Environmental Education Centre City Eco-Reinvention Creating a new generation of Biophiles San Jose, Costa Rica
Project Brief Biological Education Centre in the new Botanical Gardens of San Jose, Costa Rica The government has closed down the nation’s zoos and is planning to develop the site in San Jose into a botanical garden. My Project will place an environmental centre within the botanical garden. It will incorperate an educational centre as well as research and administrative facilities. This proposal will contribute to the overridng plans of regenerating the ecology of the city, via the rivers. It will redefine the architecture into something transient, ephemeral and living. Until now the city has developed horizontally with towers only recently appearing. This has caused a natrual urban sprawl into and over the surrounding nautre and habitats. This project will test the possibilities of allowing nature to retake the city and create a mutual environment that empowers both human and non-human users to cohabit the city in a productive infrastructure
Local Contributors Algae facades
Scientists
Generation z
Urban Fabric
Daily Visitors
Natural Environment
Reintroduced River Life
Reintroduced Animals
Project Users This project seeks to intersect the relationships between Generation Z, the Urban Fabric and the Natural Environment. It will provide a framework for both human and non human users to interact and engage in these relationships. Locals will both work at and benefit from the scheme. the wider community will be able to benefit from the scheme as a learning experience. Plants and wildlife will be given a new setting to inhabit. The energy strategy will focus on renewable with the intention of an off-grid strategy
Primary Inhabitable Spaces
Specific Technical Spaces
Natural Outdoor Spaces
Teaching Space
Bio-Reactor
Botanical Garden
Dormitories
Water-recovery
Seed Bank
Laboratories
Vegetable Garden
Spaces Required
Regeneration Phases 1.Botanical Garden and Research Centre 2.Ecological River Regeneration 3.Ecological Urban Regeneration
Location in Central America
Regions of Costa Rica
Location within the capital city of Costa Rica Costa Rica Costa Rica is a Central American country bounded by North Pacific Ocean in the west and the Caribbean Sea in the east. Its land boundary is with Nicaragua in the north and Panama in the south and south east. The climate is a Mesoamerican tropical.
New site entrance
Old site entrance
Site Area Site Entrance The site is the recently closed zoo of San Jose, Costa Rica. All zoos were recently closed down for animal welfare reasons. The site will be redeveloped into a Botanical Garden
-Rain water cleaning-Building Protection -Wellbeing-Air CleaningPlants and Algae can clean pollutants Greean walls protect building from Green environments soften the urban Plants are capable of cleaning and dissolvants from rain water. temperature fluctuations. environment. They act as tonics to pollutanyts from the air. The also It also shields from rain and wind. ease stress and fatigue. They also absorb Carbon dioxide and produce provide a aubstantial and spiritual oxygen. connection to nature.
-Creating a biological ecosystem-Visually Organic - Energy Saving A green planted structure will provide Utilizing and incorporating the extents Green walls passively cool the an almost natrual environment for of biodiversity will create a beautiful building thus reducing need for air plants and wildlife. Certain plants and natrual looking environment. conditioning. provide food and shelter to local wildlife.
Sustainable Image Green walls passively cool the building thus reducing need for air conditioning.
-Acoustic propertiesPlants can be used for their acoustic properties. They can act as barriers to unwanted noise such as from traffic. They also insulate against vibration and dampen echos.
Project Agenda My proposal will inherently need to readress the execution of architecture. The design hypotheses being tested require to fuse nature and architecture into a symbiotic mutually beneficial relationship. The architecture will interrogate responsiveness to inhabitation and external/internal conditions. The architecture will interrogate how green spaces can be beneficial to the urban environment. The architecture will also interrogate how the built form can be beneficial to nature.
