GENUS in Design
Student: Oishwarya Sarkar Advisor: Phil Horton
Two years go, I entered my masters to find a path in architecture to follow in my work and life. I am glad to say I found my space in design. This thesis is my journey towards that vision.
Barriers between nature ecosystem and urban landscape
A city is a large human settlement. It is a permanent densely populated place where the primary income opportunities are non-agricultural based. Cities have designed sections for housing, industries, education, commerce and many other activities. Cities are also known to make its dwellers creative due to positive and green environment it is around. Though cities have been placed within its natural sites and hinterlands, its transaction have not been equal. The road towards sustainability began with reducing carbon waste from our infrastructure to net zero carbon usage using renewable energy sources and finally towards positive energy infrastructure design. But while the conversation about sustainability continues, the ideation of involving nature into the human society is left out. Natural ecosystems came into existence before the human society and went through drastic evolutions to have food and organism systems that are highly compatible to its environment. These systems involve different tiers of organisms within the food chain with a keystone specie.
_PREFACE
Objectives Thesis Statement Thesis Anti-thesis
Synthesis Methodology Strategies
Demonstration Site conditions Urban proposal
Conclusion Thank you Biblography
_CONTENT
ANTI-THESIS The existing city infrastructure in the man-made society and its lack of interaction with nature. The existing man-made design which have a linear life cycle and only dependent on the mechanical form of sustainability.
THESIS INTENT To study the working of an ecosystem’s relationship with its keystone species and replicate it’s principles into human architecture. This is attempted in the form of an architectural project in an existing ecological corridor within South Phoenix.
THESIS To study the abundance knowledge of nature within the Sonoran Desert. Extract design principles from various desert organisms to work on the design problems within various programs in the ecological corridor. By following Biomimicry’s life’s principles, the project attempts to create a new way of living sustainably.
_THESIS STATEMENT
KEYSTONE SPECIES AND HYPERKEYSTONE SPECIES Keystone species are organisms whose functions affect the liveability of other organisms within its ecosystem. This term was first coined in the 1960s by Ecologist Robert Paine during his observation on the relationships between marine invertebrates of the intertidal zone. The term ‘keystone’ was metaphorically taken from the role of the keystone in an arch. Keystone species have the ability to design with tools which are part of their body or techniques to create stable conditions. Its housing always cater to other organisms and have an afterlife in case of abandonment. Like a keystone specie, humans design with tools that is created with the resources found in nature and invent techniques to upgrade its lifestyle. But why is it that keystone species have a positive change in the environment while human beings have the opposite? In 2016, Bob Paine published a paper on “Hyperkeystone” species which was a play on the word “Hyper-parasite”. It is defined as “ a species that affects multiple keystone species across different habitats and drives a complex, potentially connected interaction chains. Human exploitation along with non-tropic impacts have complex effects on target and non-target species within the interactive webs. Since the extinction of most of the large carnivores in the land ecosystems, the keystone species are under direct human influence. Due to this change, humans became a primary and dominant components of contemporary ecosystems.
_THESIS
Humans have exploited many organisms who have been identified as keystone species that control complex interaction chains. By targeting these species, we might deplete and compromise the function of keystone species. This might create new interaction chain and change the existing roles of various species.
Shelter
Beavers
Wetlands
Nutrients
Keystone species
Functions
Birds
Fishes
Fishes
Primary Organisms flow diagram along with existing ecosystem
Human activities do not reciprocate the natural flow of the rest of the ecosystem. While it contains characteristics similar to a Keystone specie, it does not perform similarly.
_HYPOTHESIS
Hyperkeystone Species
?
?
