Rainwater Topographies

Page 1

Emergent Technoogies and Design Core Studio 02, 2011

Rainwater Topographies

Riyad Al Joucka Fatemeh Nasseri Mohammad Ali Mirzaei Pablo Zamorano


11.2 lt of rain per

2 m per

week

In the UK every week, 11.2 lt of rain falls per square metre.


7.48 lt of rain per

2 m per

week collectable

The current technologies of rain water collection allow to collect 7.48 lt per square metre per week.



contents Intro Rain in London

06 07

Strategy Vertical organization

08 09

Site Program Ctalogue

11 12 13

System Topological structure System Phases Vertical Network Water collectors placement

16 17 18 19 20

Water Connectivity Network Water Network Crops Network Water and Height control

22 23 24 25

Urban Farming Agriculture in the UK Vertical farming types Market Placement Section types

26 27 28

Scenarios Crops topography iterations it.06-01 it.06-02 Conclusions

35 36 40 42 43

References

45

Appendix

47

30 31

Rainwater Topographies 5 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


intro

The following pages are the result of an exploration on reviving an urban tissue by introducing a sequence of programs within a system that utilizes rainwater collection. The intervention was treated as a generator of program within the urban fabric. Program in this case is apprehended as a main contributor to the overall regeneration of the tissue in an attempt to reach stability within the tissue. The urban farming in this case is heavily dependant on rainwater collection, as well as a generative set of rules, which would be set to work at a neighbourhood scale. These rules are set with the intention of producing a new urban tissue that supplements the existing and breathes a new life into it. The utopian idea of collecting rainwater to create self-sustaining environments has been explored architecturally in a number of precedent works. These works revolve primarily around presenting theoretic and environmentally sustainable solutions to the urban environments. The proposed topography adds an element of data collection that influences the overall form and system to enhance its performance. The proposed model is tested digitally to produce approximations of expected performance criteria. The data gathering process consequently commenced with a thorough study of the environmental factors affecting the climate of the UK and London in specific.

Rainwater Topographies 6


rain in london The gathered information showed that the provisional total of rainfall in London is 583.6 mm per annum. Which means 11.2 mm of rainfall per week on average falls on London. From these statistics, a ratio was calculated to get the amount of water needed to grow crops from the collected rainwater, which is about 3.9 L per m2 per week.

Rainwater Topographies 7 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


strategy

The strategy to start formalizing these ideas started with a diagrammatic layout of the program sequence. The program was perceived as a sequence of events laid out in a vertical organization scheme. This sequence starts with the rain falling on catchment surfaces, where it is then channeled vertically down to storage compartments. The cultivation exists in-between these two ends, on the topography and the existing building’s vertical farms.

Rainwater Topographies 8


strategy

vertical organization Water Collection

Public Space

Vertical Farming

Water Collection

Market-Public Space

Water Collection

Rainwater Topographies 9 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


66197 m2 of unused space in the site = 495153.56 litres of water


site

The proposed site for this intervention is the area around London Broadway Market near the Canal and London Fields. We focused on the influences of the program in different areas on the site, in an attempt to define the fittest areas of intervention. The main objective of the site study was to give an indication on how to generate activity in the areas that were observed as being less vibrant on the proposed site.

Rainwater Topographies 11 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


site

program The initial analysis of the site concentrated on identifying the program of the buildings. A site map was produced to aid the visualization of these programs. At the north west of the site is Broadway market, marked in yellow on the diagram. Broadway market was observed to be the important element responsible for bringing people into the area, especially on weekends. It was noticed from the team’s visits to the site that the dynamism of the market on a weekend is strongly contrasted by the dull nature of the unused areas south of the plot. The canal and railway that cut through the site add to its industrial nature and were seen to have potential while developing the design.