Generation z
Urban Fabric
Ecology
Programme Intentions Create a relationship between Generation Z, The Environment and the City of San Jose. The architectural intentions include: water recycling and collection hydroponics spatialising processes dynamic environments
1 - New Transport Infastructure
2 - New Energy Infrastructure
3 -Spatial Learning Environment
4 - Regenerate the River
Challenge Social - Economic Conditions Costa Rica faces lack of new Investment and maintenance in infrastructure. Poverty rate ic currently around 23% Costa Rica is a pioneer of Ecotourism
Environmental Ranks 1st in environmental tourism Costa Rica is a pioneer of Ecotourism Highest Biodiversity in the world
Local Culture Ranks 104th in cultural recources Pura Vida is the way of life of Costa Rica.
Objective Objective Create a new Infrastructure This includes: Transport:Pedestrian,Bicycle Create new Energy source/ideaology Create jobs: through maintenance/ education Generate income
2 - New Energy Infrastructure
Objective Create a new understanding of green energy. Create a new source of energy. Create an environmental attraction/destination.
3 -Spatial Learning Environment
Objective Respond to vernacular and local traditions. Reduce the 4x4 culture.
4 - Regenerate the River
Challenges and Objectives Botanical Garden This project will aim to generate a new source of income for the local economy. It will also aim to provide an educational environment to teach and raise awareness about issues such as environmental concerns, biology and energy. It will also aim to become a local heritage site and create a legacy for Costa Rica.
Empowering Wildlife The architecture will seek to accommodate wildlife within its fabric. Nesting boxes will provide opportunities for birds, bees, bats and small mammals.
Water collection creates spatial experience through light and sound distortion
Mechanical arms modulate the space whilst creating sound when the pump is activated.
Water collection allows storage of rainwater for use as watering, hydroponics and grey water
Hydroponic facade allows growth of shrubs which the children can use for learning/ cooking purposes.
Children use the architecture to learn. Facade and spaces respond to actions to create a stimulating learning environment.
Water and waste storage contributes to the off grid nature of the scheme.
All the spaces will be raised off the ground to create a minimal impact on the ground to disturb the natural habitat as little as possible.
Children have access to forest to explore
Architectural Strategy To have little impact on the site whilst providing adequate spaces To create a learning environment indoors and out. To use architectural features to facilitate learning outcomes To create fabrication stations for children to use natural resources To allow an off-grid scheme To use the architecture as a tool for learning.
Cacao Sunburns Skin Scars Fever
Cotton Thread Clean
Albajaca Tea Antibiotic
Zacate limon Colds
Anise Clean Iron
Itabo Antibiotic
Monstranto Cough
Tilo Relaxation
Pasmo Cleaning Indigestion
Hojas de strella Healing babies
Duate palo blanco pain relief
Hojas de murciellago Soak Bone health
Cana agria Indigestion
Hictabo Cancer Indigestion
Guanabana Parasites Cancer
Orange Tree Infections Vitamin C
Indigenous Medicines These plants are and were grown by indigenous Costa Rican tribes for many centuries. Women have been passing the knowledge of traditional medicines down through the generations for as long as they have existed. The scheme will provide the environment for these to grow and be used by visitors.
Tropical Cloud Forest
San Jose River Tropical Wet Forest
Tropical Dry Forest
Programme on Site - Defining the Biomes Site Division The site will be divided according to the biomes of Costa Rica. It will become essentially a mini-Costa Rica to accommodate the entire range of biodiversity in plants and trees of the country. Each biome will be represented by the flora that grows naturally within that environment. Water is provided by the river that runs through the site.
Insects
Amphibians
Birds
Mammals
Orchids Bromeliads
Bryophytes
Ferns
Lichens
Tropical Cloud Forest A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and vegetation, in which case they are also referred to as mossy forests. Mossy forests usually develop on the saddles of mountains, where moisture introduced by settling clouds is more effectively retained Reduced tree stature Increased stem density Dense compact crowns Small thick leaves High biomass and biodiversity
Insects
Amphibians
Butress roots
Epiphytes
Birds
Lianas
Mammals
Saprophytes
Tropical Wet Forest Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests (TSMF), also known as tropical moist forests, are a tropical and subtropical forest biome, sometimes referred to as Jungle. Tropical rainforests can be characterized in two words: hot and wet. They have high biodiversity and dense foliage.