Environment Nourishment
flood plain protection Nutrient rich soil
Keystone species
Ecological Foodchain
Beavers
Functions Beavers Dam
Secondary Organisms
Birds
Fishes
Frogs
KEYSTONE SPECIES IN SONORAN DESERT The keystone species observed in this project are Ironwood, Saguaro cactus, Beavers and Leaf cutter ants. Other organisms who do not fit the category of keystone species but are essential to represent desert climate adaptation are Social ants and Talus snails. While these organisms are of different species and function differently. All of them have shown few common characteristics which allows them to survive in the Sonoran Desert. For example, ironwood and saguaro have similar functions like insulation from heat, shading primary consumers and producers. However, Talus snail only cater to themselves with their gastropod shell. These shell insulates heat but at the same time retain water from the atmosphere and air circulation for comfort under the scorching heat. Ultimately, in this project I will talk about the possible functions and patterns observed in these organisms which will be replicated to form innovative sustainable designs. The keystone species usually maintains an hierarchy with their services. By studying its hierarchy, we can attempt to design for functions which will enhance the community without quantitatively calculating the parameters and results. Since, the functions have been displayed successful in other species.
_THESIS
For this activity, the ironwood tree which acts as a nursetree, an important part of the desert ecosystem, will be the primary keystone whose functions would be the basis to compare the other organisms with.
Social Ants
Desert Snail
Leaf-cutter Ants
Ironwood Tree
Saguaro Cactus
BIRDS OF THE PHOENIX CITY
Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
Bendire’s Thraster (Toxostoma bendirei)
Nest: tiny nests held together with spider web Tree: exotic flowers, eucalyptus tree Man-made nest: hummingbird feeder Habitat: shrubs, riparian, mesquite bosque, chaparral
Nest: cup-like nests with twigs, grass and leaves Tree: bushes Man-made nest: telephone pole Habitat: agriculture, desert, mesquite bosque
Scott’s Oriole (Icterus parisorum)
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura)
Nest: basket-like nest of yucca leaf fibres, cactus fibers, Tree: open yucca and juniper grasslands Man-made nest: hummingbird feeder
Nest: small cup-shaped nests in a fork of a bush or tree Tree: low vegetation Man-made nest: building niches Habitat: shrubs, desert, mesquite bosque, chaparral
Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis)
Common Raven (Corvus corax)
Nest: hole in saguaro cactus or tree. Cavity unlined. Tree: saguaro cactus, riparian trees Man-made nest: buildings Habitat: urban city, desert, riparian
Nest: abandoned nests of hawks and owls Tree: deserts (adaptable to different climate zones) Man-made nest: building sides Habitat: all type
Canyon Towhee (Pipilo fucus) Nest: bulky nests- twigs, grass and bark: placed near the ground Tree: desert slopes and vegetated gulleys Man-made nest: sensitive to human intrusions Habitat: chaparral, cliffs, desert, shrubs
BIRDS in South Phoenix
_THESIS
_THESIS
CONNECTION CHART This chart shows the connection between the ecological species studied with the general suburban typologies found in South Phoenix through six keywords. These keywords indicate the main facilities needed to design a comfortable infrastructure in a desert biome.
Water have been a limited resource in the desert region. Water is an agent to quench but it can also be used as a cooling agent to create micro-climates within rooms. Can the abandoned preexisting hohokam canals be used to create a cool atmosphere along at alley of houses?
In desert cities, spaces which are mutually symbiotic help overcoming lack of resources in neighbourhoods. Various white spaces are often found between buildings which could be potential space for collaboration
SHADE
COMMERCIALISM & COLLABORATION
_THESIS
Summer in a desert comes with intense heated sunlight which hinders people to walk or use the outdoors. Shading can be multi-purposely used to possibly create a safe open area during dust storms and cater to the birds around the city.
WATER COLLECTION
Insulation is an important part of desert living. The skin of cacti are studied to find possible solutions for insulation other than the existing synthesis methods. Is green roofs/ walls the only solution as insulation which can possibly create vegetation?
LOCAL FARMING
VENTILATION
INSULATION While desert cities already consist of existing green spaces which are widely green lawns. Can the space be dually used? Can empty green spaces create opportunities for local neighbourhood farming that can be a naturally growing space both children and nature.
Ventilation is an element that can help in create comfort in closed spaces specially in summer. Is there a way of creating instances of cross ventilation without compromising the existing building typologies? The each plot design contribute to the microclimating of a neighbourhood?
