWARDS A PRODUCTIVE CANAL by Matteo Lunetta

TOWARDS A PRODUCTIVE CANAL Agriculture in Brussels

ROBERT SAAT, MATTEO LUNETTA, GOELE REYNDERS

`The productive canal`, frame 04:30

STUDIO CIRCULAR BRUSSELS IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL MASTER IN ARCHITECTURE KU LEUVEN, CAMPUS SINT-LUCAS BRUSSELS

MAIB 14 Guided by Catherine MengÃ© & Laurens Bekemans

CONTENT STUDIO CIRCULAR BXL ........................................................................... 26 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 26 A story of three studies

THE CANAL, AN ADVANTAGE .................................................................

Creating a circular Brussels

TRANSLATION ON SITE ............................................................................ 45 Docks, logistics, routes The axis, a modern boulevard

THE TIR BUILDING ..................................................................................

A new kind of industry Order of construction

THE PUBLIC GROUNDFLOOR ................................................................. 89 The boulevard and farmers market The agricultural institute

THE FIRST FLOOR, WASTE AS PROFIT .................................................... 120 Compost and biogas

THE SECOND FLOOR, PRODUCING ......................................................... 150 Dark room growing

THE ROOFTOP FARM ................................................................................ 180 The greenhouses

OVERVIEW ................................................................................................. 180 7

STUDIO CIRCULAR BRUSSELS URBAN PROJECTS, URBAN CULTURES: EXPLORING THE CITY.

The program of the design studio focuses on designing architecture in an existing urban context, taking into account the changing social, spatial and economic conditions. The transformation and refocusing of the economic activity due to globalization, knowledge economy, aging society, growth of the non-active population, tourism, the multicultural society ... forces us to develop new working methods for the built environment. Within the design studio students are trained to design architecture based on their understanding of the urban culture in those new conditions. The program emphasizes the specific combination of design and research, by exploring the impact of the complex urban processes on architectural design. Design is seen as a creative way to explore and look into those new societal and cultural challenges.Â Students start the design studio with the development of a vision on the design location, TIR building C and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neighborhood. An important key issue is the relation of the future project with the urban environment and its socio-cultural dimension. The student investigates the impact of, and the potential within, the different urban contexts. In his/ her design activity, the student concentrates on the development of design strategies and design-methodology. Students are trained to read, analyze and formulate their personal interpretation on basis of a project-based potential. Students are initiated to process objective and subjective information, statistical, historic and social data, maps and urban strategies, and as such can confront and control the acquired information into a coherent vison and individual interpretation. CIRCULARITY Circular economy is necessary and promising. Due to the energy, materials and climate transition, our environmental laws will soon become stricter. Long transport chains will push up the price of products. Residuals and waste will need to become the resources for tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy. This offers opportunities for shorter and closed production chains. These circular chains are most promising in places where many people live: in and around the city. We need to close the gap between thinkers and creators. The gap between the knowledge and manufacturing economy is also reflected in the space. In and around Brussels, the highly educated live in the South-east, while the workers live in the North-west. As one of the richest regions of Europe, Brussels still has one of the lowest average incomes. Investing on an urban industry combines both brains and hands and helps to bridge the gap. Local quality and craft are once again in demand. More and more people recognize the value and quality of locally produced crafts and food. As a counterpart to the automation of labour, we see a revaluation of handicrafts, metier and trade. From re-use to recycle. 2