Residential Work Space Residential & Market Public Commercial Parking Garage Unused

Residential Work Space

Church School

Residential & Market Public Commercial Parking Garage Unused Church R

School

& M

N N

A comprehensive catalogue of uses in the area was produce to define a new surface for water collection MEDIAL AXIS OF SURFACES and use. BUILDINGS BLOCKS VORONOI OF BUILT

N


site UNUSED SPACE - GARDEN

UNUSED SPACE

HEIGHT

FUNCTION

UNUSED SPACE - GARDEN

UNUSED SPACE

HEIGHT

FUNCTION

Garage

1 FLOOR 2 FLOOR 3 FLOOR 4 FLOOR 5 FLOOR 6 FLOOR 8 FLOOR

UNUSED SPACE - GARDEN

UNUSED SPACE

1 FLOOR 2 FLOOR 3 FLOOR 4 FLOOR 5 FLOOR 6 FLOOR 8 FLOOR

RESIDENTIAL WORKSHOP R & MARKET PUBLIC BUILDING

HEIGHT

1 FLOOR 2 FLOOR 3 FLOOR 4 FLOOR 5 FLOOR 6 FLOOR 8 FLOOR

A1 BLOCK AREA RESIDENTIAL MARKET WORKSHOP PUBLIC BUILDING PRIVATE GARDEN TRAIN CANAL CIRCULATION UNUSED

34706 12923 5771 12090 0 4241 5055 0 6941 6111

RESIDENTIAL

WORKSHOP MARKET NUMBER 201 R & MARKET MARKET AREA PUBLIC BUILDING 805 UNUSED 5305

A1 BLOCK AREA RESIDENTIAL MARKET WORKSHOP PUBLIC BUILDING PRIVATE GARDEN TRAIN CANAL CIRCULATION UNUSED

34706 12923 5771 12090 0 4241 5055 0 6941 6111

B2 BLOCK AREA RESIDENTIAL MARKET WORKSHOP PUBLIC BUILDING PRIVATE GARDEN TRAIN CANAL CIRCULATION UNUSED

8846 1353 523 4720 0 0 0 0 1769 4000

MARKET NUMBER MARKET AREA UNUSED

201 805 5305

MARKET NUMBER MARKET AREA UNUSED

23 361 3639

B2 BLOCK AREA RESIDENTIAL MARKET WORKSHOP PUBLIC BUILDING PRIVATE GARDEN TRAIN CANAL CIRCULATION UNUSED

8846 1353 523 4720 0 0 0 0 1769 FUNCTION 4000

C3 BLOCK AREA RESIDENTIAL MARKET WORKSHOP PUBLIC BUILDING PRIVATE GARDEN TRAIN CANAL CIRCULATION UNUSED

6720 6702 0 0 0 2944 0 0 1411 850

MARKET NUMBER MARKET AREA UNUSED

23 361 3639

MARKET NUMBER MARKET AREA UNUSED

112 1787 -937

C3 BLOCK AREA RESIDENTIAL MARKET WORKSHOP PUBLIC BUILDING PRIVATE GARDEN TRAIN CANAL CIRCULATION UNUSED

6720 6702 0 0 0 2944 0 0 1411 850

MARKET NUMBER MARKET AREA UNUSED

112 1787 -937

RESIDENTIAL WORKSHOP R & MARKET PUBLIC BUILDING

D4 BLOCK AREA RESIDENTIAL MARKET WORKSHOP PUBLIC BUILDING PRIVATE GARDEN TRAIN CANAL CIRCULATION UNUSED

93828 27817 0 32832 6460 10719 844 11894 18766 28461

MARKET NUMBER MARKET AREA UNUSED

464 7418 21044

E5 BLOCK AREA 66432 RESIDENTIAL 19146 D4.21044 MARKET - C3.937 = D4.20107 944 D4.20107 - F6.2335 = D4.17772 WORKSHOP 37484 PUBLIC BUILDING 0 PRIVATE GARDEN 3113 TRAIN 6612 CANAL 0 CIRCULATION 13286 UNUSED 15873 MARKET NUMBER MARKET AREA UNUSED

319 5106 10767

Rainwater Topographies 13 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


site

Rainwater Topographies 14


site

Rainwater Topographies 15 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


system

The design strategy commenced with identifying the empty and unused areas of the site. These areas were seen as areas with potential for development. Rather than intervening with the site by removing the existing, the intent was to add on to the existing, to introduce a tissue that works with it. The vertical system was dissected in layers within the site each working in sequence towards fulfilling the programmatic requirements. This ideology was translated in the mathematical algorithm that generated the layout for the design. The geometrical model of the Medial Axis was used for this purpose. The strategy is to identify a set of points that are the closest points between the boundary of a surface (in this case the city blocks) and the islands within the boundary (in this case the buildings). The medial axis was written as an algorithm that creates a voronoi mesh for each of the islands and the boundaries within a given surface. Within the intersection of the voronoi meshes, a line is produced marking a set of closest points from the boundary to the islands. This topological spine would give the ideal spatial location for the growth of the potential intervention. The algorithm was applied to the entire site to compare the different blocks in terms of space available for building.