Columnar Cactus
ECOLOGICAL The organisms observed for this research often design their own shading elements that are extensions of their core body. These organisms often show multiple functions with these extended limbs. Cactus cross-section showing the pleated form which counter shades the cactus itself.
Desert Snail
Ironwood
The membrane is made of two elements- Calcium Carbonate and eiphraym. It creates a thick outer layer and a thick air barrier which acts as a great insulation of heat.
Olneya tesota (ironwood tree) are deciduous desert tree. Its foliage arrangement and density change shelters multiple other local beings both in summer and winter.
_THESIS
CONVENTIONAL Conventional sun shading devices are mechanical equipment or textiles that are used either externally or in between the internal and external building space. The primary objective is to create a comfortable internal environment.
_SHADE
ECOLOGICAL Desert organisms create multiple services within them to efficiently collect water during summer. Plants and animals have different methods to store water. While the plants direct the water collected, during rain and precipitation, to the roots. While animals collect water into its shelter when its cooler outside.
_THESIS
CONVENTIONAL Rainwater harvesting in water barrels and underground cisterns are two of the most common way of water collection. It is legal to collect any rainwater that falls in one’s land property. While this is a sustainable way of practicing water collection. It seldom rains throughout the year in the desert. Is there a method to collect precipitation from the air especially during an intense humid day through a building element in the infrastructure itself?
_WATER COLLECTION
ECOLOGICAL Desert organisms have adopted interesting strategies to communicate within a large group. For example the leaf cutter ants created a system where they locally grow a fungus by nourishing it. And in return the fungi nourishes the younger ants in the shelter.
_THESIS
CONVENTIONAL Phoenix might have various hubs for farmer’s markets for locally sources products. Local farming have slowly become part of the urban life with backyard vegetable gardens as a start. The soil composition in Phoenix is predominately high levels of clay and lots of salt. Mid-September through early April is the prime garden season in this low-altitude desert. September and October are the best time to plant artichokes, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cilantro, cucumbers, lettuce, parsley, radish, spinach, and sugar snaps. With minimal protection from frosts, many of these vegetables will grow throughout the winter and into early spring.
_LOCAL FARMING
ECOLOGICAL Insulation in plants and animals are commonly noticed in the dry desert region. The observation in these species is quite interesting as different organisms dealt with the same issue differently. A common trait that all strategies had was the idea of using water as a cooling agent since evaporation of water cools down the surface.
Columnar Cactus
Desert Snail
_THESIS
CONVENTIONAL Insulation in human infrastructure is achieved by two ways: using buffer agents in between walls or by create a vegetative layer along the walls and roofs to reduce the interior temperature. In suburban area, insulation with foam spray and foam boards that prevents infiltration between the interior and exterior conditions.
_INSULATION
ECOLOGICAL The skin of desert species similar to humans are permeable. Hence, it was more informative to observe housing structures of organisms to notice the dynamism of its opening according to the seasonal change.
_THESIS
CONVENTIONAL Ventilation is mechanically achieved with air conditioning in the urban desert cities. As the general climate during is too hot, air conditioning the house is the most common method. But there seem to be less alternatives for natural and cross ventilation in suburban houses during the cooler months.
_VENTILATION
_THESIS
PHOENIX WITHIN SONORAN While the concept of human hyperkeystone species is not new. The planetary awareness of humans in a globalized economy is new. With great awareness about climate change, importance and study of keystone species and its interactive chains can help understanding what are the ecosystem consequences from these changes and what role are we required to play to integrate with the ecological interactive chains. It is noticed that humans have always been treated as externality and its effects are separated from other species and their interaction.
This is an opportunity to re-frame the ecological role of humans as a part of nature where its interaction with other species will create a positive effect in the ecosystem.