STUDIO CIRCULAR BRUSSELS SITE: TIR, BUILDING C A different city is being built now, in and around Brussels. The industrial activities and infrastructure that are still prominent, are a unique asset for the future. The city and its outskirts are being revived by making room for innovative manufacturing activities, low-skilled jobs and a circular economy. Building new homes for a growing population is linked to the preservation and enhancement of the urban economy and industry. Brussels and Flanders are pioneers of a turnaround in the European urban development and planning: from the post-industrial city to the productive city.” 2 ASSIGNMENT ‘Circular BXL’ is a complex and challenging architectural studio assignment, in which architecture students 1) research the architectural and urban identity of a very large existing logistic building (TIR - building C - 150 m long - 70 m wide - 4 floors) 2) choose and define a personal vision within the broader theme of circularity 3) translate this vision into a masterplan/strategy/program for a circular Hub for Brussels 3) materialize this masterplan/strategy/program in an architectural design for the TIR building C. During this process, the students could profile not only themselves, but also their social and spatial engagement within their architectural thinking. A sensible reading of the site can in this way lead towards answers which are circular and sustainable in an inclusive way. In this case it’s not only about the social, ecological or spatial aspects of the location, but also, about a ‘total’ solution which is closely connected to the ‘place’ and offers a solution for as much needs as possible. The fact is that the solution is often already present on site - le déjà là - and that only a small effort is enough to bring forward a useful way of re-using the place as it is. This is an important insight that this exercise can give to the students. They can practice the ability to see the different structural and functional layers of the building/site and learn to understand its specific character. Through research by design, step by step the essence of the place is exposed. By doing this, coming to a sensitive and context-bound design becomes possible. Nonetheless, a modest, pragmatic and empathetic approach is necessary to come to this kind of spatial solutions.

by Laurens Bekemans, Catherine Mengé

1. KU Leuven, Master of architecture, Campus Sint-Lucas Brussels, ECTS 2. A Good City Has Industry, booklet for the exposition in Bozar in the winter of 2017, written by AWB

INTRODUCTION

perspective bxl CANAL PLAN

integrating economic activity in te city creating housing

eu- urbact GOOD FOOD STRATEGY

bwmstr PRODUCTIVE LANDSCAPES

integrate agriculture activity in te city connecting farmers connecting other functions

tivoli + tour&taxis

creating public space

towards an open city

creating recreaction & activities towards a diverse agriculture

integrate agriculture activity in te city connecting farmers expanding existing producers

educate bxl inhabitants

solution?

towards a self-sufďŹ cient bxl

INTRODUCTION

A STORY OF THREE STUDIES This project started with exploring the TIR site and understanding what is already there. We came across three studies. The canal plan, that was set by Perspective Brussels. Then the good food strategy, an agreement of the European Union. Last, the productive landscapes, a pilot project of the Bouwmeester. In these studies, we went looking for the main goals. The canal plan had a specific chapter about the Vergotedok, the dok where the TIR building is located. They already planned new apartment blocks and industrial plots. Furthermore, they wanted to create public space and create a more open city. In the booklet from the productive landscapes, thoughts about agroparcs were written. Agroparcs, places for agriculture within or near the city, could contribute for a better living quality but also simulate new kinds of agriculture. They saw this as a opportunity to connect different kind of farmers (vegetables and bees for example) with each other and with other functions. (schooling for example) The pilot project also suggested place for recreation and public place. The productive landscapes is a suggestion for a more diverse agriculture. Recently, the Good Food Strategy was presented. It represents the European aims regarding food production, this applied on Brussels. By 2030, the city of Brussels wants 30% of the fruit and vegetables being produced within the city. In their strategy, they want to reach this goal by expanding excisting facilities and educating farmers but also inhabitants. We noticed all the studies had similar goals. Those goals were the starting point of our own vision. Therefore, in this project, we will integrate agriculture in the city. We will connect the farming industry with other functions like education. Next, we will create a public space where activities can happen. Last, we will try to contribute to a diverse Brussels.