Insects
Amphibians
Birds
Mammals
Palm Trees
Cacti
Tropical Deciduous
Lichens
Tropical Dry Forest The tropical dry forest occur in climates that are warm year-round, and may receive several hundred centimeters of rain per year, they have long dry seasons which last several months and vary with geographic location. These seasonal droughts have great impact on all living things in the forest. Deciduous trees predominate in most of these forests, and during the drought a leafless period occurs, which varies with species type. Because trees lose moisture through their leaves, the shedding of leaves allows trees such as teak and mountain ebony to conserve water during dry periods. The newly bare trees open up the canopy layer, enabling sunlight to reach ground level and facilitate the growth of thick underbrush.
14
13
5 4 2 7
6
15
3 16
10
8
9
12 11
[Academic use only]
GA Plan of site 1. Entrance Tower - offices, facilities, secretariat 2. Intersection tower - offices, facilities, storage 3. Exit/Entrance Tower - offices, storage, facilities 4. Herbology 1 - classroom, rest spaces, facilities 5. Medicinal 1 - classroom, fabrication 6. Herbology2 - classroom, rest spaces, facilities 7. Medicinal2 - classroom, fabrication 8. Algae generator and production 9. Atrium- event space, storage, facilities 10. Herbology3 - classroom, rest spaces, facilities 11. Medicinal3 - classroom, fabrication 12. Algae worshop - fabrication, tech 13. Water Filtration Station 14. Cloud forest zone 15. Rain forest zone 16. Dry forest zone
1
Bamboo Event Hall
The bamboo event hall is to be used for scheduled public events such as concerts and parties. The facade is a programmable shifting display that changes the light conditions inside and displays messages to the outside.
Algae Energy Generator Space
Here green energy using algae is produced. the space creates perfect conditions for algae production. Excess algae is also used for making various products.
Medicine Making Pavillion
Here children can use traditional herbs in making their medicinal creams and oils.
GA Section of Site
Teaching Pavillion
The classroom presents ideal solutions for teaching botanical studies. Plants can be looked at and studied an processed.
4
1
9 7
10 11
2
5 8
12
6 13
3
Iso-layout 1. Main entrance tower 2. Central circulation tower 3. Secondary entrance tower 4. River Coagulation tank 5. River Filtration tank 6. River Lagooning Station 7. First Medicinal Pavillion 8. Second Medicinal Pavilion 9. First Classroom 10. Second Classroom 11. Atrium 12. First Algae Pavilion 13. Third Classroom 14. Third Medicinal Pavilion 15. Second Algae Pavilion
15
14
Water Collectors and Light Reflectors These fold up to let in light and allow ventilation. In the event of rain, these fold down and become water collecors.
Water channels take rain water down to storage bags under the main floor.
Space-sound modulators rotate and move when water is being pumped
Hydroponic facade, reachable from inside allows the growth of shrubs for the purpose of teaching and food preparation.
Under classroom resting space and water storage.
[Academic use only]
Teaching Pavilion
This provides the space for teaching children about the cultivation, science and preparation of plants. The space creates an atmospheric learning environment to facilitate the process
[Academic use only]
Teaching Pavilion
This provides the space for teaching children about the cultivation, science and preparation of plants. The space creates an atmospheric learning environment to facilitate the process
The roof flaps open to reflect light into the space and allow ventilation. In the event of rain, these fold down and seal the space. Rainwater is then collected.
The hydroponic facade provides a place for children to cultivate plants. These are used for either scientific study or food.
The space-sound modulators rotate and move as water is pumped. These play bows across stretched strings to create sound as water is pumped
Under classroom resting space and water storage. The storage sacks become cushions or water beds for relaxation.
[Academic use only]
Learning to cultivate
Learning to cook
The hydroponic facade provides a place for children to cultivate plants. These are used for either scientific study or food.
Learning plant biology
[Academic use only]
Atrium The atrium provides the performance and event space as well as general assmbly space. The main feature is the programmable bamboo screen. This allows an interaction between the children and the architecture.
[Academic use only]
Bamboo Atrium The exploded view shows the components and structural strategy.
