Final process book by Timothy Knapp

URBAN AGRICULTURE_EVOLVING THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT

Philadelphia University_School of Architecture_Thesis _Fall 2012- Spring 2013_Tim Knapp

THESIS ABSTRACT The issue we face in a majority of our cities today is a lack of food production within the cities ecosystem. When a cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population overgrows its bounds it requires resources from outside of its immediate ecosystem. More specifically food resources are required to sustain the dense population in cities where barely any food is being produced; because of this, transportation costs and pollution are produced, and land that was once natural forest is cut to be cultivated. By transforming our cities from linear base consumers of products and producers of waste into a closed loop system, which entails producing food inside of the city bounds, we can eliminate cost, pollution, and land use caused by transportation. Additional benefits are increase in quality of

food, air, water, and community. Many small community style farms have begun emerging in abandoned lots and on rooftops throughout cities as ways to produce food as well as income. However, Large scale farming is still largely only seen outside of our cities despite technologies and strategies that would allow them to be inserted within our cities ecosystem. Large scale farms can be set up almost anywhere within a city. By mimicking a natural ecosystem using oysters for water filtration, bees for pollination, sunlight and wind for energy production, coupled with human technology, like hydroponic growing stations a successful system for urban farming is formed and the pressure cities put on surrounding ecosystems is lessened.

THESIS ABSTRACT_TABLE OF CONTENTS_TOPIC PAPER_INVESTIGATIVE METHODS_SITE ANALYSIS_PROGRAM STUDY_THESIS OBJECTIVES_WORK CITED_PROCESS DOCUMENTATION_FINAL DESIGN DOCUMENTATION_CRITIQUE OF COMPLETED PROJECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS Urban Agriculture_Evolving the Urban Environment

I. Title Page

pg. 1

By_Timothy Knapp

II. Thesis Abstract

pg. 2

Thesis presented to the Faculty of the Department of Architecture College of Architecture and the Built Environment Philadelphia University

III. Table of Contents

pg.3

IV. Topic Paper

pgs. 4-11

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE

V. Investigative Methods

pgs.12-29

VI. Site Analysis

pgs. 30-39

Thesis Research Faculty

VII. Program Study

pgs. 40-45

Thesis Studio Instructor Susan FrostĂŠn

VIII. Thesis Objectives

pg. 46

IX. Works Cited

pgs. 47-49

X. Process Documentation

pgs. 50-66

XI. Final Design Documentation

pgs. 67-79

XII. Analysis/Critique of Completed Project

pgs. 80-81

Academic Advisor Edgar Stach Professional Advisor Mike Cronomiz Philadelphia, Pennsylvania May 2013

URBAN AGRICULTURE_EVOLVING THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT The sustainability of cities is a subject of utmost concern, as they are the areas of greatest human population per area. The rapid urbanization of our planet raises some concerns about sustainability in our cities (Andersson pg.1). Interestingly enough, cities have become an ecosystem in themselves; dominated by the human species and social/ cultural factors which inherently shape the systems environment (Grimm et al. 2000, Pickett et al. 2001, Elmqvist et al. 2004). As humans began to settle in areas creating small cities, they started the process of ecosystem change. As the human race thrived and cities grew, we began to reach the maximum population density and then quickly passed that mark. The human effect on the areas we occupied was a change in ecosystem structure. In most cases, cities became an entirely new ecosystem dominated by the human race, within the surrounding ecosystem. When the number and kind of species in an ecosystem changes, so too does the community composition (see, e.g., Holling 1973, Chapin et al. 1998,Rosenfeld 2002, Norberg 2004). When an ecosystem is comprised of a high number of species with similar ecological roles it often boosts the potential for community organization, which in turn makes the ecosystem

more resilient (Flores et al. 1998). In cities although the ecology of the species are usually similar, the number of species is often very low due to a lack of natural environment. This is not to say that a city is not a complex ecosystem in itself. In fact, the urban landscape can be seen as having quite a complex relationship being comprised of residential, commercial, industrial, government-institutional, educational, and left over green spaces; all of which to humans and a number of other species function as habitat (Andersson). Currently most city ecosystems have the fatal flaw of being consumers, which keeps the maximum population density down unless the city begins to pull resources from the surrounding areas. This paper will show how cities can change the trend of consumption, and turn their city ecosystem into a resource conserving, health improving, sustainable system which produces the food it needs to sustain itself. Much of the urban waste can be utilized in order to create urban agriculture, which will prevent cities from having to pull resources from outside their own ecosystem: coupled with sustainably designed buildings urban agriculture will improve living conditions within the community.

