NAIROBI
||
RESIDENTIAL
Kenya
DISTRICT
R E L I E V I N G R U R A L A G R I C U LT U R E o f U R B A N D E M A N D S a n d PROVIDING FLEXIBLE HOUSING for THE PEOPLE of NAIROBI INCREASED POPULATION creating FOOD SHORTAGES
A majority of characteristics that define how many urban regions function have failed to adjust to the complexity of exponentially increasing populations. Hunger, sanitation, transportation, poverty, and education reflect only a few of the problems arising in places like Nairobi. The vertical farming structure as well as middle-class housing address some of these issues. Young adults are migrating into urban areas like Nairobi unable to find housing or jobs. Faced with little or no choice of settlement, many are forced to purchase small plots of land in slums like Kibera, where opportunity for growth is in continual conflict with poverty and violence. In addition to the housing problem, Nairobi is faced with a food crisis as a result of increasing population rates. Rural agricultural ‘food baskets’ for Nairobi are facing stressful demands, depleting the soil of their farmland. A vertical structure that houses middle-class residents and utilizes surface area to grow hydroponic and aeroponic produce begins to acknowledge the current and growing demand for both housing and nurishment. The folding structure of the tower incorporates continually developing farming techniques to produce the highest yields using minimal area. The fold utilizes both its interior and exterior surfaces. The fold acts as a conceptual ripple of the rural landscape transforming itself into a high-efficiency urban farm, providing housing, garden space, and crop yields 2-6 times higher than average soil crops. The housing provided within the folds offers potential flexibility in space as well as personal design. The flexible opportunities allow a range of social classes to live and interact within the tower.
CBU
DISTRICT
POPULATION DENSITY and FOOD DEMANDS ‘39
‘44 ‘48 ‘55
‘57 ‘60
‘62 ‘65 ‘69
‘79 ‘89 ‘95 ‘99 ‘05 ‘09
INDUSTRIAL
DISTRICT
TRANSPORT
ROUTES
POPULATION
(|
| in hundred-thousands)
YR
FIG || 001 The above graph describes the exponential population growth of Nairboi, beginning with the year 1939 and continuing to present. The growing demand for jobs in rural communities around Kenya have resulted in mass emigration to the urban centre, where misconceptions of job opportunities are revealed. With a population exceeding 3 million people, Nairobi is faced with food shortages illustrated in the curved mass above. The far left bar illustrates the change in population growth from each time interval.
AGRICULTURAL
DISTRICT
Calafornia Cookies Inc. Kenya Farm Centre Ltd. Wakulima Market mkulimabora online
SCALE OF PLACE
KENYA sits along the mid-eastern coast line of Africa. Recent mass immigration to Kenya has contributed to many rising conflicts in the country. Nairobi, one of Africa’s largest cities has greatly been affected by the population shift and is home to some of the world’s largest slums, including Kibera. Many of the incoming populous consist of refugees from poverty stricken countries that surround Kenya. This has caused a shortage of housing, and has forced many to resort to living in the slums. The site maps to the right describe site adjacencies with emphasis on the agricultural industries within the heart of Nairobi.
Modern Fishing Industry Kenya’s Farmers Association Ridge Coffee Brokers and Auctioneers Orange Farming Nairobi
C.K. Farm & Hardwares Flippy Farm Produce (site) Coffee Board of Kenya
Agricultural Development Co. M-Pesa Agriculture Finance Co. Kyanzavi Farmers Co. Ltd.
01
KEY
1
83’
2
25’
SP
PLN
3
SCT
1”
PLN
1”
30’ 1”
2
EXTERIOR HORIZONTAL GARDEN (PROVIDES FINANCIAL BENEFIT)
EXTERIOR VERTICAL GARDEN (PUBLIC USE)
3
HYDRO-AEROPONICS RESIDENT UNIT(13’X30’)
1
SP
CORE UTILTIY
5
OPEN-AIR COURTYARD RESIDENT SKYWALK
N3
4
SCT
1
2
1
VERTICAL STEEL COLUMN STRUCTURE HOUSING
EMERGENCY EGRESS
2 ENCLOSED STAIRWELLS: one entrance || 26 occupants
OPEN STAIRWELL
2 OPEN STAIRWELLS ON WEST END: employee service
ELEVATOR