Rainwater Topographies 16


system

topological structure 1. Select all unused areas on site. 2, Get medial-axis for all areas 3. Place water cells according to area 4. Set height of cells according to program 5. Join all pick points on system and create topography 6. mutate according to environmetal factors.

MEDIAL AXIS OF SURFACES BUILDINGS BLOCKS VORONOI OF BUILT

N Rainwater Topographies 17 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


system

system phases Based on the data gathered from the site catalogue, we chose block D4 to test our system. The algorithm was divided into 4 hierarchical phases; each of them increased the level of complexity and allowed us to manage the process in a systematic way. Phase 1 From the boundaries (block edge) the Topological Spine is generated. After the spine is generated, the intersection points of the spine are set to locate the water collectors, which make the basic cells of the proposed system. The algorithm is then run again to create a spine that takes the collectors, as well as the buildings as internal islands. Phase 2 The points from the first spine are used to generate the first sequence of meta-balls charged with the ratio of the distance from the edge of the block. The points from the second spine are used to grow the water surface containers charged with the distance between the surfaces and the closest buildings. Finally the heights are changed according to the surroundings and the new topography is lifted up to interact with its surroundings at ground level. Phase 2 A second layer of topography is generated to create a leisure space, water collector ponds and to cover markets with vertical crops. An urban ecology devoted to public space and urban gardening. The parameters controlled here are the height of the slopes, which respond to the distance from the surrounding buildings, the streets and the water collection cells. Also the volume of water that could be contained is measured to evaluate the amount of water that could be collected, the amount of crops, public space and markets. Phase 3 The values that the digital model produces are then collected. Specifically the water volume collected, the amount of crops that could be grown along the surfaces of the topology and the amounts of produce that could be cultivated are also calculated. The data is used to re-evaluate the digital model.

Rainwater Topographies 18


system

5

vertical network

Crops and public space surface

4 Re-evaluation of topological structure

3 Water collectors at intersections

2

Topologic structure for the unbuilt

1 Empty space and built surface recognition

Rainwater Topographies 19 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


system

water collector placement Volume of water needed : 0.003401 x Available Area

Rainwater Topographies 20


system Once the algorithm is set to be tested on block D4, we run the first sequence for the water collector’s placement. Our basic cells, here once positioned on the intersections of the topological structure of the site, start to attract each other and to connect between them based on the distance from each other and the charge of each cell. As a first experiment this sequence shows us the need to introduce another factor to control the connectivity based on the surface that would collect water on top of the cells and to iterate to reach the volume of water to be stored on each area (0.003401 x Surface Area).

Rainwater Topographies 21 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


water connectivity network The intervention was conceived as one that works with its surroundings and gives back to the area it occupies. Since the main driver of the generation of the urban farms is the collection of rainwater from a topological surface, the rainwater that is shed on the rooftops of the buildings could be regarded as a wasted opportunity. The connection system adds to the main topological surface of crops, the rooftops of the buildings as catchment surfaces that feed into the system. The surface area of all the rooftops was measured and the amount of rainwater that could be harvested from these rooftops was calculated. It became necessary to connect the different elements that make up the intervention. Within the connectivity system, the Medial Axis first defines the distances from which growth starts; the intersection points on the axis are defined as the central pockets of rainwater collection. The water surfaces and rooftop collection channels are seen as clusters that feed into the system, and are connected through an algorithm that calculates the closest point for efficient connection.

Rainwater Topographies 22


water network

water connectivity network Connectivity Network 900.0

1197.0

Distance 380.0 885.0 399.0

393.0

578.0

Centrality

214.0

922.0

868.0 302.0 838.0

Clusters

1430.0 798.0

6207.0 2395.0 257.0

Medial Axis Topological Structure

Water Network WaterNetwork

Rainwater Topographies 23 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


water connectivity network

crops network

The intervention proposes gathering rainwater from surfaces to use the water for irrigation. The irrigation system is connected to a distribution system to grow crops. Within this proposed system, the topography channels water down to the water surfaces and rainwater collectors. The rainwater collected from rooftops is channeled using a vertical farming system that is retrofitted onto the buildings façade. The density of the vertical garden changes in proportion according to a ratio of roof surface area to facade area of each building. The introduction of the system is reliant on the proposed topography, working as part of it not independently. Roof Surface 11.2 L per m2 per week collected from surface. Crop Growth 3.9 L per m2 per week Total Surface Area = 5.606*10^4 m2 Total m2 of Crop Growth on Buildings = 2.186*10^5 m2 At least 4856 m2 per person is required in order to maintain dietary standards 1970 That area decreased to 1â „2 in 2000 due to advancements in hydroponics and soilless planting. The area is supposed to drop in size by 1/3 in 2050.