The City as an Ecosystem A functioning ecosystem is an integral and substantial part of any sustainable discourse. The city is in itself a functioning ecosystem and can be looked at like a landscape. Urbanization although often defined in different way, always has the same outcomes on the existing environment; change in water cycles due to runoff and hard scape, rise in air temperature, and change in ecological processes. The urban landscape is unique because it is dominated by the human species. The social and cultural factors play a large role in how the ecological processes of the environment change. As far as sustainability goes there is no such thing as a self sufficient sustainably city today. And there wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be unless cities are able to stop relying on outside resources (e.g., Folke etal. 1997, Rees 1997, 2003). The importance of learning from a healthy functioning ecosystem becomes even greater as cities and humans become further disconnected from there surrounding environment. By designing cities in ways that allow for interaction with natural environment, you can gain support for a more interactive city (Miller 2005). The benefits of designing cities to be more self sufficient can be broken formation, ecological memory, seed dispersal, pollination,

down into a few categories; ecosystem processes and functions (which increased biodiversity, habitat, soil and cycling of nutrients), cultural (recreation, enhancement of property value, community cohesion, source of knowledge), provisioning (e.g., food, water, fuel), and regulating (noise reduction, modulation of temperature, removal of air pollution, protection of water quality, etc.) services (Flores et al. 1998, Bolund and Hunhammar 1999, Jansson and Nohrstedt 2001, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005). The further cities are kept from a natural state, the more dependant they will be on outside resources and therefore will be in a constant state of environmental degradation. The ideas that have been put forth, lead to a design that will bring not just natural green space back into the city ecosystem, but agricultural systems into the city in order to cut the dependence on outside resources. Both indoor and outdoor gardening techniques can be deployed in order to provide food for inhabitants year round. By using spaces, like rooftops, abandoned lots and wasted space, the cities ecosystem quickly grows closer and less disconnected from its natural state.

Urban Agriculture Produces Self-Sustaining Cities With the collapse of the socialist block in 1989, Cuba was thrown into a economic slump without the support of international socialist support. One of the biggest issues was the lack of food, which had been supplied by the socialist party and was now nonexistent. Cuba’s reaction was to create a section of government whose main focus was on urban agriculture. The government relaxed zoning laws in order to allow unused urban spaced to be cultivated. Many residents began planting vegetables in open lots and on roves in order to provide food for their families. By relaxing some of their laws Cuba also allowed people to sell any excess food they had grown to support their community’s needs as well as increase their family’s income. In the time of need Cuba’s urban agricultural movement quickly surpassed the conventional urban gardening level and has grown into a major provider of produce for urban areas in Cuba (Companioniet al., 1997). Cubans have started to realize that urban agriculture is linked to and dependant on the urban population, and without the support and participation of them it will not succeed. In Havana there are roughly 5,000 popular gardens as they are called ranging in size from a few square meters to three hectares. In 1997 there were 26,604 urban farmers using these public plots in addition to the private gardens that had been set up. The land for the popular gardens is spread throughout the

city and consists mostly of unused plots. All the land can be obtained for no cost at all as long as it is used for cultivation purposes. Even privately owned land if not in use is able to be requested for cultivation, if the owner does not begin cultivating the land within 6 months the land can then be used by anyone who wishes to plant on it. Cuba’s urban gardens have managed to produce over half of the produce needs for their cities on a scale laid out by the UN. In Cuba the biggest obstacles have been irrigation and quality land use. Abundance of land will be a problem in any dense city, which is why hydroponic growing systems often make sense, these systems are also beneficial because they don’t waste any water and allow for maximization of growing space with no soil needed at all. However, every city has some open space; by using these spaces as urban gardens it increases the quality of life and community interaction, while decreasing the need for outside resources. The reuse of abandoned buildings as well as the incorporation of agriculture into newly designed buildings can help to influence the way urban populations begin to think about production of their food, and how they can produce it themselves.

