PUSH PLANAR
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RACHEL MEI-LAN TAN
PUSH PLANAR WEEK 08 10/23/2015
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STRUCTURED DERIVED FROM THE ADAPTABILITY OF A LEAF 5
Dense Cities MONACO - 22,021 PEOPLE PER SQ KM SINGAPORE - 6,430 PEOPLE PER SQ KM
NFTs are often used in commercial hydroponics, particularly for short harvest crops. An NFT system does not require a timer. Instead, the nutrient solution is pumped from the reservoir up into the growtray in a continuous cycle. The growing chamber is built with the slightest downhill decline, allowing the solution to trickle from the top end of the tray to the bottom, where it is recycled back into the nutrient reservoir. Instead of a regulated watering schedule, the plants in an NFT hydroponic system are provided with a constant flow of nutrient solution. The slope is set at a shallow angle to ensure the solution only trickles along the growing tray. However the slope is sufficient for ensuring that the solution does reach the bottom, where it is drained back into the reservoir. This
ensures the growtray is never flooded, which prevents your plants from being overfed. In fact, only a small film of nutrient solution is accessible to the plants — which are suspended above with their roots hanging down — at any given point. Because there is no timer involved there is less scope for anything to go wrong. This means maintenance is kept to the bare minimum: You simply prepare the nutrient solution and then turn the pump on. Because the system can run for so long without being manually checked, they usually include an air stone in the nutrient reservoir which is vital for keeping the water within the system oxygenated.
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Male, Maldives 35,000 per sq KM 153,379 people 5.8 km2 TROPICAL MONSOON The Maldives is an archipelago made up of about 1200 islands that are scattered in a line running for 800km southwest of the tip of India. Although the total area of the country occupies 90,000km2 of Indian Ocean, its land area is a tiny 300km2.
these constraints, a number of indigenous farming systems have evolved that are highly sustainable in this unique and delicately balanced ecosystem. These systems are characterised by low levels of external inputs and the intensive use of local knowledge and materials.
The islands, of which only 200 are inhabited, are grouped into 19 atolls and are extremely small, averaging 0.5km2, and no more than 2 metres above sea level. Most islands are dominated by large stands of coconut and salt-tolerant coastal fringe forest. Inland, the low lying and relatively fertile soils are able to support numerous tree species and shrubs.
Malé, the capital city of the Republic of the Maldives. The Maldives is an island nation southwest of India and Sri Lanka. It is the smallest Asian country in terms of population and land area. This tropical group of atolls is comprised of 1,192 islands, 192 of which are inhabited. Its total land area is 298 sq km, which equates to 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC. Estimates for 2013 put the nation’s total population at 393,988. It is the largest population per sq KM.
Agriculture under atoll conditions is notoriously difficult due to poor soils, limited water availability, harsh environmental conditions and the scattered and isolated nature of the islands. Despite
The city is geographically located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll (Kaa8
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fu Atoll).[3] Administratively, the city consists of a central island, an airport island, and two other islands governed by the Malé City Council. Malé has a tropical monsoon climate under the Köppen climate classification. The city features a mix of both wet and dry seasons, with the wet season lasting from May through December and the dry season covering the remaining four months. Unlike a number of cities with
this climate, Malé experiences relatively consistent temperatures throughout the course of the year, with an average high of 30 degrees Celsius and an average low of 26.5 degrees Celsius, which is equivalent to many equatorial cities’ average year round daily mean. The city averages slightly more than 1600 mm of precipitation annually. The city is divided into six divisions, four of which are on Malé Island: Henveiru, 10
Galolhu, Maafannu and Macchangolhi. The nearby island of Vilingili, formerly a tourist resort and prior to that a prison, is the fifth division (Vilimalé). The sixth division is Hulhumalé, an artificial island settled since 2004. In addition, the airport Island Hulhule is part of the city. Plans have been made to develop the Gulhi Falu reef, implementation began in 2008. The Island of Malé is the fifth most densely populated island in the world, and it is the 168th most populous island in the world. Since there is no surrounding countryside, all infrastructure has to be located in the city itself. Water is provided from desalinated ground water; the water works pumps brackish water from 50-60m deep wells in the city and desalinates that using reverse osmosis.[14] Electric power is generated in the city using diesel generators. [15] Sewage is pumped unprocessed into the sea.[14] Solid waste is trans11
ported to nearby islands, where it is used to fill in lagoons. The airport was built in this way, and currently the Thilafushi lagoon is being filled in.[16][17] Many government buildings and agencies are located on the waterfront. Malé International Airport is on adjacent Hulhule Island which includes a seaplane base for internal transportation. Several land reclamation projects have expanded the harbour. Tourism is the largest industry in the Maldives, accounting for 28% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives’ foreign exchange receipts. The GDP per capita expanded by 265% in the 1980s and a further 115% in the 1990s. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Malé, the capital, has many tourist attractions and nearby resorts. The central harbour and port of the Maldives is located in Malé, the centre for all com-
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mercial activities. Maldivian, the airline of the Maldives, has its head office in MalĂŠ[18] as does the airline FlyMe.[19]
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Where the Taro Never Ends
The atolls of the Maldives represent a delicate and unique ecosystem that is highly sensitive to changes resulting from human, climatic and environmental activity. Within this fragile ecosystem a number of indigenous farming systems have evolved that are ecologically and culturally sustainable. Of these, the homegarden has been the most enduring and diverse.