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION The canal plan The canal Zone is a section of the city that was once dominated by bustling industrial and commercial activity. based on the traces of these old activities, which themselves will be re-invented and redened to create new workplaces, activitie clusters. it is necessary to build a network of service spaces, made up of housing, schools, sports and leisure facilities, cultural places, parks and gardens that gua-rantee social cohesion and allow new forms of support and solidarity to be expressed. The consultation process organised by the Brussels capital region was, for us, a way of thinking about the process required, before even considering the shape that the answer would take. How can we provide the region with the means to act practically and right away? 3 Good food strategy Developing healthy, good quality and locally-sourced food based on short supply chains meets our needs in terms of public health and quality of life as well as in terms of environmental and social improvements. Good Food is a very practical response to these challenges for Brussels, but also to the challenges of climate change, which is a major concern of the 21st century. Thus, the „Good Food“ initiative targets the development of new urban farming projects with an objective of producing 30% of fruit and vegetables locally by 2035. It was also essential for me to take into account the young generation as much as possible in this „Good Food“ strategy by involving them in the challenges related to food. Finally, the reduction of food waste constitutes another one of the strategy‘s priorities. We are aiming for a 30% reduction in food waste by 2020. 4 Productive landscapes Facilitate multiple space usage by making regulations for food production on roofs and other urban spaces possible. Obligate possible roofspace for new built constructions or reconversions to be used in better ways. 5

3. Perspective Brussels , The canal plan , book 2, introduction 4. .Brussels, ministry of Environment and Agriculture, The good food strategy, introduction by minister Fremault 5. Bouwmeester, pilot project productive landscapes

THE CANAL, AN ADVANTAGE

COM N

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THE CANAL, AN ADVANTAGE

MPOST N.V.

eichnungstitel]

aÃ&#x;stab: 1:100

THE CANAL, AN ADVANTAGE

To Antwerp

TIR

Abbatoir

To Charleroi

Mabru

THE CANAL, AN ADVANTAGE

CREATING A CIRCULAR BRUSSELS Imagine the canal as a tool. A tool to create a circular economy. The canal of Brussels is unlike other cities, located within the city centre. We noticed that the position of the tir site is at the north gate of the canal. Since our aim is to create an agricultural industry, we went looking for matching opportunities around the canal. And there are. Plenty. At the south gate of the Brussels canal, the abattoir is located. A place that is and will be, transformed into a major hub and the biggest market of Brussels. A place where plenty of functions (housing, education,..) is linked to food. Nowadays most cities exist as places of pure consumption. Goods, and especially food, are imported from the outskirts with neither a visual nor a sensual connection between consumer to the process of production. this creates a rift between this elemental parts of todays society, leading to perversions of both. While the production evolves more and more into monocultural agriculture with huge landowners solely aiming for profit, the cities become a place where consumption cannot put into reference anymore, leading not only to an overall carelessness for objects and goods, but also for the disposal of trash, like it can be seen in Brussels streets. While the goods get imported into the city for consumption, the leftovers are shipped out of it, completely neglecting the actual process and keeping it away from the consumers eyes. By setting the starting point for a circular Brussels, it could be possible to change this landscape of the cities economical sphere. In the long run this could also have positive effects on the space around the cities by reopening agricultural space for a diverse nature to grow, giving it back qualities that get steadily destroyed. By turning Brussels into a circular city in terms of its food production could not only just benefit the city but also, and maybe even more, its surrounding landscape.

THE CANAL, AN ADVANTAGE

Producer

Distributor

Antwerp

Mabru

Charleroi

THE CANAL, AN ADVANTAGE

CREATING A CIRCULAR BRUSSELS So how can we by creating a second food hub, enrich the city of Brussels? The answer would probably be, by letting them work together. We see the abattoir site as a distributing site. This, since the market hall is the major function. To complement this, the tir site can be the producing site. If we could take certain elements from the abattoir site, that can be the input of the tir site and the tir siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s output can be the input of the abattoir site, we could start a circular economy over the canal. And what else is more circular then nature itself? By collecting the organic waste from the abattoir market and using it as a fertiliser for a growing farm, we can make the circle happen. Over the years the Brussels canal zone has been developed rapidly. Areas like Molenbeek have gone trough gentrification and lots of restaurants have opened. In order to strengthen our circle we have to search for opportunities within these two hubs. In the next drawings all players of our vision have been marked. The canal gives us the opportunity to expand. The Mabru building could also send itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food wastes (through trucks or barge) to the TIR buidling while in exchange receiving the freshly produced vegetables. Even wider web could be created. This by connectiong other Belgian places with barge transport to collect waste or distribute locally produced food. The barge transport of goods has the enormous advatange of relieving 25 trucks from the heavy traffic jam of the city.