90000.3 m2

WaterNetwork Topography

Rainwater Topographies 24


water connectivity network

water

Water follows the topography and is gathered at two instances; first as ponds and water surfaces related to the public spaces. These water bodies transport water by gravity to the underground water collectors. The volume for the collectors is calculated with the total surface area multiplied by the factor 0.003401 which represents the maximum amount of water storable using current technologies. 2,5 mt.

2,5 mt.

height The topography starts growing in height from the medial axis and is attracted to the ground by the built surface and the water collectors. The height of the neighbouring buildings controls the height of the topology to interact with it at a more compatible level.

Rainwater Topographies 25 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


urban farming

After a thorough research on agricultural data in the UK, we calculated the average amount of rainwater that crops need, which is about 3.9 litres per week. Two types of farming methods used in the UK were implemented within the system. Horticulture, which is used to produce flowers, vegetables and ornament plants and Market gardening, which grows fruits and vegetables. In addition, it was taken into consideration that plants have different sizes of roots and therefore need different sizes of pots to grow in. Among diverse plants that could be grown in the UK, we selected culinary vegetables, which have medium size of roots such as lettuce and spring onion. Moreover, table (1) ÂŹillustrates how each specific crop grows in different time of the year.


urban farming

agriculture in UK

Table 01 Docember

November

October

September

August

July

June

May

April

March

February

January

Agriculture in UK:

Asparagus Beetroot Broad Beans

Different Types of Farming: Arable Mixed farming Horticulture Market gardening Viticulture

Brussel Sprouts

crops crops and animals production of flower, vegetable, ornament plants production of fruit and vegetable production of grapes

Broccoli Broccoli Red Cabbage Savoy Cabbage Summer Cabbage Sweetheart Cabbage Winter Cabbage

Culinary Vegetable:

Carrots Cauliflower

Leafy and salad vegetable Fruits Flowers Padded vegetable Bulb and stem vegetables Root vegetables

Courgettes Fennel French Beans Kale Leeks Marrow Onions

Principle Crops: Wheat Barley Potatoes Sugar beet (UK is the fifth largest production) Vegetable Fruits Oil seed rape

New Potatoes Pak Choi Potatoes Parsnips Peas Runner Beans Spinach Squash Swede Sweetcorn Turnips

Rainwater Topographies 27 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


urban farming

vertical farming types Within the proposed urban farming system, there are three types of vertical farming methods that are being utilized. The first one is hydroponics method, which dispenses a mineral nutrient solution in water instead of soil; these minerals are essential for plant growth. Excess rainwater is filtered and channelled to the water collectors. The second method is an Aeroponic-farming method. The Aeroponic method is conducted without a growing medium. This method sprays the plant’s dangling roots and lower stem with nutrient rich water solution. The last method utilizes sand with different size of particles instead of soil. This method helps to grow bulb, stem and root vegetable.

Rainwater Topographies 28


urban farming

vertical farming types Agriculture in UK:

Each type of crop needs a different size and condition of place to grow. Table 2 indicates this information; moreover, Table 3 demonstrates suitable seasons to grow specific crops. Culinary : A : Height C : Relative B : Width Climate D :Height 2to the Consequently, theVegetable topography within the system is controlled by three parameters as 1 shown in the diagram, (D, B,Distance A) each corresponding width, length and height of the plantation surface. The topography dimensions changes to accommodate the different types of crops used in different parts of the structure. Leafy V Lettuce (Romaine, Round, Iceberge) Agriculture 16 cm 15 cm cool, rain, no direct sun light in UK: 30 cm