Taro, an extremely important staple food, is maintained in large pits at the edge of swamp areas. These pits are regularly replenished by old leaves from previously harvested taro plants and other dried leaves and are actively trampled into the pit during harvest. These methods, in conjunction with well adapted local taro varieties, have ensured that taro pits have been continuously harvested for decades without any serious fertility or pest and disease problems.
Spirits, Magic and Astrology
Homegardens – A Source of Riches
On some islands a type of bush fallow or shifting agriculture is practised. Land clearing and planting is dictated by the local astrological calendar, known as the Nakaiy. This ensures that the season coincides with the rains and is relatively short, minimising the build up of major pest and disease problems. The methods used in this form of agriculture are rich in local knowledge but also rely on a number of magico-religious rituals. Belief in the spiritual world and a local form of magic, fanditha, is very strong in the Maldives and pervades all aspects of life. It is a belief system that has managed to co-exist with Islam for hundreds of years. Certain people are held in high esteem because of their extensive knowledge of fanditha and are very much in demand during periods of cultivation. These people, known as Ihuraveera, make decisions regarding where and when to plant and harvest.
However, the most enduring of the indigenous farming systems in the Maldives is the polycultural homegarden. It represents a highly stable system of permanent landuse that is attended to year around. Like homegardens in other parts of Asia, those in the Maldives do not supply the main source of food or income for the household yet they continuously provide many of the varied household subsistence needs. Most of the species grown in the homegarden, especially fruit and timber trees, are multipurpose in nature providing food, fuelwood, stimulants, dyes, medicines, wrapping, cordage, timber and so on. Homegardens vary greatly in size and are usually enclosed by coral brick walls, live fences or woven palm leaves. Gardens consist of an upper canopy dominated by coconut, arecanut, breadfruit, mango and other fruit trees, a middle
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canopy comprising banana, papaya, pandanus and small fruit trees and a lower canopy devoted to a wide range of vegetables, spices, ornamentals and medicinal plants. Maldivian homegardens represent an enormous range of plant species equalling that found anywhere else in Asia. At least 35 fruit crops, 40 vegetable, 4 cereal, 8 spice, 20 timber and 62 ornamental/flower species are known to be cultivated in Maldivian homegardens. This does not include the vast numbers of medicinal and other utility plants that are grown. Species such as mango, lime, pomegranate and custard apple have many uses, including medicinal, as do a large number of timber trees such as sea hibiscus and the tulip tree. Banana in addition to supplying food from the fruit and flower also provides leaves for wrapping, plates, mulching, decoration, cooking, cordage and polishing. Pandanus provides food from the fruit and nut but also perfume from the flower, timber, leaves for composting, pest control, wrapping, flowers for insect repellent, wood for handicrafts, fuelwood, timber and gum for caulking fishing boats. Coconut certainly lives up to its name, the tree of life, and has been estimated to have over 170 individual uses on the islands. The major soil preparation methods used in homegardens are the preparation of beds and digging of planting holes. Planting holes are usually filled with old plant material, coconut husks, 19
rusty cans and kitchen wastes. Most of the crops in the homegarden rely on rain for water although certain high value vegetable crops will receive watering during dry periods. Other practices such as mulching, pruning and grafting are carried out intermittently. Inventive Natural Pest Control In homegardens a large number of traditional pest control methods have been devised to minimise damage by fruit bats, rats and certain insects. Bats are notorious for feeding on fruits and homegardens protect ripening fruit by enclosing them in coconut shells, covering trees with fishing nets, snaring bats with hooks and fishing lines, placing human effigies and oil lamps in trees and pulling tin can scaring devices. Rats which can cause enormous damage to coconuts are prevented from gaining access to nuts by banding the trunk with pandanus and palm leaves or more commonly with tin sheeting. Rats are also caught by locally made traps using sticks and large coral stones. Hand-picking of certain insect pests, such as the coconut rhinoceros beetle, is common. Other homegardeners drive off insect pests by smoking them out with fires under fruit trees. They make vital contributions to the island’s economy directly and indirectly. They have made this community more self-sufficient and are a great help to the nation’s food security. They have dramatically cut down the imports of some fruits and vegetables into the island. Good examples are cucumber, capsicum, fresh beans, tomatoes, lemon