primary school new brewery and coworking space

primary school

parckfarm

green bizz

TIR

ANTWERP

secondary school

SITE TIR

new markethall markethall magasin 4

allee du kaai barlok

event space

KANAL centre pompidou

kaaitheatre

farm Maximiliaanpark

retailers bakery câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;est si bon co-working cafe le phare du canal

refugee shelter

restauran hotel

cafet

restaura buurthuis Pierron

fish trader

WAQ community kitchen hospital CHIREC recyK la kantine du kanal butchers

butchers slaughterhouse markethall markethall BIGH rooftop farm university VUB-EHB supermarket Lidl

SITE ABBATOIR

hote

weekly market

urant Mary Popin otel Meininger

afeteria MIMA

urant Bel Mundo

small shops

restaurants and cafes supermarket small shops

otel Belvue

nt Mary Popin l Meininger

restaurants and cafes

teria MIMA

ant Bel Mundo

el Belvue

Distributors DISTRIBUTERS Producers PRODUCERS

DISTRIBUTERS

PRODUCERS

Organic waste out - vegetables in organic waste in - vegetables out

Organic in - vegetables out organic waste waste in - vegetables out

organic waste in - vegetables out

THE CANAL, AN ADVANTAGE

CREATING A CIRCULAR BRUSSELS

The canal thougt as a spine connecting the different rips and bones to each other presents the opportunity to enhance the development of Brussels as a circular city. As a long degenerated area of Brussels without much qualities for its habitans, the canal has undergone a steady change during the past years. The present situation of the TIR provides the perfect conditions to take part in this development and thereby spreading the idea of circularity all around the city. By linking the TIR closely to the distribution process of the canal by making use of the existing harbor docks, the process starts to evolve. From here on all institutions situated around the canal can plug into the bond that is formed between the TIR and the Abbatoir, thereby joining the circle and forming it. The emblematic connection between Abbatoir and TIR is not meant to stand alone - it should evolve in time, giving smalle companies like local restaurants or marketers the oppurtinity to take part in the process. As the starting point, the idea and the advantages of circularity could evolve all over the city in time, with the aim, that the TIRs and Abbatoirs partnership becomes just one small part of the many rhizomatic connections of Brussels economy

TRANSLATION ON SITE

COMPOST N.V.

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TRANSLATION ON SITE

canal weekly

COMPOST N.V.

[Zeichnungstitel] MaĂ&#x;stab: 1:100

docks to TIR weekly

city to TIR daily, when harvested

TIR daily

TRANSLATION ON SITE

DOCKS, LOGISTICS, ROUTES Different levels of transport were generated based on demands for quantity and frequency. A ship will run once a week over the canal. It will collect the waste of our partners around the canal and transport it to our composting facillities. By using a ship, we have the possibilities of transporting high loads on a low polluting level. Furthermore, we keep the dirt outside the city centre. The Brussels port recently created two public loading docks at the TIR site. We will benefit from these facilities and let the ship moor at the construction village. From there, the composte is being carried by trucks up to the second f loor. The products will be sold at availability. According to the growing scheme of a perticular vegetable, products can be transported to goods. This means there will be busy weeks were the vegetables are transported but there will also be weeks were there is no movement at all, since the vegetables are growing. Therefore, we can work with a transportation company with vans. They will be in charge transporting the products in bulk to costumers in the city. A company managing cargo bikers can be hired to transport the fresh vegetables in small amounts.