Systems Architecture Systems architecture is a way of designing as a whole, thinking about comfort, health, practicality, and play all while designing sustainably. In 1987, ING commissioned architect Ton Alberts to design their new headquarters building in Amsterdam. The project brief stipulated that they wanted an “organic” building that would “integrate art, natural and local materials, sunlight, green plants, energy conservation, quiet, and water”—not to mention happy employees—and that it would “not cost one guilder more per square meter” than the market average. What they received was a building in which every office received natural light and air, the air systems are primarily passive and no conventional air conditioning systems are used. Indoor and outdoor gardens are irrigated with water collected from the roof which runs down artistic hand railings along the stairs allowing for the occupants to playfully run their hands through it as the move around the building. The health benefits of using natural systems cut down on absenteeism by 15 percent and increased workers productivity. The building was so popular amongst the employees that they began holding social events and parties there after the work day was over. The new banks energy efficient systems were so effective that they paid for themselves within three months of occupancy. Compared with a similar sized bank built at the same time in

Amsterdam, ING’s headquarters used 92 percent less energy and saved the company $2.9 million dollars per year. Ton Alberts took three years to complete the design for ING, this was primarily due to the high level of cross design and coordination between architect, engineers, landscape architect, and even the employees of the bank. Every aspect of the building was cross designed; the art work was described to the engineers in order for it to be multi functional as art and systems of the building. In the end the building functioned as a whole rather than many different system aspects. A broader version of systems design is seen in Village Homes in Davis, California designed by Michael and Judy Corbett in the 1970’s. Village Homes is a development that was designed with narrow streets, green belts planted with fruit trees, agricultural zones dispersed among the housing, natural surface drainage, solar orientation, and an abundance of open space. The natural surface drainage is a particularly interesting design choice to show how systems can be more efficient. By choosing to go with natural drainage swales instead of underground concrete drainage systems, the community saved $800 dollars per house, by allowing rain water to slowly soak into the ground instead

of being carted off into local waterways the community was also able to cut irrigation by 50 percent and prevent excess runoff. These drainage swales also act as pedestrian routs and bicycle circulation throughout the community. By using smaller tree lined streets and affording residents a greater amount of natural open space the design reduced the amount of heat being reradiated from paving. These features working with passive solar designs and site orientation were able to cut energy bills by half to two-thirds. Fruit and vegetables grown among the community in addition to helping feed the residents is also able to be sold to provide the money needed to maintain their community parkland. All of this is due to the use of natural surface swales being used instead of conventional drainage. The community of Village Homes has become so popular because of its design that houses rarely go on the market, when they do sell it is often by word of mouth. Houses in Village Homes sell on average at 11 dollars per square foot above the market average, because of the desirability of a healthy community and house system that works in unison with one another. What these two systems of architectural planning have in common is efficiency. Every aspect of the design from envelope, lighting, equipment, and materials are so efficient that little to no conventional heating and cooling

systems are required to maintain thermal comfort. Green systems architecture requires a high level of professional design cross pollination between architects, engineers, contractors, product manufactures and all other professions to complete their designs. When done correctly, however; construction cost drops and building performance increase. The economic benefits of well designed green system buildings extends throughout the life of the building, and although it may initially seem more expensive as architects become more accustomed to this style of design the cost premium quickly drops, and is offset by the savings in hardware and equipment that is no longer needed due to efficiency in lighting and passive heating and cool strategies. Systems architecture typically sells or leases faster, and holds onto tenants longer because of their superior comfort and lower operation cost. The building increased thermal, visual, and acoustic comfort create a less stressful, higher performance environment for workers and occupants. Increased air quality due to natural ventilation and better quality materials improve occupant health, which results in less absenteeism due to sickness. The EPA estimates that illness caused by building environmental quality costs our economy a minimum of $60 billion dollars a year. When Lockheed redesigned their buildings lighting strategy to save three-fourths of its energy cost they expected it to take four