_ANTITHESIS
PHOENIX CITY Arizona is one of the most urban states in US. Phoenix was one of the two most populated cities in the State. It has been illustrated as the “oasis civilization” in the West America due to its urban development amidst its previous image as a state of farms, ranches and isolated mines. When Phoenix was first founded by developers and boosters. After the Hohokam Indians vanished from the Salt River Valley in the central Arizona by 1400. The new settlers expanded the Hohokam irrigation system and created a blooming city within the desert. The land was nourished due to the huge and wide canal system which supplied water for at least two hundred miles. Phoenix for a long time was dependent on its farmland, industries and mines. The city’s vision was to transform the past American’s style of living and to be create a modern, progressive American city. But from 1960’s, the vision fell apart. With the relaxation of federal power on individual, the city started question all its developing thinking if the vision really saw the identity of the state. Many individuals offered their own plans which were moulded into a single perspective. The new vision was to build a twenty-first century desert city that involved the issues of form and culture, but most importantly tackle the challenges of the location.
_ANTITHESIS
During the early twentieth century, major changes in transportation and economy growth diverted the initial vision of Phoenix. While it was attempting to create a built-out walking city, it was completed changed due to the introduction of street cars. This change largely converted the then walking streets of suburban Phoenix into automobile lanes. Phoenix is also a city where large population of Hispanic immigrants have settled over the times notably at South Phoenix due to the construction of the Southern Railway route. This create an inequality of wealth and public services between the North and South Phoenix.
PHOENIX CITY, 1960s
PHOENIX CITY, 1960s
GEOGRAPHY While Phoenix was being transformed into an urban desert civilization. Most of the land’s past was covered or drastically changed to fit to the aesthetics and typologies of East America which cause a vast deviation from creating its own vernacular infrastructures. While researching through the history of Phoenix settlement pre and post urbanization, it was clear that the landscape of this desert city was not always naked and burnt. Around ninety years back, Salt River was a branched river with heavy water streams, it was used to fill the Hohokam canals. Phoenix was also a city of trees during the early 19th century after a developer’s vision of building modern canals which was aided by the Theodore Roosevelt Dam. The company planted trees along the roads. This created a dense shade at a long stretch making long walks possible during the summer times. Phoenix’s topography has been plain with occasional sandy hills in-between the town and the Salt River passing through. This made Phoenix a potential ecological environment for desert habitation and migratory birds.
_ANTITHESIS
SALT RIVER, 1930s
SALT RIVER, 2020
STRIP MALL The strip malls in Arizona are usually L-shaped or a linear shaped building form. Phoenix consists on commercial corridors along the city both vertically and horizontally. Most of these complexes positioned in from of a main road or a group of malls within a neighbourhood. While the mall’s surrounding context usually is isolated from its form which the stored are chosen according to the needs of the community. The intervention of the strip malls which are highly popular in American Suburbia is usually to make the space more green and using parts of the space as community gathering which can act as parks for the kids o play. The space can also be change its configuration to create a community garden which would increase and attract the existing but lost ecology of the city.
_ANTITHESIS
L-shape retail strip
linear retail strips
All the activities are in closed space. Outdoor display is maximum of 300 square feet. Infrastructure is limited to two stories and of 25 feet height. Parking : 1 car per 300 square feet.
Construction: Concrete construction Glass storefront Brown color palette
Landscape: Run-off collection through retention pits Varied local cactus and trees Planters and mounds between the road and parking.
_ANTITHESIS
25 ft
generic retail strip mall corner
SUBURBAN HOUSING The suburban houses and neighbourhoods in Phoenix are homogeneous in their looks. The houses are usually for single-family houses on individual lots. The houses is designed to use solar panels and rain water collection on the roof. While all the suburban houses look indistinctively similar, it lacks usage of the existing and forgotten water canals located around the Phoenix valley. Also the consideration of connecting the south mountain to the city at the edge without disturbing the habitat.