TRANSLATION ON SITE

THE AXIS Linking the TIR as a place of production, to the newly transformed Gare Maritime of T & T as a place of consumption, a pastoral boulevard is introduced to the harbor site. The Gare Maritime, vis a vis of the TIR, is being transformed into a food-focused mall, based on a design of Neuteling Riedijkas a ‘’rain-free disctrict’’, will be supplied by the TIR’s production. Not only it bonds the two buildings visually with a generous promenade between orchards and hemp fields but it has also practical functions, like serving as a cargo-bike path from the producing area to a consumption area. But it could also form a productive and experimental area of the Gare Maritime. It finally ends into the TIR building continuing the promenade by elevating the visitor until the rooftop greenhouses. The promenade itself is divided into three parts with different characterisics. At the first part, the commercial are of Tour and Taxis, orchards are displayed. They are an extension of the market in Gare Maritime. This enhances the opportunity to produce fruits that can‘t be grown inside the building, serving as a handpicking garden or experimental agricultural space. In the middle, the old ruinous train station of Tour and Taxis is located. This building can become an integrous part of the axis, by being refurbished andworking as the gate towards the harbor site. As it is industrial land, the acces will only be opened during office hours. A square around the old train station has allready been planned and is being built right now to procure an area of leisure activities, which can be perfectly attached to the idea of the boulevard; grabbing a drink (in the future brewery – Brasserie de la Seine) or paying a visit to the honey producers inside the old train building. In the third part, the land of the harbour, hemp fields are established, which can be the starting point to generate the building materials for the refurbishment of the TIR. They are located on the land in front of the TIR farm as an extension of the productivity. The fields are run by BC Materials. They have been looking to extend their production of natural builing materials. The first years, the production of hemp and hempcrete will be used to construct the TIR building. Later, BC Materials can sell the produced hempcete to costumers.

TRANSLATION ON SITE

Rooftop expansion TIR

Gare maritiem markethall

TRANSLATION ON SITE

TIR agricultural institute Hemp field 2 hectares

Rooftop expansion TIR

Imkers house

FINISHED MASTERPLAN WITH BOULEVARD HERE

THE TIR BUILDING

Urban agriculture institute Classrooms

Rooftop farming + cafe

Dark room growing

Composting Logistics IN

Technical space

Boulevard + Markethall Urban agriculture institute Logistics OUT

THE TIR BUILDING

A NEW KIND OF INDUSTRY

Formerly used as a pragmatic and cleary structured building, which space was build to serve solely for logistics and a warehouse for the Expo in 1958, the TIR building will be transformed radicaly not in its physical, but in its functional appearance. The darkness inside the building gets abandonded by creating a opening inside the middle of the building to bring light into it. This space serves as the public representative sphere of the TIR, where not just the school and the production part come together but also the public has the possibility to take part in the equation. The extension of the boulevard is meant to be the starting point of this development, connecting the neighbourhood, the TIR and the public at one place, where markets, fairs and exhibitions can take place. The conversion of the TIR building is thereby not meant to create a soley productive area - it tries to bundle the different spheres of a city and a to give a plattform to meet and the exchange between the different actors.

THE TIR BUILDING

ORDER OF CONSTRUCTION The material for the spatial interventions on the TIR building are gathered from different approaches of reusing material. The old office building attached to the west side of the TIR will get demolished not just to create a cleaner urban space around the site, but also to reuse its materials for the interventions. The refurbishment of the whole ground floor including the flooring of the extension of the boulevard can be made of reused concrete panels as well as the windows of the office building, thereby integrating its physical appearance instead of neglecting it by just demolishing it. As one of the first steps for the new development hemp fields are planted in front of the TIR along the boulevard. They can serve as the provider of hemp to produce hempcrete in order to form the classrooms and the inner core of the design, which is otherwise embossed by new integrated steel staircases and handrails. The glass houses on top are made of a light steel construction as well, minimizing the loads to the primary structure of the TIR, and creating bright rooms in order to grow vegetables under efficient circumstances.