The Aspects of Urban Farming years to recover the renovation cost, however; a 15 percent drop in absenteeism and a 15 percent increase in labor productivity paid for the cost in one year. The saving due to an efficient lighting strategy gave Lockheed an extra advantage in a tough competitive market, allowing them to secure major contract over their competitors. Buildings using systems architecture not only have energy saving advantages but, give advantages in occupant health and advantages in the business market. These advantages become ever more important to a struggling economy. By thinking about the examples that have been put forth previously in this paper we can begin to understand how a city can become a healthier ecosystem starting with individual buildings that function as part of their local community or block which in turn functions as part of the city as a whole. What I am proposing is a building that act as its own ecosystem, using well designed lighting, heating, cooling, water collection systems, gardens, and natural ventilation to create a system that not only is self reliant but gives back to its surrounding environment. Urban agriculture is something that is extremely lacking in most of the cities in this world therefore I would like to focus on this issue, and find an architectural system that will create agricultural centers within the city ecosystem. Hydroponic growing systems have become increasingly

popular as ways to grow produce where land availability is lacking, however; these systems still require water, which is already an issue of its own in the urban landscape. Water collection through existing roofing would provide much of the needed supply for irrigation, but some additional will still need to be supplied. Let us take the idea used in the Village Homes community where water is no longer put into storm drains and modify it slightly. If we capture this water from the storm drain system we can filter it and use it as irrigation water. By doing this we solve runoff issues that our causing major destruction to land quality as well as watershed qualities, giving both of these areas a chance to repair themselves. Storm drain water inherently will come out dirty and unusable for crops; in order for this water to be used, a filtration system will need to be set up. It is my belief that natural systems are the most efficient, so let us look at filters that already exist in the natural environment, oysters. An adult oyster is able to filter 50 gallons of water in a day, and at one point kept our bays healthy and clean until overfishing and disease decimated their population. Dr. Kate Orff of Columbia University teaches what she calls oyster-tecture. The idea revolves around oysters as a multifunctional and key piece of watershed and economic health. The reintroduction of oysters to the rivers and bays surrounding many of our cities will first off help water quality as oysters

are one of the greatest natural filters. Oysters pull water into their bodies and filter out algae, pollutants and other particles through their stomachs then release clean water back into their environment. Second by replenishing the population of oysters in our watersheds we will eventually be able to boost oyster sales, which was once a booming economy in many of our cities (Bradbury). By using a system of oyster filtration units not only would the urban farm produce clean water for irrigation and fish hatcheries, save excess water runoff in the city, but it also would be able to raise oysters to help repopulate are suffering watersheds. Healthier water means a healthier environment and healthier people. With clean water we can now produce clean food. There are a few benefits to producing produce within our cities, the elimination of transportation cost and pollution (our economy becomes less reliant on petroleum), an increase in food quality and nutrition due to the fact that vegetables no longer need to be genetically engineered to last for long transportation periods; as well as additional economic growth within cities. Bright Farms CEO Paul Lightfoot has been working with the model hydroponic farming amongst the city for exactly the reasons listed above. He believes and has proved through the construction of many roof top hydroponic gardens either directly on top of or adjacent to supermarket distribution centers or supermarkets themselves, that urban

farming produces a product that is cheaper, better for you, and much more delicious (Vinnitskaya). Ommega Gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s has developed a hydroponic growing system which revolves plants around a central lighting system. They claim that the rotational system produces three to five times more plant weight than the traditional flat system. Rotating the plants around the bulb allows for every plant to be an even distance from the light source. What is even more interesting though, is that when the plants or continuously rotated the Auxins within a plant are evenly distributed allowing the plant to grow larger and stronger (Alter). What the city receives in addition to good food without the downside of transportation is added green space. Although hydroponic growing systems are primarily indoors so that they can function year round they still are helping to filter the air of the city as it is pulled into the building and then pushed back out. As food is used there is inherently waste product created (small parts of the food that do not get used). The way our cities work today is an open loop system, where food is shipped in and waste is shipped out to dumps. When the food is grown it depletes the nutrients in the soil, which if not replaced eventually degrade the earth and make it more difficult to grow new food. In a closed loop system food waste can be collected and composted creating a nutrient rich soil product that can be used to grow new produce in

(Smit and Nasr, pg. 143). The idea of a closed loop system is a critical idea for how a city should function, and is what urban agriculture itself tries to aid by eliminating the reliance on outside food resources. Although pollination may seem to be a small part of farming it is crucial to the process. There are artificial ways to pollinate, but why use them when honey bees can do the same job naturally while producing honey to be sold.

