NEXUS PROJECT
THE NEXUS CENTRE - STOCKPORT The Nexus centre is a multi-functional, creating containing a hybrid programme of a vertical farm and a transport hub. The building is designed to adapt to Stockport’s changing social and environmental conditions over the next 50 years. The Nexus centre combines a vertical farm with small-scale transport centre that encourages the use of the bicycle. With the effects of global warming and extreme population growth, Stockport will be forced to adapt to an extremely dense city and unprecedented levels of heat. The increase in population density will contribute to the urban heat island effect that will cause extreme levels of heat within the city. The combination of these conditions will transform Stockport into an extremely uncomfortable place to live and work. The Nexus centre is aimed at alleviating the effects of these futuristic scenarios and protecting citizens during the event of an extreme heat wave. The centre provides 600 parking spaces that offer commuters and visitors free and safe parking. Parking in the centre relieves congestion within the city and fights the urban heat island effect. The centre provides 3500 sqm of allotment space to residents and farmers, and gives green space back to the city.
PORTFOLIO RYAN BATTICK
NEXUS
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Figure 3. Precedent study of London’s expansion
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Figure 2. Global increases in the frequency of heat waves
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Figure 1. Global levels of Deforestation
STOCKPORT
1800 : 95,000 1900 : 186,000 2013 : 512,000 2020 : 650,000 2050 : 1,000,000
GYM TRE CEN URE LIES TALL AL S RENT BIKE TION O STA METR
COMMUNIT Y CENTRE H O M E L ESS SH ELTER OPEN AN D V ENTIL LATED UND E R G ROU ND A L T ERN ATV E AD S OUR AP CE TB O E F TW WA ENE E T RGY E E R NE XT R EM EA N
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1760 : 740,000 1801: 958,863 1861: 2,803,989 1899 : 6,528,434 1980 : 6,805,000
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The world’s population has increased at an unprecedented rate over the last 50 years. Although an increase in population has positive effects on culture and society, the extreme population growth that we are currently experiencing has brought a great number of problems. With the population growth expected to increase at an even greater rate in the coming years, the effects are going to be detrimental to the current and future generations. More people on earth means more consumption, more waste and more pollution. Over the past 10 years we have had a great number of natural disasters and natural phenomena that have destroyed cities and taken many lives. This is a result of population growth, pollution and ultimately, global warming. The warmer temperatures lead to warmer sea temperatures and this causes more powerful and frequent natural disasters. Heat waves have taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of people over the last 10 years, extreme heat waves are a serious threat in the coming years. The prospect of heat waves similar to the ones that have claimed so many lives in Europe will be the norm in the year 2050 and occur at least twice a year. The diagrams on the right show the changes in global forest cover. The extreme decrease in the amount of forest cover on earth contributes to the rise in the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Global warming has increased the power and frequency of natural disasters around the world, making this issue extremely important. A study of London’s growth was done to understand how Stockport will be affected by extreme population growth. From the study we predict that Stockport will eventually become a part of Manchester’s city centre. The diagram on the far right of the page reflects the process of linking the site with the environmental research. This diagram was used to overlay the relevant pieces of information and make connections between the site and the research done.
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EXTREME HEAT AND POPULATION GROWTH
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GLOBAL FOREST COVER // DEFORESTATION
N TE N IO AS IO AT W T T S LU RE RE OL O FO P E M E / D G OR LS IN L I M F RM D A N W RES LA TU AL A B R O PE GL TEM N ELS E I LEV RIS A TERS SE ISAS N I D L ANS RISE TURA OCE F NA O R E T ER HOT POW IN D EASE INCR S ICANE HURR
PROJECT
Figure 4. Data-sphere explaining links between the main elements of the study
PROPOSED LINKS
NEXUS PROJECT
GARDEN ALLOTMENT
THE CAR VS THE PEDESTRIAN
Becomes a meeting place for rich and poor (employed and unemployed)
Commuters on their way to or from work in the city may attend to thier personal garden plots, either for pleasure or for food.
Public garden allotments used by poor and unemployed as hobby or as soource of food
The future of Stockport involves overpopulation and congestion. The vast amounts of cars within the city will cause uncomfortable levels of heat. The primary programme aims at providing commuters with a place to shower, change, and possibly grab some food, be-
POOR/ UNEMPLOYED
fore or after work. The availability of these services
RICH / EMPLOYED
will encourage nearby commuters to ride to work, decreasing the cars in the city. In a further attempt to en-
TRANSPORT HUB
courage less cars in the city, the transport centre will provide free and safe parking on the periphery of the city, encouraging commuters from surrounding towns to park on the outskirts, instead of driving within the city. Over time, with the increase in cyclists and the de-
Carbon dioxide from the commuting employees’ vehicles is recycled and used to grow plants and vegetables within the garden allotments
crease in the use of roads within the city centre the hub will encourage a car free city. The Garden allotments are aimed at reducing the segregation between poor/ unemployed and rich/employed, it will become a place
THE CITY
where the commuter on his way to work may attend to
CAR PARK
CAR PARK
THE DRIVER
his garden plot next to a man poor man who has nothThe machines are to exteact carbon dioxide from the underground car park and safely pump it into the growing areas to help plants grow
SERVICES
ing else to do with his time but garden, a relationship is formed that would not be formed otherwise.