Fruit Flower Padded V Bulb V Root V

Table 02 Cucumber 8 cm : 90 cm 46 cm A : Height 1 Culinary Vegetable Broccoli 17 cm 15 cm 8 cm Leafy V Lettuce (Romaine, Round, Iceberge) 16 cm Green Bean ( Broad, French, Runner)Fruit 30 cmCucumber76 cm 10 cm 8 cm Flower Broccoli 17 cm Onion (Spring, Leeks, Onion) 23( Broad, cm French, 10Runner) cm Padded V 46 cmGreen Bean 30 cm Bulb V Onion (Spring, Leeks, Onion) 46 cm Carrot 30 cm 15 cm 10 cm Root V

Carrot

1200 cm warmer good : Relative B : Width C Distance 2 Climate D :Heightsoil,

30 cm

30 cm 90 cm 15 cm 76 cm 23 cm 15 cm

drainage

Regular Watering cool, rain, no direct sun light Warm, Condition 1200 Weet cm warmer soil, good drainage Regular Watering Dry, 200 sunny position cm Warm, Weet Condition Dry, sunny Warm Soil, Sunny,position Drainage

15 cm 46 cm 8 cm 10 cm 10 cm 10 cm

200 cm

Warm Soil, Sunny, Drainage

Table 03 Crops Map from May to Sep

Crops Map from May to Sep

Season:

Jan

Season:

Feb

Mar

Apr

Lettuce

May

Jan

Feb

X

X Jun

Mar

Apr

X

Broccoli

X

Bean

Cucumber

X

Onion

X X

Carrot

Broccoli

X

X

Bean

X

X

X

X X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Jun

July

Aug

X

Aug

X

X Sep

X

Oct X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X X

X

X X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X Dec

X

X

Carrot

X

X

X

X

X Nov

Dec

X

X

X

X

Nov

X

X

X

X

Oct

X

X

Onion

Sep

July

Cucumber

Lettuce

May

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

D B Lettuce Cucumber Broccoli Bean Onion Carrot

A

D B A

Lettuce Cucumber Broccoli Bean Onion Carrot

Rainwater Topographies 29 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


market placement

market types study

Different Typologies of market were studied to understand how this program could be introduced into the system. The available area for the market was defined by the edge of the water collectors and the topography. The areas that were not suitable for circulation and or extra were assigned to storage for the crops.

Rainwater Topographies 30


sections types

market-public space

public space-crops

market-public space

These sections indicate the combination of different typologies of agriculture. As a result, the top of our (semi-open) structure acts as a farm and also it creates shade and rain protection for the market and the store which is located under the structure.

Rainwater Topographies 31 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


exterior view from the urban crops and public space

Rainwater Topographies 32


interior view from the covered market.

Rainwater Topographies 33 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano



scenarios

The algorithm was fed with data from the site and climate as input parameters. After the initial test, the algorithm was then run for several iterations starting from an extreme flat condition to the maximum height. It was obvious from these digital experiments that as the height of the topography increased, the surface area of the topography increased as well. The model gave output data that gave better numbers in terms of water collection was more at level. The evaluation of placing the peaks and valleys of the topography was determined by these rules. The overall topography that generated the most efficient output data was considered the fittest. The spatial and volumetric characteristics of the fittest topography gave insight to possible programmatic functions that could be implemented within the spaces of the topography. Since the relationship of rainwater, crops, public space and existing buildings was seen as working together in a systematic manner, output data was gathered and analyzed to check whether the proposed system meets the initial intentions of providing cultivation for the neighborhood. One iteration would be picked then to re-run the algorithm and re-evaluate the system in two scenarios: The site with existing buildings and the site as an empty area.