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and passion fruit. This is what we see on the surface. Scratch the gloss and a nasty picture emerges. Farmers are contaminating the soil and ground water with pesticides at an alarming rate. They are no longer content with less toxic concoctions like ΄dhunfaiyfen΄. If it is a spray against ants, they demand to see the ant drop dead at the moment of impact. Nothing less. The pity is that chemical pesticides and insecticides are mostly toxic and in most cases there is a pre-harvest interval for these toxins after the produce comes into contact with the toxin. When no one realizes this, the toxins end up being deposited in someone’s liver or other vital organ via the chillies, cucumbers and lettuce they consume. The rest sinks into the soil and below until it reaches the water lens where it stays for years if not decades or centuries. While we are debating the future of our development, I believe the future of agriculture is an important issue. One thing we must realize is that land is our most scarce resource and every opportunity to expand vertically will have to be seized. Farmers must become more efficient and move towards hydroponics and auto pot hydroponics. Backyard gardening must be encouraged and specialization in a particular crop must be promoted among farmers. We must also stick to our strengths. Traditionally, taro and mango had been the pillars of our agriculture and they both require very little care and attention 21
as opposed to crops like cucumber and chili. A sizeable portion of the reed fields can still be turned into taro cultivation and more innovative ways of selling mango must be found. More value needs to be added to mango and taro products. Mangoes thrown away can be turned into chutney with a simple effort. Mango seeds contain starch that used to be harvested and made into savory pancakes just like ala fathafolhi (taro pancake). There are a number of strategies that can be used to develop agriculture but for a start we need to look at where we stand right now in relation to the vision we have so that we chart a clear course towards the finish line avoiding the pitfalls and riding the opportunities along the way.
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Singapore 6,430 per sq KM
The capital city of this island nation is said to be the most densely populated major city in the world, with a mind-boggling 35,000 people living per sq km. MalÊ, the capital city of the Republic of the Maldives. The Maldives is an island nation southwest of India and Sri Lanka. It is the smallest Asian country in terms of population and land area. This tropical group of atolls is comprised of 1,192 islands, 192 of which are inhabited. Its total land area is 298 sq km, which equates to 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC. Estimates for 2013 put the nation’s total population at 393,988.
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Macau 22,021 per sq KM
The capital city of this island nation is said to be the most densely populated major city in the world, with a mind-boggling 35,000 people living per sq km. MalÊ, the capital city of the Republic of the Maldives. The Maldives is an island nation southwest of India and Sri Lanka. It is the smallest Asian country in terms of population and land area. This tropical group of atolls is comprised of 1,192 islands, 192 of which are inhabited. Its total land area is 298 sq km, which equates to 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC. Estimates for 2013 put the nation’s total population at 393,988.
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On the Water GORGE - CHINA
NFTs are often used in commercial hydroponics, particularly for short harvest crops. An NFT system does not require a timer. Instead, the nutrient solution is pumped from the reservoir up into the growtray in a continuous cycle. The growing chamber is built with the slightest downhill decline, allowing the solution to trickle from the top end of the tray to the bottom, where it is recycled back into the nutrient reservoir. Instead of a regulated watering schedule, the plants in an NFT hydroponic system are provided with a constant flow of nutrient solution. The slope is set at a shallow angle to ensure the solution only trickles along the growing tray. However the slope is sufficient for ensuring that the solution does reach the bottom, where it is drained back into the reservoir. This
ensures the growtray is never flooded, which prevents your plants from being overfed. In fact, only a small film of nutrient solution is accessible to the plants — which are suspended above with their roots hanging down — at any given point. Because there is no timer involved there is less scope for anything to go wrong. This means maintenance is kept to the bare minimum: You simply prepare the nutrient solution and then turn the pump on. Because the system can run for so long without being manually checked, they usually include an air stone in the nutrient reservoir which is vital for keeping the water within the system oxygenated.