Computer Contoller Solonoid Flickers Flicker Car
Roller Drive assembly
Opticon
Opticon readable gaps Toothed track Bistable hinge Bamboo
Bamboo Atrium Code The exploded view shows the components of the bamboo screen. The code above shows how images are mapped onto the screen. [Academic use only]
Bamboo Screen Different configurations are shown. 1. Light modulation 2. QR code (to notify about events) 3. Childrens faces
Bamboo Screen test models
[Academic use only]
Algae Pavilion The Algae pavilion will house an algae bio-reactor. This will produce renewable energy for the scheme. the main feature is the inhabitable photo reactor. In this space the algae will be used for various activities such as making biomaterial s
Algae Pavilion Section Showing the inhabitation of the photoreactor and the reflective mirrors that provide maximum light on the biotubes.
Algae Pavilion Initial test models
reflectors
algae photo leaves
algae cultivation
[Academic use only]
Redeveloped Algae Pavilion isometric
Redeveloped Algae Pavilion Section
Model Photographs
[Academic use only]
Bioluminescent bridges
[Academic use only]
[Academic use only]
1
2 3
1. Sedimentation - Waters exiting the flocculation basin may enter the sedimentation basin, also called a clarifier or settling basin. It is a large tank with low water velocities, allowing floc to settle to the bottom. Sedimentation basin outflow is typically over a weir so only a thin top layer of water—that furthest from the sludge—exits.
2. Filtration - Lava Rock
River Regeneration There will be three river filtration stations along the river. These will progressively filter the river and make it inhabitable again. These will be interesting spatial experiences to teach visitors about the imortance of river ecologies.
3. Lagooning - Lagooning provides settlement and further biological improvement through storage in large man-made ponds or lagoons. These lagoons are highly aerobic and colonization by native macrophytes, especially reeds, is often encouraged. Small filter feeding invertebrates such as Daphnia and species of Rotifera greatly assist in treatment by removing fine particulates.
[Academic use only]
Medicinal Remedy Making Pavilion
Distilled water
bees wax
Boil and mix
Herbal Cream
herbs
Parabolic Solar water boiler
Rain collector/ roof / light reflector
Wax panels on timber frame
Steel cable cross bracing Flitch beam ribs
Rotating Fresnel lens
1st Floor timber
Hydroponic facade panels
Flitch beam ribs
Ground floor timber balconies
flitch beam supporting structure
concrete and flitch beam composite column
[Academic use only]
Onsite renewable ans Collected Rainfall sustainable energy Provides most of the resources provide required water. building electricity.
Sunlight is used to Sunlight is used to Natrual ventilation light spaces as far as heat spaces when cools and ventilates possible. needed. It is also used spaces. to provide temperate energy when needed.
Regional materials used.
Onsite biowaste is recycled and used for fertiliser or biomass.
Sun parabolic reflector
Water boiler
Rain catcher
Rain catcher support structure
Wax panels on timber frame Rotating Fresnel lens
Flitch beam ribs
Hydroponic facade panels
Timber balconies
flitch beam supporting structure
Concrete and flitch beam composite column
[Academic use only]
[Academic use only]
Roof funnel closed Windows closed
Felt sheets unrolled to close off hydroponics
Felt sheets unrolled to close off bottom openings
Section open
Sections
Section closed red indicates closures
Steel ring - acts as a spacer, not much actual structural support
Vertical flitch beam arms - main structural supports, carry the load down into the base. At risk from parallelograming or hinging inwards and outwards
Cross tensioning steel cables - These stop the main ribs from moving too much. They aid structural rigidity
Flitch beam substructure - This is the main stiffiner. It is heavy however it holds the ribs in place. It transfers load to the ribs and to the central column. Steel cable net provides further tension to the rib structure
[Academic use only]
Structural Strategy Flitch beam spider Cross-braced with steel cable Strung to centre with steel cable Substructure supports
Stainless steel roof
Wax panel Rotating window
Woven Bamboo
Hydroponics
Window
Woven Bamboo
[Academic use only]
Wax Panel Tests
[Academic use only]