Valencia Thesis project 2013 University of Liverpool Mikael Pedersen
| Urban regeneration and green algae energy |
I
t is widely recognised that the worlds crude oil levels are decreasing and atmospheric CO2 concentrations are at an all time high. Talking about saving the world from global warming through singles of architecture does not seem feasible. This thesis project sees the challenges towards global warming more as a change in attitude towards living and building sustain- able than anything else. As a response, this thesis recognises the large potential in biofu- els and works with raising awareness of Algae biofuel as a new sustainable and green energy sources. Not only for powering transport but to form part of a sustainable cycle aiming towards carbon neutral cities in the future. By creating a public facility where users can engage in close prox- imity with the future of energy, it generates interest and aware- ness in regards on how to live sustainably and more efficient. The proposed architecture does not only educate people about greener energy, but functions as a pilot project for Europe, to addresses the issues of energy security in the future and the chal- lenges of dependency from Russia and the Middle east as energy suppliers. Creating centrally located energy hubs with public facilities using Algae allows larger cities to effectively reduce their CO2 emission through the green Organism. Simultaneously this project sees developing a public green research facility as an opportunity to redevelop the unsolved urban grid of Valencia, which after large ‘Top-down’ developments have left the city in big debts with the cities main elements Disconnected, Privatised and Unused.
Location [ Juan Carlos I Marina - Valencia]
Nodes and points of interest
Private vs. public analysis on the site
1:200 plan (not to scale as shown)
1:500 First floor + Second floor plan (not to scale as shown)
A sample of Thesis models
Algae encounter
The arrival to the Algae Research and education facility
Algae photobioareactor design laboratories Viewing from the second floor Public engagement from the atrium
Algae Scuba diving Experience A close experience of the living organism
1 :50 section (not to scale as shown)
Valencia
Thesis project 2013 University of Liverpool Mikael Pedersen
| Urban regeneration and green algae energy |
T
his thesis project began by stating a problem; Europe needs to find alternatives to fossil fuels and nuclear energy in order to guarantee the regions energy security into an uncertain and unpredictable future. This problem has broad, wide reaching implications and it would have been reductionist to try to resolve it entirely through a single architectural project. Instead this project has focused on the area that is most likely to bring about a change in Europe’s fortunes; further scientific research into renewables. Critics of renew¬able energy point to its unreliability caused in part by vulnerability to weather fluctuations and their current inability to compete with fossil fuels in terms of both economics and megawatt output. As shown in this report microalgae show great potential as an energy source that could overcome these drawbacks and provide a realistic alternative. Algae is incredibly versatile organism, dried algae biomass can be burned to drive turbines or fossilised into algae crude oil for use in vehicles, however considerably more research is required in order that the productive potential of algae can be fully utilised. This is the premise on which the design of the algae research institute is based. There are many sites throughout Europe where an algae research institute would be feasible. The marina in the Spanish city of Valencia was decided upon precisely because it has many contextual problems to overcome. So far the solutions offered up by politicians have been involved the expensive construction of museums by Santiago Calatrava and one-off mega events. The results of this have proved disastrous, exacerbating rather than re¬solving the economic and social issues. The philosophy behind the Algae Research Institute adopts a completely different approach. The building is a part of a long term strategy for the whole marina. It will generate scientific employment far into the future and as a public laboratory with an integrated visitor experience it will attract people back to this neglected part of the city. This is intended to lead to a full regeneration of the marina area in line with the masterplan proposal shown. The dominant architectural feature of the research institute is the spiralling algae bioreactor façade. Extending at its highest point to above twenty metres and spreading itself several hundred metres around the marina bay, it is a formidable structure. It serves a productive function in that it produces algae, the raw material. Algae from this façade will heat and power the building as well as generate algae based fuels and products for export. The idea being that in order to be sustainable, buildings in the future should no longer be mono-functional consumptive but instead be multi-functional and productive. The large size and scale of the façade is due primarily to maximise production rather than solely as an architectural statement. The building is therefore intended to be symbolised as an antidote to Calatrava and the era of excess that produced his style of architectural monumentalism.