_ANTITHESIS
abandoned canal behind a resident
typical residential housing
Set back: Front 15’ Back 15’ Side 10’ External: Not connecting to main structure Max. height: Two stories, 30’
Construction method: Wood stud walls and floor Clay roofing tiles Stone cladding/cement texture finish
Landscape: Desert landscape consisting of sand Water retention pit Desert native plants
30 ft. wood stud walls with slope roof
_ANTITHESIS
INDUSTRIAL The industries in Phoenix are best described as clusters of small and medium-sized businesses working with similar technologies. They are usually historic looking and immobile. Under the structure the product is designed with further sophistication accordingly. In the current practice, the whole team is located in the same building to communicate and create a more holistic approach. The industries are majority located at the periphery of the salt river at South Phoenix region with a small group around the Deer Valley Airport. It is very interesting to find industrial land zone which facing it’s back up to the Salt river and potentially creating a barrier between the local residents along that region. While the salt river drastically narrows down after the Tempe town lake. The river is yet to experience extreme pollution from the industrial zone around the lake. Since, the infrastructure handle less intense work producing limited waste products. The main intervention for this typology would be creating an interactive barrier between the industrial site and the river edge. Other inventions includes proposing green covers for the existing ecological corridor and good ventilated infrastructures to reduce the use of active cooling.
_ANTITHESIS
3/15/2020
13 E Pioneer St - Google Maps
13 E Pioneer St
3/15/2020
Stehl Corp - Google Maps
Stehl Corp
metal exterior warehouse style structure
Image capture: Apr 2019
© 2020 Google
Phoenix, Arizona Google Street View
3/15/2020
2706 E Chambers St - Google Maps
2706 E Chambers St https://www.google.com/maps/@33.4174681,-112.0729515,3a,90y,144.24h,88.94t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s76NZ-K0mYoUUnvBwze3goA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
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metal exterior warehouse style structure Image capture: May 2019
Images may be subject to copyright.
Andrei Petrov Photo - May 2019
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.4161367,-112.0706982,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipPHx8waLEqDrW-CAPe7WDaCvUWhdImlt6CmVSHF!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleuserc…
pre-cast concrete/wood stud structure
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Indoor space with outdoor display Max. building height 56 ft Setback: 30 ft all sides
Construction: Pre-cast concrete structure Steel column construction Aluminium metal exterior
Landscape: Located along pedestrian walk of minimum 15 feet wide. It is a combination of sidewalk. The planter should be 7.5 ft wide at parking corner.
56 ft
construction: pre-cast concrete tilt up
_ANTITHESIS
_SITE
SONORAN DESERT AND ITS HABITAT The Sonoran Desert covers approximately 100,000 square miles and includes much of Arizona and California along with the state of Sonora in Mexico. The visually dominant elements of the landscape are from two elements� legume trees and large columnar cacti. The desert also consists of around 2000 species of plants, 550 species of vertebrate, and unknown thousands of invertebrate species. The main keystone species in the Sonoran Desert consist of the Ironwood trees, Saguaro Cactus, Triangular leaf bursage, Kangaroo Rat, Hummingbird and Beavers. Various desert species largely depend on these keystone species for shelter and food. For instance, Kangaroo rats cut down grasses and eat seeds on the ground to help maintain a balanced habitat for the other species. Their houses can change its form according to the climate for better air circulation and protection for predators. This trait help protect other small animals in the desert.
The desert ecosystem have many inter-connectivities which are mutual or parasitical to help them survive the heat and overcome the low water availability of the land. Saguaro cactus acts similarly where its leave are forms in the shape of thorn to reduce water evaporating and also acts as a shading device for its body. But for the small cacti to survive, they always try to reside under a nurse tree which give them nutrients and an amiable temperate to survive the hot waves of summer. In conclusion, the desert organisms live in a highly cohabited manner where the keystone species somehow act the main mother species to make way for the other species to use its resources and its strategies. Ultimately the keystone species maintain balance in the ecosystem by restraining growth of particular species or flourishing another specie. Eradication of such an important specie can create imbalance in their food cycle which will take years to come to normal.
SOUTH PHOENIX
local market South Phoenix is currenty a land with great potential in accessing the best of the Sonoran desert along with the advancement of the urbanscape. This portion of Phoenix was not well developed during the 19th century after the establishment of the southern railroads. This restricted the quality of services and infrastructure in the land failing to mirror the developement of Downtown Phoenix along the same time. The settlement of South Phoenix is well-scattered along the land which can provide propective planing towards a synanthropic environment.
_SITE
housing
ECOLOGICAL PARAMETERS These parameter help in deciding the design conditions required in enhancing the already constructed infrastructure in place. By combining the ecological corridors, mountain elevation and green spaces it is possible to strategically possible urban redesign that can be achieved through mild infrastructure changes.