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Male, Maldives 35,000 per sq KM 153,379 people 5.8 km2 TROPICAL MONSOON The Maldives is an archipelago made up of about 1200 islands that are scattered in a line running for 800km southwest of the tip of India. Although the total area of the country occupies 90,000km2 of Indian Ocean, its land area is a tiny 300km2.
these constraints, a number of indigenous farming systems have evolved that are highly sustainable in this unique and delicately balanced ecosystem. These systems are characterised by low levels of external inputs and the intensive use of local knowledge and materials.
The islands, of which only 200 are inhabited, are grouped into 19 atolls and are extremely small, averaging 0.5km2, and no more than 2 metres above sea level. Most islands are dominated by large stands of coconut and salt-tolerant coastal fringe forest. Inland, the low lying and relatively fertile soils are able to support numerous tree species and shrubs.
Malé, the capital city of the Republic of the Maldives. The Maldives is an island nation southwest of India and Sri Lanka. It is the smallest Asian country in terms of population and land area. This tropical group of atolls is comprised of 1,192 islands, 192 of which are inhabited. Its total land area is 298 sq km, which equates to 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC. Estimates for 2013 put the nation’s total population at 393,988. It is the largest population per sq KM.
Agriculture under atoll conditions is notoriously difficult due to poor soils, limited water availability, harsh environmental conditions and the scattered and isolated nature of the islands. Despite
The city is geographically located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll (Kaa 30
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Linear Path BRIDGE NOMADIC TRAIL WATER
NFTs are often used in commercial hydroponics, particularly for short harvest crops. An NFT system does not require a timer. Instead, the nutrient solution is pumped from the reservoir up into the growtray in a continuous cycle. The growing chamber is built with the slightest downhill decline, allowing the solution to trickle from the top end of the tray to the bottom, where it is recycled back into the nutrient reservoir. Instead of a regulated watering schedule, the plants in an NFT hydroponic system are provided with a constant flow of nutrient solution. The slope is set at a shallow angle to ensure the solution only trickles along the growing tray. However the slope is sufficient for ensuring that the solution does reach the bottom, where it is drained back into the reservoir. This
ensures the growtray is never flooded, which prevents your plants from being overfed. In fact, only a small film of nutrient solution is accessible to the plants — which are suspended above with their roots hanging down — at any given point. Because there is no timer involved there is less scope for anything to go wrong. This means maintenance is kept to the bare minimum: You simply prepare the nutrient solution and then turn the pump on. Because the system can run for so long without being manually checked, they usually include an air stone in the nutrient reservoir which is vital for keeping the water within the system oxygenated.
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Kawa Ijen, Indonesia 60KG SULLFUR PER TRIP ACIDIC AIR POLLUTION - NEEDS INSULATION UNSTABLE/SHAKY GROUND 200 MINERS PER DAY PRODUCE 14 TONS OF SULFUR EVERYDAY The Iject volcanic zone is also a source of geothermal energy for power generation. The survey points to the areas potential to generate 110 megaawatts. Medco can supply electricity for 200 houses in the regency. highly acidic crater water permeates into other wter supplies, it passes through paddy fields, plantations, and sugar mills. Tooth and bone damage within the residents from agriculture production and pollution in rivers and people’s wells. It irrigates 3,564 hectares of paddy fields. Lower biodiversity from acidic water. 42 km tunnel to funnel the lake water to the sea. Nature’s threat can’t hurt them. Ijen Caldera. 15km.
Last eruption was 1817. Melting temperature is 115C and Vaporizatioin occurs below boiling temperature. Boils at 400c Numerous pipes are driving into the Solfatara - temperatures near 250C-300C. Conednsation of volcanic gas saturated with elemntal sulphur occurs as it cools in the passage through the pipes. Molten sulphur trickes out of the end of the pippe. Miners break the sulphur depots and cary them out of the crater, via a weigh station, and to a nearby sugar refinery. Life expectancy : 30 years. 35km from Banyuwangi. Nearest city, Paltuding\ For Makeup Fertizlizer And Wine 34
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to be sited on something skinny rising water condition poor soil site restriction
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view into fishing deck L.1
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view from bedroom L.2.5
view from top of stair into living L3
view from top of stair into garden/kitchen L.4
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monastery quarters cliff sited minimal dwelling one facade is the existing rock
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