The Whole System

All of these aspects work together to form a closed loop system which instead of degrading the surrounding environment is actually helping to clean it up and heal previous damages. Clean water that no longer runs off directly into streams and rivers causing soil erosion, air qualities improves because of additional green plant filtration, less pollution due to the cut of transportation, improving soil conditions brought on by composting, and an improving economy because of cheaper fresher produce and eventual repopulation of oysters. Now one building cannot solve a cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s problems alone, but when this process of building is applied throughout a city it will have an effect on

the ecosystem. Architecture must make a stand; people spend90 percent of their lives indoors. Buildings make up one-third of our total energy use and two-thirds of our total electrical use. The construction process uses one-fourth of all wood harvested and 3 billion tons of materials each year. The way buildings are designed and constructed today is often careless and unthought out, which leads to low returns, high performance costs, and poor occupant health. By employing smart planning and integrating all professions into the design process Systems architecture can help to change the way we live and become a standard way of designing and building. When buildings are held to a higher standard, and when health, energy, and comfort become a way of building. We will better our way of living, and in doing so give our environment the break it needs.

INVESTIGATIVE METHODS

CITY ECOSYSTEM

Most cities have become reliant on outside resources in order to sustain the population that resides within its bounds. This creates an open loop system in which we use outside resources and produce only waste.

HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM

A healthy ecosystem is able to work as a closed loop system to produce the resources that it needs within its boundaries. Plants provided food and oxygen; herbivores keep the plant growth under control and provided food for carnivores. The waste from animals returns into the ecosystem and the cycle continues.

VISUAL PLAY

HISTORY OF FARMING IN AMERICA Translates to midwest growth (13% population related to production)

Commercial crops spread to east coast (90% population related to production)

Survival and growth (100% population related to production)

1600’s

Industry drives north while farms compose south (55% population related to production)

1700’s

1850’s

1930’s

Urban based farming (3% population related to production)

2000’s

-Ganzel, Bill. “Cropping Patterns.” Living History Farm. 2007. Web. 6 Sept. 2011 <http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe50s/crops_04.html>.

ENERGY CONSUMPTION

-Food Networks 2. Philadelphia: College of Architecture and the Built Environment Philadelphia University, 2011. -Canning, Patrick, Ainsley Charles, Sonya Huang, Karen R. Polenske, and Arnold Waters. Energy Use is the U.S. Food System. Rep. USDA, Mar. 2010. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR94/ERR94.pdf. -“Fuel for Food: Energy use in the U.S. Food System- Amber Waves, Sep. 2010, Feature.” USDA Economics Research Service – Home Page. Web. 12. Dec.4

ENERGY CONSUMPTION DURING TRANSPORTATION

-Food Networks 2. Philadelphia: College of Architecture and the Built Environment Philadelphia University, 2011. -Cuellar, Amanda D., and Michael E. Webber. “Wasted Food, Wasted Energy: The Embedded Energy in Food Waste in the United States.” Environmental Science and Technology. 21 July 2012. Web 12. Dec. 2012. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC2922696/. -Hill, Holly. “Food Miles: Background and Marketing.” ATTRA. 2008. Web. 12. Dec. 2012. http://kirikiva.com/PDF/Foodmiles.pdf. -Rodrigue, John-Paul. “Transportation and Economic Development.” Department of global Studies and Geography, 2011. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch7en/conc7en/ch7c1en.html.