THE TIR BUILDING

eg. bitumen rooong WASTE

LISTING REUSABILITY

RECONVERSION eg. panel to pavement DECONSTRUCTION

FINISHING

RECONSTRUCTION boulevard - window wall

END PRODUCT eg. pavement boulevard

THE TIR BUILDING

MARCH PLANTING HEMP ON BOULEVARD AUGUST

( 2 hectares)

HARVESTING HEMP

PREPARATION GROWING FIELDS

SEPTEMBER HEMP IS DRIED CONSTRUCTION HEMPCRETE WALLS (one floor- 100m3) HEMP SEEDS SEED LIBRARY

CONVERSION HEMPCRETE BC MATERIALS

PRODUCT FOR BC MATERIAL

THE TIR BUILDING

Growing rooms

Classrooms

THE PUBLIC GROUND FLOOR

CHICOREE 5,95/kg GREENBIZZ AUDITORIUM

THE PUBLIC GROUND FLOOR

BOULEVARD AND FARMERS MARKET By creating a public passage through the building, the ground f loor is not just forming the extension of the boulevard but is also connecting the to date segregated Rue Diedonne Lefevre to the Harbor Site. It serves as the representative space of the complex functions that take place in the upper f loor, by inhabiting a small shop for the neighbourhood to buy vegetables that were grown on site, and also the more public functions of the agriculture school as like the auditorium, cafeteria etc. Further there is the opportunity for a weekly market to take place on the extended boulevard to attract people from the other neighbourhoods to the TIR as well. Beside the public sphere the ground f loor also inherits important spaces for the distribution of goods. While on the northern side is a small passage for the delivery by e-bikes, with loading stations and the packing and processing of the vegetables, the south side of the f loor works to upload the produced vegetables etc. to the trucks which bring them to the canal for further distribution around Brussels.

3,5

10,5

one small truck = delivers 13 m3 or 1000kg

storage

uploading

interim storage

library

Head office school

reception

open auditorium

students lounge

entrance hall

bio shop packed food

flexible space for farmer markets, conventions etc.

clean circulation

Rue Dieudonne Lefevre

reading lounge

interim storage

delivery of packed food 1 x 2 weeks

processing and packing

one e-bike delivers 30kg

e-bike loading station

THE PUBLIC GROUND FLOOR

攀砀琀攀渀猀椀漀渀漀昀琀栀攀戀漀甀氀攀瘀愀爀搀

3,5

10,5

THE PUBLIC GROUND FLOOR

THEORICAL LESSONS (Classrooms) GREENHOUSE WORKSHOP

HELPING IN BIO SHOP / CAFE DARK GROWROOM WORKSHOP

CULTIVATION IN FIELDS / ORCHARD RESEARCH SEEDBANK

EXPERIMENTING IN LAB

THE PUBLIC GROUND FLOOR

AN AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE The urban agriculture school is a key part of the TIR PROJECT. The aim is to produce not only FOOD and COMPOST but also KNOWLEDGE. The school is composed of classrooms on the upper f loors of the building, next to the sites of production, for the theoritical lessons. On the same levels, laboratories and workshop rooms allow the students to do practical research and experiments on agricultural topics, being side to side with the actual agricultural process of the TIR. When entering the school on the ground f loor, the info desk leads to directory office, an auditorium, a seedbank, where growing seeds of Belgiums f lora can be stored and examined by the students, and a library for studying the broad field of agriculture. The school extends to the outdoor with the orchards and the experimental fields composing the boulevard, thereby forming a communicative place between theory and practice, students and the habitants of Brussels. The students do not only take part in lessons, the idea is to also involve them in the act of production. Helping during the harvest sessions of the growing areas or the processing of the compost, they can not only learn about agriculture on a practic basis, but can also earn some money to finance their studies.

THE FIRST FLOOR, WASTE AS A PROFIT

COMPOST N.V.