4 CORE ELEVATORS: 3 residential service || 1 employee/freight EGRESS || CIRCULATION
SOLAR EXPOSURE (6:00am - 6:00pm)
WESTERN FOLD UTILIZES THERMAL ENERGY FOR HIGH-SUN- DEMANDING PLANTS E.I. - TOMATOES & PEPPERS || CENTRAL UNIT CORE EXPOSED TO EARLY-MID MORNING SUN
WESTERN FOLD SHADES UNITS IN HOT EVENING HOURS NORTH_SOUTH OVER HANGS PROVIDE INDIRECT LIGHT INTO UNITS
SOLAR PROTECTION 2
CONCRETE FLOOR PLATES
SUN || SHADE
HOUSING
ADAPTABILITY
CAPACITY
STRUCTURAL CORE - provides two spatial unit layouts UNIT DESIGN - designed for customization by owner(s) FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY - work/live opportunities 806 UNITS(1612 RESIDENTS); 32 RESIDENTIAL FLOORS; 4 COMMUNITY COURTYARDS; 8 COMMUNITY GARDENS; 1 THEATRE/CONFERENCE SPACE; 1 PUBLIC FOOD/SHOPPING SPACE; PULBIC ~1 acre PARK
EGRESS || CIRCULATION
3
STEEL BOX TRUSS FARMING
FOLD SURFACE AREA
3 SURFACES vs 1 SURFACE: 3x CROP YIELDS + UTILIZE HYDROPONIC ANGLE- DESIGN
ANUAL YIELDS
36.5 TONS OUTDOOR SOIL || 750 TONS INDOOR HYDRO/AEROPONICS
RESULTS
1500 people/yr INDOOR YIELDS || 73 people/yr OUTDOOR YIELDS http://www.indianhydroponics.com
(in feet) (min. tomato yields used)
271,000 OUtDOOR VERTICAL || 47,340 OUTDOOR HORIZONTAL || 542,000 INDOOR 6.23 acres
1.09 acres
(5-10 tons/acre)
12.5 acres
(60-100 tons/acre)
PRODUCE|| SURFACE AREA
ADJACENCY
4
FUEL SAVINGS
ALUMINUM EXTERIOR SCAFFOLDING
10 mpg : 14’x14x7’ UHAUL : 3 ton haul capacity 786.5 tons/3 tons= 262 UHAUL LOADS / yr
10 gal x 262 loads = 2620 gal x $3.50/gal = $9175/yr
FARMING
PUBLIC
TECH INFO
DRUMNET
HOUSING&FARM || STRUCTURE DIAGRAM
500 feet FROM MARKET TO FARM TOWER 81 miles FROM KARATINA TO FARM TOWER; 1’ : 850’
http://www.uhaul.com
FUEL || TRANSPORTATION
10,000 traders/day at Wakulima Market + NEIGHBORING RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT 85,000 sqft : PUBLIC INFO CENTER + DRUMNET HEADQUARTERS & OFFICES HYDRO+AEROPONIC FARMING TECHNOLOGIES || demonstrating informal farming systems and configurations for affordable public use (~3x annual yield vs soil crop) CONNECTING RURAL FARMERS TO MARKETING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES PROVIDING MARKET INFO FOR ‘FULL MARKET VALUE’ ACCESS
http://whiteafrican.com
EDUCATION || TECHNOLOGY
3
SCT
FLEXIBLE HOUSING UNITS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED WITH ADJUSTABLE JOINTS LOCATED AT THE
EXTERIOR CORNERS, PROVIDING A VARIETY OF SKIN CHOICES. THE STRUCTURE OF THE HOUSING PROGRAM ALLOWS A CHOICE BETWEEN A 13’X30’ UNIT AND A 26’X30’ UNIT. EACH 13’X30’ UNIT INCLUDES A CENTRAL POD CONTAINING BATHING AND KITCHEN SERVICES. OPEN FLOOR PLAN ALLOWS FOR FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTABLE USE BY OWNER. COMMUNITY INTERACTION IS INTEGRATED INTO DESIGN OF PUBLIC COURTYARDS WITHIN EACH COMMUNAL NODE AS WELL AS RESIDENT/ WORK GARDENS.
C H O I C E ::: SPACE
MATERIAL
DESIGN
F L E X I B L E / A D A P TA B L E U S E R C H O I C E
??
SKIN CHOICE || FLEXIBILITY & ADAPTABILITY $$
$0
$00
O C C U PAT I O N
$000
$0000
$00000
and F I N A N C E
IDENTIFY OWNERS OF INDIVIDUAL
UNITS CHOOSE THE IDENTITY OF THEIR HOME. EACH UNIT IS EQUIPT WITH PLUG-IN EXTRUSIONS. THE PLUGINS RANGE FROM GUARD RAILS TO 5 FOOT EXTENSIONS OF THE UNIT. A FOLDABLE CURTAIN WALL PROVIDES OWNERS WITH AN OPERABLE SKIN BETWEEN INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR. THE UNIT HAS THE CAPABILITY TO GIVE THE FEELING OF ENCLOSURE WHILE ALSO ALLOWING FOR EXTERIORITY.
02
APERATURE CHOICE|| BAMBOO
INTERIOR PERSPECTIVE || HOUSING
03
MINIMAL HANDRAIL || 3’-5’ EXTENSION
GROW WALL || ALUMINUM SCREEN
GLASS RAIL || SOLAR EXPOSURE
CONCRETE EXTENSION || 65SQFT ADDITION
BALCONY PERSPECTIVE || HOUSING HOUSING UNIT || FLEXIBILITY
HYDROPONIC FARMING
HIGH EFFICIENCY LED LIGHTING
AEROPONIC FARMING
FLOATING GROW BED NUTRIENT-RICH LIQUID TRAY AIR STONE (oxygen supply) NUTRIENT RESERVOIR NUTRIENT PUMP STRUCTURE CLOTH GROWINGMEDIUM NUTRIENT MIST SUPPLY(every 20 minutes) HIGH-EFFICIENT LED LIGHTING AIR-SEALED GROWING TRAY
04
NUTRIENT LIQUID FEED CONTAINER PLANT LIGHTING|| SOLAR EXPOSURE
HYDRO-AEROPONICS|| AgTECH
05