CLOSED LOOP SYSTEM A number of organizations have created industrial networks that mimic natural systems and, by doing so, radically increase the amount of useful outputs from the same inputs. Early examples- such as Kalundborg, an industrial complex in Denmark involving the co-location of a power plant, chemical works and other processes - have been superseded by schemes in which all the core elements are compatible with natural systems. The civil engineer George Chan pioneered and eco-system approach in the development of a sorguhum brewery in Tsumeb, Namibia, which promised to deliver “Good Beer, no pollution, more sales, and more jobs”. Breweries conventionally use large quantities of water and grains, of which only a fraction remains in the finished products. Often alkaline waste water and grains, which contains low level of biological contamination, undergoes expensive chemical treatment before disposal and the spent grains are given away as cattle feed. The latter outcome is far from ideal because the grains are too fibrous and this results in the cattle producing more methane, which is one of the most potent greenhouse gases. Chan approached both of these problems as opportunities for adding elements to the system

that created more value from exactly the same inputs. Chan’s solution was that the waste water would be used for cultivating the alga Spirulina, rich in protein and micronutrients and therefore effective at combating malnutrition. After this process, the water was used for fish farming to produce further sources of protein. Through the creation of large water bodies with diversity of aquatic life, the normal processes cycle was closed and that the secondary benefits of recharging groundwater were achieved. The spent grains were an ideal substrate for growing mushrooms, as up to one ton of fungi can be produced from four tons of grain. After mushroom cultivation, the substrate, rich in fungal mycelium is then more suitable as animal feed or earthworm composting. The earthworms were used to feed chickens and the manure went to an anaerobic digester, which produced gas for the brewery and the local people to reduce demand for wood. The end result was a system that produced 12 products instead of just one; seven times as much food, fuel and fertilizer; four times as many jobs as a conventional approach and a fraction of the waste.

Michael Pawlyn, Biomimicry in Architecture, (London: Riba Publishing, 2011), 56-57.

AGROPOLIS

In Munich, as in many other German cities, there has been a growing demand for urban vegetable gardens from the population in recent years. In 1999 a network of exchanges and relations between farmers and city dwellers was set up that allowed people to rent small cultivable allotments close to built-up areas or to pay a membership fee that allowed them to pick fresh produce directly from a number of vegetable gardens on the outskirts of the city. In 2002 a series of public initiatives were launched with the aim of encouraging the spread of these practices and involving the local population, including festivals and guided tours, such as the Day of the Regions and BUGA 05, and themed routes like the 170-km cycle track that runs all the way round the city, connecting different farming communities. Since 2009, after winning the Open Scale competition held by the municipality for the identification of new strategies of urban development, Agropolis, an interdisciplinary group made

up of architects, city planners, landscape designers, sociologists, engineers and agronomists, has been working on a project to reintroduce and strengthen the role of agriculture in the metropolitan region. The group has proposed the district of Freiham, an area to the west of Munich affected by a massive construction scheme, as a pilot site for experimentation with a system of compensation that envisages the creation of temporary vegetable gardens on plots of land that will be built on in the next thirty years. Through the installation of vegetable gardens, restaurants and temporary farms, small commercial undertakings and other social and agricultural catalysts, the project is intended to trigger a series of mechanisms capable of surviving the temporary nature of the structures and redefining the relations between urban development and agriculture within city boundaries.

BRIGHT FARMS

The challenge is to create a model that ensures quality while keeping costs down and BrightFarms appears to have found a strategy that works: hydroponic rooftop gardening near supermarket distribution centers or local markets. The newly renamed Federal Plaza #2, soon to be known as Liberty View Industrial Plaza to be developed by Salmar Properties, in Brooklyn, NY is set to be the world’s largest rooftop garden which will reportedly grow “1 million pounds of local produce per year, including tomatoes, lettuces and herbs”. Aside from providing goods that are fresher and more nutritious, BrightFarms hydroponic system also

reduces carbon output drammatically. Hydroponic farming delivers nutrients to plants directly through the water without soil. These systems can be trays or columns made of PVC that expose the roots to the nutrient and mineral filled water. No soil means no land use and no heavy, gas-guzzling equipment. The water in the system can be reused, There is greater control of the nutrients which means reduced waste and the water stays in the system and can be reused which greatly reduces the agricultural runoff. It also consolidates space, which makes maintenance and harvesting much easier.

-Vinnitskaya, Irina. “ArchDaily: The World’s Most Visited Website for Architects.” ArchDaily. ArchDaily, 10 Apr. 2012. Web. 21 Aug. 2012. http://www.archdaily.com/224513/largest-rooftop-farm-by-brightfarms-coming-to-brooklyn-ny/.