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THE FIRST FLOOR, WASTE AS A PROFIT

HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, ETC SMALL MARKETS

canal ABBATOIR site

ORGANIC WASTE

VEGETABLES

60% used for growing onions, chicoree etc. inside TIR

canal

transformation of bio gas into electricity

soil

40%

FORMATION OF BIOGAS TIR Site

FERTILIZING

SORTING AND CLEANING

THE FIRST FLOOR, WASTE AS A PROFIT

COMPOSTE AND BIOGAS Imminent for establishing the circle between production and distribution is to take on the waste of the distribution sites around the canal, especially the Abbatoir and to compost it, in order to generate soil. On the second f loor of the TIR we integrate the spatial conditions to establish this process - taking on as many as three full loaded trucks of organic waste a week, to produce soil for planting the crops in the upper f loors, in a cycle of three weeks. The process starts by transporting the waste to the TIR, preferably at Mondays after the weekend of distribution at the Abbatoir. From there on, the organic waste gets first sorted of uncompostable waste, and then stored in pre-fertilizer machines, which initiate the process of composting. Afterwards the mass gets stored in the actual fertilizers, were it has to rest for about 2 weeks at a steady temperature of around 50 degrees. During this process bio-gas arises from the biomass, which we can not only use for maintaining the fertilizers, but also to generate electricity for the agriculture school and offices inside the TIR, by using bio-gas generators to transform it into electricity. After the bio-mass is fertilized for two weeks, it gets stored three more days in conditioned rooms, were it get turned steady and is provided with fresh air, to end the act of fertilizing. This part marks the end of the process, which provides enough soil to not just produce the crops in the upper f loors of the TIR, but also to distribute to other institutions or habitants which want to grow there own vegetables in private gardens, as envisioned in the good food initiative.

3,5

10,5

Conveyor belt

cleaning (metal etc.)

shredder

pre-fertilizing 4 days low-temperature ca.35cel., loss of ca. 20% volume (tot.)

fertilizing 14 days high temperature ca.50cel. loss of ca. 45% volume (tot.) formation of gases (bio-gas)

clean circulation

unloading

bio-gas generators (ca. 40% of energy for fertilizers)

storage/archive

bathroom

uploading

surplus soil can be provided to other half of a swimming pool /week institutions, sold at markets etc. two swimming pools /month

Total produced soil (full capacity): 150m3 /week, 600m3 /month

monitoring water

monitoring ventilation

interim storage (trash etc.)

unloading

interim storage (trash etc.)

clean circulation

bio-gas generators (ca. 40% of energy for fertilizers)

Conveyor belt

cleaning (metal etc.)

shredder

pre-fertilizing 4 days low-temperature ca.35cel., loss of ca. 20% volume (tot.)

fertilizing 14 days high temperature ca.50cel. loss of ca. 45% volume (tot.) formation of gases (bio-gas)