_SITE
mountain elevation
existing ecological corridors
existing green spaces
natural and man-made parameters combined
MAN-MADE PARAMETERS These conditions create the possible extent and scope of development for the project. It shows the possibility to use the exiting canal which are at use or abandoned canal as prospective wildlife or nature corridors to increase the interaction between the different species.
_SITE
parks, lawns and golf courses
hohokam canals
SRP canal system
unified diagram
CONTEXT PARAMETER The adjacent diagrams convey the ecological parameters that are considered for design. These graphics shows from the left upper corner anticlockwise, (a) site context , (b) ecological corridors, (c) Bird sighting, (d) Landuse of South Phoenix.
Legend Residential Commercial Green space Industrial Private green space
SOUTH PHOENIX
PRE-REQUISITES The factors in the diagram shows the three requisites that are required to provide design solutions. These pre-requisites take into account the site different, the building type and the strategies that can be designed from the past geography and present ecological species in the land.
_SYNTHESIS
Typology
+
Strategies
Keystone species Framework
+
Site border condition
=
Design solutions
STRATEGY FOR SPECIES INCLUSIVE DESIGN Connecting all the typologies to the hotspot strip going through the city’s abandoned canals and underground through pervious paving along the city,
_SYNTHESIS
pervious pavers hotspot strip catchment flowing towards the salt river
METHODOLOGY The diagram seen to the side was the process formed to create a sequence to the possible process to design architecture with Biomimicry
_SYNTHESIS
Site Analysis Past ecology existence of the site
Anti-thesis
Thesis
Building standards of the city
Study organisms of the existing ecosystem in the site
Landuse and ecology study of the urban site
City’s vision development
Functions of keystone species
Functions derived from the community and land geographical history
Context study
Grid of possible strategies : Functions vs Building typologies
Grid of possible strategies : Functions vs Urban space interactions
Demonstrate on specific site conditions
Industrial Commercial Residential
Corrugated roof facade.
Facade cooling with water pipe infill which can cool the building from beneath.
Create water flow through the form of the structure from of to Earth.
Shade from sunlight and dust through layered filtration in open space.
S.C.A projec the pr of the regul
Forced precipitation Counter shading technique. with its own building elements.
Water collection
_SYNTHESIS
Creating shelter parks for the native species at the river banks the junctions of inter-city green paths. Creating outdoor playfulness with neighbourhood urban farming.
Shade
Local farming
In
Function vs Typology Grid 1 Hotspots and species rejuvenation.
A.L.E.S ct using rinciples ermallation.
Snail’s skin concept for air permeable water proof roof and wall connections.
nsulation
Ventilation
Co-habitation with animals and birds beside the salt river.
Neighbourhood collaboration initiative with local farming and accessible open spaces during summer. Unit to unit modular which is responsive to creating microclimate yards.
Commensalism
Collaboration
Keystone framework: Residential
_SYNTHESIS
Activating abandoned water canals
USE OF NEGATIVE SPACES
Revaluating water pipes
Forced precipitation Counter shading
TECHNIQUES
Mesquite & Riparian habitat
Microclimate between units
USER GROUPS
UNIT TO UNIT ARRANGEMENT
Keystone framework: Retail strip malls
_SYNTHESIS
Keystone framework: Industrial
_SYNTHESIS
Building - Building Grid 2
_SYNTHESIS
Lo l ca
retail strip mall
s
m
ar
Local produce Block recreational
nf
ba
ur
Community security Water Waste management
Service Shaded area Water retention zone Energy (solar power) Water collection for the block industrial
housing
Building - Water source Grid 2
_SYNTHESIS
water source
riv er lt
Sa
Soil moisture retention Microclimating
em
t ys
ls
industrial
na
Housing river bank wildlife Microclimating
Ca
Roof water collection
Roof water collection Habitat enrichment
housing
Building - South Mountain Grid 2
_SYNTHESIS
em
t ys
ls
na
Ca
south mountain
Potential food and water source for wildlife
housing
SITES SELECTED The sites are selected by acknowledging the site boundaries and the landuse of the South Phoenix. The sites are either adjacent to another landuse plot or an existing canal. The idea is to design generously with the existing structures in place which would help create a smooth flow of natural habitat city which will be habitable by both humans and migratory birds.