scenarios

01

09

17

crops surf. 99882 m2 water collected 172250 m3

crops surf. 137400 m2 water collected 123000 m3

crops surf. 174910 m2 water collected 73756 m3

02

10

18

crops surf. 104570 m2 water collected 166090 m3

crops surf. 142090 m2 water collected 116850 m3

crops surf. 179600 m2 water collected 67600 m3

03

11

19

crops surf. 109260 m2 water collected 159940 m3

crops surf. 146780 m2 water collected 110690 m3

crops surf. 184290 m2 water collected 61444 m3

04

12

20

crops surf. 113950 m2 water collected 153780 m3

crops surf. 151470 m2 water collected 104540 m3

crops surf. 188980 m2 water collected 55288 m3

Rainwater Topographies 36


scenarios

crops topography iterations 05

13

21

crops surf. 118640 m2 water collected 147630 m3

crops surf. 156160 m2 water collected 98380 m3

crops surf. 193670 m2 water collected 49133 m3

06

14

22

crops surf. 123330 m2 water collected 141470 m3

crops surf. 160850 m2 water collected 92224 m3

crops surf. 198360 m2 water collected 42977 m3

07

15

23

crops surf. 128020 m2 water collected 135310 m3

crops surf. 165540 m2 water collected 86068 m3

crops surf. 203050 m2 water collected 36821 m3

08

16

24

crops surf. 132710 m2 water collected 129160 m3

crops surf. 170220 m2 water collected 79912 m3

crops surf. 207740 m2 water collected 30665 m3

Rainwater Topographies 37 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


scenarios The height was tested through several iterations of the algorithm. As the height increased, not only the crops area increased, the volume of the space underneath did too. This opens the possibility of investigating more complex programs that could go beyond market and public spaces.

01

02

03

04

09

10

11

12

17

18

19

20

80mt 55mt 25mt 0,0mt

80mt 55mt 25mt 0,0mt

80mt 55mt 25mt 0,0mt

Rainwater Topographies 38


scenarios

crops topography iterations 05

06

07

08 80mt 55mt 25mt 0,0mt

13

14

15

16 80mt 55mt 25mt 0,0mt

21

22

23

24 80mt 55mt 25mt 0,0mt

Rainwater Topographies 39 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


scenarios

it.06-01

The selected iteration is tested with existing buildings on block D4. Although the heights of the topography were set from the previous sequence of iterations, on this scenario the heights are re-evaluated with the water collection data from the existing buildings and the farming information. The results show an important increase in the surface area of the site, including a significant growth of new public space. It also show the crops are in good balance with the water collected. There is also an important amount of water that can be retrofed into the system.

topological Structure (TS)

water collectors

re-evaluated TS

re-evaluated Water collectors

crops topography

Hydroponics Aeroponics Sand

crops distribution

isometric view Rainwater Topographies 40


scenarios

it.06-01 north elevation

south elevation

west elevation

water collectors

east elevation

crops topography

01 02

02 03 0405 01 06 07 08 09 10 11

03 04 05 06 07 08

12 13

09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21222324 25262728293031323334

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Crops surface = 123330 m2 Water stored = 922508 lt. Water stored from built area = 14374lt. Water ponds = 1804 lt. Public space Area = 90330 m2

30

section sequence

34

33

32

31

plan Rainwater Topographies 41 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


scenarios

it.06-02

We see an increase in the crops surface and the volume of water collected. The topography height also increased, but because the edge of the block acts as a boundary, the new topography reads as a continuation of the surroundings.

north elevation

south elevation

west elevation

water collectors

east elevation 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

crops topography

02 03 0405 01 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

11 12 13 14 15

14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21222324 252627282930313233

16 17 18 19

section sequence

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 33 32

Crops surface = 124100m2 Water stored = 928268 lt. Water ponds = 1017lt. Public space Area = 100045 m2

plan Rainwater Topographies 42


conclusions

The intention of the described system was to create a model for a pleasant urban tissue. The system attempts to do so by using local conditions to create a sequence of programs that would be the main attractor of flows of people. Rain is a climatic local condition that is perceived as a main parameter shaping the process of generating the sequence. Rainwater collection is hence the igniter of the sequence, allowing for urban harvests and public markets to exist as the main programs in that sequence. The system presents the potential of being introduced in different urban scenarios, reacting to the environmental conditions, and re-evaluating itself to generate a new, constantly changing, activated tissue. The objective of the intervention as a data driven exercise differentiate it from a utopian approach, and connects it to a local condition at a more cohesive manner.


Rainwater Topographies 44


references Rainfall: Met Office Annual 2010: © Crown copyright • www.metoffice.gov.uk Medial axis references: Mescina: Computational Geometry You Can See http://www.balintmiklos.com/mesecina/socg07. html ETH Applied Geometry Group http://www.agg.ethz.ch/research/medial_axis Crops network: UK Agriculture http://www.ukagriculture.com/index.cfm

Rainwater Topographies 45 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


Rainwater Topographies 46


appendix

Rainwater Topographies 47 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


Rainwater Topographies 48


Rainwater Topographies 49 Riyad Al Joucka - Fatemeh Nasseri - Mohammad Ali Mirzaei - Pablo Zamorano


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