THE FIRST FLOOR, WASTE AS A PROFIT

愀爀爀椀瘀愀氀漀昀漀爀最愀渀椀挀眀愀猀琀攀

挀氀愀猀猀爀漀漀洀猀⼀漀昀昀椀挀攀猀⼀眀漀爀欀猀栀漀瀀

搀椀猀琀爀椀戀甀琀椀漀渀

挀氀愀猀猀爀漀漀洀猀⼀漀昀昀椀挀攀猀⼀眀漀爀欀猀栀漀瀀

愀爀爀椀瘀愀氀漀昀漀爀最愀渀椀挀眀愀猀琀攀

3,5

10,5

PRODUCING ON THE SECOND FLOOR

DARK ROOM GROWING As a productive urban farm, we chose to produce vegetables on the 3rd f loor of the building. The poor natural light conditions combined to the huge surface available made it perfect to grow Chicory. This particular vegetable is not only growing in dark but is also not needing a lot of depth of soil (40 cm) which made it perfect to grow indoor in cultivation containers. This technique is not only lighter than conventional agriculture but it also uses way less water. Water is mainly provided by collecting rainwater, as 70 percent of the water can be reintroduced in the cycle. Some irrigation system are used to keep the humity level really high, as needed to chicory cultivation. Process : The fertilizer is produced on the second f loor of the building by collecting wastes of partners around the canal. It is then shipped throught the dirty elevators to the 3rd f loor into containers. The fertilizer is mixed with imported soil. A space to prepare and plant the chicory is provided nearby. This working area is artificially lit. Once planted, the chicory should never see light again until final product is harvested. This is why we provide some opaque waterpoof HDPE curtains to not only create a microclimate where humidity can be maintained but also to avoid any light into the growing chambers. After 170 days with nearly no manupulation needed the Chicory can be harvested. This means, we can produce chicory twice a year. Once collected, some cleaning and sorting areas are provided (with artificial light) before being shipped throught the clean elevators to the ground. It will be distributed by bike carriers to the city centre and in bulk by small trucks. Estimated production amount : 6,5 T of chicory / years

Chicoree Field

3,5

26m2 x 28 = 728m2 x 2,5kg/m2 = 1.820kg

32m2 x 9 = 288m2 x 3,9kg/m2 = 1.123kg

10,5 Chicoree Field

Pre-Cleaning, Sorting

26m2 x 9 = 234m2 x 2,5kg/m2 = 585kg

clean circulation

dirty circulation

Seeding / Preparation

Storage

Compost Storage

bathroom

storage/archive

sluice

locker

office

monitoring water

monitoring ventilation

sluice

locker

Storage

dirty circulation

clean circulation

26m2 x 9 = 234m2 x 2,5kg/m2 = 585kg

Chicoree Field

Seeding / Preparation

Pre-Cleaning, Sorting

Compost Storage

26m2 x 28 = 728m2 x 2,5kg/m2 = 1.820kg

32m2 x 9 = 288m2 x 3,9kg/m2 = 1.123kg

Chicoree Field

PRODUCING ON THE SECOND FLOOR

挀氀愀猀猀爀漀漀洀猀⼀漀昀昀椀挀攀猀⼀眀漀爀欀猀栀漀瀀

3,5

10,5

PRODUCING ON THE SECOND FLOOR

THE ROOFTOP FARM

SOIL + COMPOST

COMPOST (CREATED IN BUILDING)

VEGETABLES SEEDS

SOIL

PLANT

HARVEST

IRRIGATION

WATER (COLLECTED FROM ROOF) WATER REUSE 70 %

PACK FINAL PRODUCT

THE ROOFTOP FARM

GREENHOUSES On the Roof of the building, we chose to add some greenhouses on the existing structure creating one more f loor for cultivation. The light-weight metalic frames give perfect light and humidity conditions to grow almost all known fruits and vegetables. We chose to produce carrots, onions, potatoes, green cabbage and lettuce because the yield per square meter was the most interesting and the demand for such vegetables is high. But the greenhouses can also be fitted to other types of vegetables. The advantages of urban agriculture are not to be ignored, not only water management is way more efficient but also the yield is doubled if not triple in controlled environments. The examples of LUFA farms using industrial and commercial roofs to produce locally resiliant food was a key reference for the project design. As urban agriculture is still experimenting lots of techniques we chose to use some in-ground process to grow vegetables on the roof. A layer of soil (with particular attention to the roof composition) is added and making a huge growing field. Process : Again, the soil is shipped through the dirty elevators and seeds are planted sometimes several times a year. The harvest is put into containers and shipped through the Clean elevators to the processsing / packaging area. Estimated production amount : 16.4 T vegetables/ years

9m2 x 9 = 81m2 x 3,9kg/m2 = 315,9kg

office

monitoring water

monitoring ventilation

Seeding / Preparation

Storage Compost

THE ROOFTOP FARM

3,5

10,5

THE ROOFTOP FARM

挀氀愀猀猀爀漀漀洀猀⼀漀昀昀椀挀攀猀⼀眀漀爀欀猀栀漀瀀

3,5

10,5

OVERVIEW

CHICOREE 5,95/kg GREENBIZZ AUDITORIUM

`The productive canal`, frame 04:30

`The productive canal`, frame 02:29

`The productive canal`, frame 08:40

Studio circular Brussels 2019