_DEMONSTRATION
1 2 3
4
5 Legend Residential Commercial Green space Industrial Private green space
Site condition 1 Design Strategies
Site Assessment Building to Building Residential
Microclimate Water collection through precipitation Evaporative cooling Hotspot path for birds Urban vegetation Self shading Roof and wall ventilation
_DEMONSTRATION
Site condition 2 Design Strategies Site Assessment Building to Building Building to Water Commercial Residential
Microclimate Water collection through precipitation Local urban farm Potential hotspot canal zone
Thermalregulation Perforated shed Water collection
_DEMONSTRATION
Site condition 3 Design Strategies
Site Assessment Building to Building Building to Water Commercial
Microclimating and vegetation shed through layered shading
Local urban farm potential with water face parks
Thermalregulation Stacking floors for more green space Potential vegetation hotspot gathering
_DEMONSTRATION
Site condition 4 Design Strategies
Site Assessment Building to Building Industrial Residential
Use of water collected to go through the building to cool the structure during summer. Potential hotspot canal zone
Ventilation Water pipe cooling
_DEMONSTRATION
Site condition 5 Design Strategies
Site Assessment Building to Building Residential
Use of water collected to go through the building to cool the structure during summer. Potential hotspot canal zone
Ventilation Water pipe cooling
_DEMONSTRATION
COMMON STRATEGIES
_DEMONSTRATION
ro hyd cs
obi ph ace urf
Regular building mass
Atrium - Heat
Forced precipitation - Water collection
Raised roof - Ventilation
Roof venation - Water collection
Green Shed - Shade
Porous walls - Ventilation
second floor plan
first floor plan
floor plan
First floor plan
Second floor plan
SUBURBAN SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE
_DEMONSTRATION
road
road
INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE
_DEMONSTRATION
local farm parking
retail shop
local farm
retail shop
retail shop
parking
site plan
RETAIL STRIP MALL
_DEMONSTRATION
green shed
CITY VISION
_DEMONSTRATION
e broadway rd
central ave
URBAN CONTEXT
_DEMONSTRATION
salt river
south mountain
During the process of discovering the methodology, I discovered various factors that are considered towards the planning in both microscopic and macroscopic. It was seen that the use of keystone species functions towards infrastructure is not a far-fetched idea. It does changes and brings out a different design process which is more informed of the climate and the nature around. During the design process, readily available materials and present technology were considered to make sure the design solutions were not implausible. The thesis heavily worked on generating an approach towards Biomimicry in Architecture. It also contains various initial strategy ideas that are possible to be incorporated in the present desert typology. While the thesis was procedure heavy, the next step to this journey would be to design details to the strategy and discovering the science behind it. The thesis may have pictured a possible synanthropic vision. It still lacks various sections of design which can holistically incorporate and provide to the neighboring species. In conclusion, it is seen that hypothesis of the amalgamation of other species with human species is certainly a future that have been researched on and maybe a different biomimetic approach might help in taking a step towards this discovery.
_CONCLUSION
The process of design and the ideology of the thesis certainly brought up the conversation about the change of urbanscape designing within cities and possible policy changes that can incur a more holistic sustainability approach. The study should consider the possibility to working with hard and soft boundaries around the city and the possible travel routes for the wildlife within the city to maintain the hotspot strips and corridors. It should also consider to provide towards human health and in studying the possibility of how flora and fauna can help incorporate the human value within the cityscape through design.
This study would not be possible without the enriched Sonora habitat that have inculcate a deeper and genuine appreciation for the desert that I never thought was possible. I would like to thank Phil Horton, my faculty advisor, Michelle Fehler and Adelheid Fischer, my committee members who have advised and taught me throught out the process. I would also like to thank all the professionals and fellow biomimics who have helped me throughout the thesis who took time to meet up with me and helped.
_THANK YOU NOTE
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