THE RIVER MERSEY
Water from the river Mersey is used to irigrate the gardens
CONTEXTUAL STUDY
DELIVERY AREA EVENT SPACE SECURITY OFFICE
CIRCULATION SPACE
CAFE
FOOD STALL SPACE CENTRAL CIRCULATION SPACE
CENTRAL CIRCULATION SPACE
THE POOR
BAR
OPEN PUBLIC SPACE
WATER FEATURE
The whole transport hub acts as a buffer between the city and the urban structure fabric around it.
After a schematic intention was decided, a detailed site study was completed. To produce a practical and informed programme arrangement, an in-depth site
Food from the allotments may be sold or used in the food stall space
analysis was necessary. The site and it’s context was broken down and studied based on elements such as solar shading, ventilation, traffic routes and noise. The
RECEPTION
CHANGING + SHOWER
BICYCLE PARKING
Security guards must be able to access bicylce parking area easily, from the main areas.
results of these sides formed the basis of the initial pro-
THE CITY
gramme layout on site.
SERVICES
STORGAE
ALLOTMENTS
STORGAE
GARDEN ALLOTMENT TOWER
ALLOTMENTS
THE CYCLER
BICYCLE USER ENTRANCE AREA
SECURITY OFFICE
PUBLIC GARDENS
MAIN ENTRANCE
Delivery area is to have connection with both the cafe and the bar on the first floor
Changing rooms must also be available and easily accessible by both commuters and gardeners
Figure 5. Diagram explaining the key elements of the proposed program
Figure 7/8. Diagrams representing the initial study of the site and it’s context
Figure 6. Flow diagram explaining activities and events happening in the program
Figure 9. Initial study of orientation of the site and context
NEXUS PROJECT
Once a site was chosen, a detailed study was undertaken lyses, a wind and air flow analyses and a number of envir-
24 H
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on the site. The studies included a solar and shade ana-
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NATURAL LIGHTING
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SITE + CONTEXT STUDY
Car park placed further North because of the amount of space needed
onmental and physical characteristics that affected the site. The diagram on the right represents a study of the
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such as natural lighting and ventilation. After each pro-
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element was rated based on it’s requirement for things
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requirements of each element of the programme. Each
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Initial form of building before being affected by site context
gramme element was plotted onto this diagram by virtue of it’s physical requirements, it was then possible to allocate programme elements to areas on the site based on that areas characteristics and the program requirements. After an initial programme arrangement was
OUT
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formed, the design began to develop. The initial stages
Open public green space is placed further away from the road to make it quieter and so it may take advantage of the shade created by the building
SHA
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of development were based on the simple arrangement of three blocks; the horizontal connection, the vertical
Tower placed close to the road to block noise and create shade
farms/allotments and the underground parking. These were based on the main drivers of the form and experience of the building.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
A horizontal connection to the city is added VENTILLATIO
N
VIEWS
Bicycle centre placed closer to the main road access route.
With a set of clear drivers for design an interesting process of iterative development took place. After a clear form was established, a number of issues arose which resulted in testing and changing the design. One of these issues were wind flow. One of the main concepts within design is ventilation. This is necessary because the building is aimed at adapting between the daily use of commuters
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Bar place here to take advantage of the views to the east
and citizens and an extreme number of people during
A vertical element is added to the form to facilitate the vertical gardens and provide shade.
the event of a heat wave. A number of design decisions E AC SP
added to the building to cool the air as it passes over it
P R IVA CY
were made based on this scenario. A water feature was and through the atrium. Numerous wind studies revealed
provide varying levels of shade and ventilation was im-
HEAT
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peratures and weather conditions, the building‘s ability
F ACC
being ventilated by the passing wind. With unstable tem-
EASE O
that there were important areas of the site that were not
Event Space Car Park Garden Allotments
portant. One way that the level of ventilation may be
Public Gardens
changed is through a set of opening and closing window
Bicycle showers
panels that regulate the path and amount of wind.
Bicycle Rental Cafe
Figure 10. Diagram overlaying programme requirements and physical and contextual characteristics of site.
Event space placed here to take advantage of the natrual ventillation coming from the south-west. Figure 11. Diagrams explaining the initial programme arrangement
A central atrium is added to increase light to the inner parts of the floor plates. Figure 12. Form development based on site and environmental context
LOCATION PLAN
SCALE 1:1250
The Nexus transport centre acts as a buffer to the city, filtering out cars as users pass through. With the amalgamation on Manchester and Stockport, the Nexus centre will produce more space in the city. It’s strategic location allows users to walk or ride into the city comfortably, while separating the vehicles from the city.
MANCHESTER
STOCKPORT
MANCHESTER STOCKPORT
MANCHESTER
STOCKPORT
NEXUS
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SCALE 1:500
SITE PLAN
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THE NEXUS CENTRE CIRCULATION The top business space may be accessed by the cetral stair core or the central lift core.
Farmers and owners of allotments use the central core for circulation, containing two public lifts and one service lift, the core separates use into ‘dirty/wet’ and ‘clean/ dry’. Soil, fertilisers, waste, food and tools may be vertically circulated freely.
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The bridge over the river Mersey is the junction of all circulatory paths, it acts as a scenic and relaxed route over the water for both pedestrians and cyclists.
Pedestrians are offered a route into the city, wit the experience of a covered pubilc plaza and a business class transport centre with public amenities.
Cyclists who are on their way in or out of the city have an uninterupted route in both directions
!. Visualization of the pedestrian’s approach to the Nexus centre. Commuters who walk ride from the centre into the city may take this path to pick up the bicycle and ride into the centre. Visitors to the city who wish to take the scenic route into the city may take this path
Drivers who park their cars may retrieve their bicycle and visit the city, while leaving their car securely parked.
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Commuters who ride to the centre walk from the city, retrieve their bicycle and proceed out of the city.
Pedestrians enter the building through the main entrance and have the option of proceeding to the city by foot, or retrieving their bicycle on the third floot and riding to the city.
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Route of users who park their car and proceed to the city on foot or by bicycle, users bikes are stored. They park their cars, retrieve their bicycle and enter the city by the bridge. Route of service vehicles and goods. Vehicles enter the basment levels, where the plant room and storage rooms are located. Food, waste and goods are transported vertically through the service lift.
Main flow of vertical circulation throughout the building The horizontal circulatory link between the space north of the M60 and Stockport city centre
2. Visualization of the cyclists approach to the Nexus centre. This view is of a cyclist going into the building on the orange path. This path takes the user from ground level on the North side, through the bicycle hub on the third floor and up to the fourth floor where he/she takes the bridge into the city.
Smooth transition vertically, rising from ground level to the level that suspends over the motorway
3. This is the view of a cyclist entering the city by the bridge. The Nexus bridge goes over the M60 motorway, connecting the centre of Stockport to the building. In the opposite direction, you may see cyclists exiting the city. The users exiting the city may proceed to the third floor where they may park their bicycle, or proceed down the uninterrupted green route to exit the building on the North side.
A
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A-A SECTION (EAST)
SCALE 1:200
SCALE 1:200
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SCALE 1:200 Winter
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5m height
Summer
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5m height
Average
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5m height
Sun Path
Basic initial shape
Basic shape Light recieved by sun’s movement
Internal atrium adds light Light falls at an average of 6m inside the floor plate
Internal atrium increases light falling on floor around it Light falls at an average of 6m inside the floor plate
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Final layout of floor plan, this informed the form of the tower
B
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B-B SECTION (SOUTH)
SCALE 1:200
NATURAL VENTILATION The unstable climatic conditions in Stockport force the Nexus centre to change based on the physical state of the weather. The Nexus centre is designed to be a comfortable public place during all stages of Stockport’s weather changes. Presently, the Nexus centre acts as a large greenhouse, trapping heat for the benefit of the indoor allotments and the public. However, as the weather changes, hot temperatures and heat waves will become more common. The ‘greenhouse’ nature of the building will only trap the heat and intensify the extreme conditions. Therefore, it is important that the building is able to change. During the event of a heat wave, the building becomes a cool shelter for people. It’s submersion 5 metres underground allows it to keep a regulated cool temperature during a heat wave. The glass roof has ceiling panels that open and close based on the control of a building information management system. The building management system opens and closes the ceiling panels in synchronization with the large window panels on the east side of the building. During the event of a heat wave, the east side of the building is almost completely open, allowing the prevailing winds to move through the building.
During the winter the building traps heat and allows a controlled environment for growing the plants
On a warm day specific panels may be opened in unison to direct the air using the venturi effect
More panels may be opened based on how much ventilation is needed
During the event of heat wave, all the panels may be opened to create a large areas for the wind to travel through the building.
60° 12°
60°
Solar Geometries during a normal day
60°
Solar geometries when back plaza needs sun for plants and people
60°
Solar geometries during a heat wave
EAST ELEVATION
SCALE 1:200
NORTH ELEVATION
SCALE 1:200
BUILDING SECTION
Present The building is mainly aimed at discouraging cars within the centre of the city. It also has large amounts of green space for farming and public gardening.
SCALE 1:50
Heat wave During a heat wave, the solar shading and ventilation systems adjust to allow more wind through the building and less sunlight on the building. The ground level also acts as a submerged shelter
Population growth Due to the effects of population growth, the building is design to accommodate a greater need for green space. As the population increases, so does the amount of green space.
Temperature rise As the climate slowly gets warmer, the main public space moves from the south plaza to the north, shaded, plaza.
Social change As the society changes, the building is designed to accommodate a shift in transport methods. The ratio of bicycle parking spaces to car parking spaces changes.
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE
BUILDING SECTION SCALE 1:50
Call-out A
8. The building envelope is sealed with a bolt fixed glazing system. Structural steel poles support the glazing panels using steel arms and steel and rubber joints. The steel poles are supported at each floor, the ground and the ceiling and reduce the seams in the glass faรงade.
7. The prefabricated steel floor is then brought onto sight and laid on the steel frame. These perforated steel sheets are prefabricated to fit the building and are simply installed with minimal work.
Garden allotment plots Services running through cutout in beam and onto the ceiling
Structural steel beam and girder system
6. The specific areas of concrete slab floor above ground are constructed on the steel frame. The composite floor slabs are made by pouring concrete into a steel sheet that is fixed to the frame. These slabs are 150 mm thick and reduce the floor thickness through their concealment within the depth of the steel frame.
Bolt fixed glazing system supported by steel poles
5. The steel frame is made up of steel girders that are 750 mm deep and smaller, standard sized, universal beams that span in between the steel girders. These steel girders span large distances, decreasing the need for internal columns. The steel beams transfer loads from the floor, to their ends, and onto the girder. The girder then transfers the loads to the steel columns, which are connected to the concrete base.
4. Once the structure reaches above ground a steel frame is constructed. This step involves constructing a steel frame that uses the concrete foundation walls as a base. The loads are transferred through this steel frame, into the concrete foundation walls and down into the foundation.
Call-out B
In-situ concrete foundation walls and floors slabs
Call-out C
Concrete beam and column system
3. The concrete floors are then laid, they are supported by the concrete beam and column system. The columns are laid out on an 11m by 15 m grid and the concrete floors for the basement are then cast in place, supported by these beams and columns.
2. The concrete beam and columns system is part of the primary structural system below ground. The insitu beams are 500 mm thick and are laid so the floors of the basement may be supported.
1. The first step of the construction process involves laying an insitu concrete foundation. The building rests on a raft foundation, with concrete foundation walls constructed to 18 metres below ground. The concrete cores are constructed for both the central lift core and the bicycle parking lift shaft. These cores are constructed floor by floor by laying insitu concrete into the form-work at each level.
1. Double glazed unit 2. Stainless steel bolt fixing 3. Outer silicone seal with inner rubbber-based extruded seal 4. Cast steel connector 5. Insulated steel arm joint 6. 40mm Steel vertical faรงade support 7. Steel column 8. Steel Girder 9. Drain pipe for excess water 10. Drainage tank for allotments 11. Soil 12. Wooden allotment pots 13. Water outlet 14. Water supply pipe 15. Steel bracket with bolts 16. Ceiling ties 17. Aluminium hanging ceiling 18. Electricity supply 19. Steel beam 20. Perforated steel floor panels 21. Metal Flashing 22. Foam void fill 23. Insulation 24. Concrete wall finish 25. Damp-proof membrane 26. Ground drain 27. In-situ concrete wall 28. In-situ concrete ground slab 29. Metal capping 30. Wall ties 31. Polished concrete floor finish 32. In-situ Concrete floor 33. Screed 34. In-situ concrete foundation wall
NEXUS
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PROJECT
NEXUS
Internal visualization : Garden Allotments
Internal visualization : Public plaza The Nexus centre is aimed at promoting a healthier and more sustainable way of life in Stockport. As the climate changes and the weather gets more extreme, the residents of Stockport and Greater Manchester are at a greater risk. We cannot change the weather, therefore, the only option we have in the face of natural disaster is smart and predictive design. The Nexus centre is design to accommodate a number of changes over the next 50 years. With the population increasing and the temperature increasing, the Nexus centre gives the residents of Stockport a heat wave shelter and thousands of square metres of green space. The building intends to promote the use of bicycles and discourage the use of cars within the city. If the building is successful, Stockport’s city centre will become a less crowded, and less congested. The residents of the city will enjoy a simpler, greener and more sustainable way of life and a relaxed pedestrianised city centre.