SPRING GARDENS_FAIRMOUNT 1833 WALLACE ST

The Spring Gardens, located just north of Center City Philadelphia, allows 180 neighborhood families to come together, garden, and voluntarily maintain an entire block of open green space. The Spring Gardens is a valuable asset to not only the neighborhood, but the city as a whole. It provides open space, clean air, and is a welcoming gathering place to the 180 diverse families who garden there. Occupying an entire city block, the Gardens also give back to the larger community by retaining excess storm water and growing fresh produce for food cupboards. By educating local school children about the wonders of nature, the Gardens help involve young people in the greening movement. Converted from an abandoned lot in 1995, the Gardens are currently managed by a volunteer Steering Committee of neighborhood gardeners. The Steering Committee, which meets monthly, oversees planning, project implementation, fund-raising, and policy making. All gardeners contribute to the Gardensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; maintenance, including general weeding, planting, mowing, and carpentry. Membership meetings, garden events, and dinners occur regularly. The landscape of this community space enhances the area with its plentiful trees, bamboo grove, and large open space for picnics and gatherings. Because of its beauty, the Gardens routinely earn recognition from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s City Gardens Contest. PHS also supports The Spring Gardens through its urban greening initiative, Philadelphia Green. Local elected leaders, restaurants, and other businesses, also strongly endorse the garden.

Urban Farming Urban agriculture promotes energy-saving local food production–an important sustainable practice. In addition to enabling gardeners to grow their own fresh produce, it also addresses issues of food security and food safety by providing nutritious fruits and vegetables to low-income city residents through the PHS City Harvest program. On a strictly volunteer basis, the gardeners contribute by leading seminars on gardening, harvesting, and food preparation, in addition to growing a considerable amount of produce for the program’s recipients. Community The Spring Gardens and the community have grown alongside each other. Started by community members in 1995, the formerly vacant lot is a popular destination open to all Spring Garden residents. It operates entirely on volunteer labor and donated resources. Since the beginning, the community’s control and oversight have never wavered, enabling the Gardens to grow and prosper. It has become a resource to the community, providing a beautiful, peaceful environment for families, friends, and gardeners to gather. Green Space Clean air, water filtration, and greenery have fostered a return of natural habitat to the site, including migrating and local birds. The Gardens’ innovative landscape design and signature wroughtiron fence maximizes the growing potential while allowing for meeting and relaxation in a natural, open space that enhances the community’s ecology. This healthy environment is a green oasis in a bustling city.

FOOD MILES

-Food Networks 2. Philadelphia: College of Architecture and the Built Environment Philadelphia University, 2011.

NO TRANSPORTATION COST OR POLLUTION

FOOD WASTE

COMPOST TO REPLENISH SOIL

RESTAURANTS

MARKET

LOCAL DISTRIBUTION

HEALTHIER FRESHER PRODUCE

URBAN FARMING HYDROPONIC GROWING USE OF WATER FROM STORM SEWERS LESS DAMAGE FROM RUNOFF

CLEAN IRRIGATION WATER WATER FILTRATION USING OYSTERS

RAISING OYSTERS TO REPLENISH RIVERS AND BAYS

CLEAN HEALTHY WATERSHED

OYSTER FISHING

OMEGA GARDEN HYDROPONIC SYSTEM We often wonder about the benefits of indoor hydroponic gardening, given that the sun is free. After all, Illegal hydroponic installations are often discovered by their abnormally high electricity use. Last month Sami introduced us to the Omega Garden system; looking at it a bit more closely I wonder, can it make high tech urban gardening economically feasible and actually more energy efficient than growing outdoors? But Vancouver based Omega Garden’s Carousel system rotates the plants around the bulb. They claim that it yields three to five times the weight of plant per watt of electricity used, compared to conventional flat systems. Their commercial carousel system produces as much as a 1500 square foot greenhouse in only 150 square feet, and their LED system just sips electricity. They claim a lot of advantages; the light is always even and exactly the same distance from every plant, at a close enough distance to get maximum light efficiency. They even provide case studies: For basil, using Fluorescent light took 3.7 kWh to grow a pound; with LEDs, a tenth that at .0.38 kWh. But growing outside uses none, how do you justify this?

-Alter, llyod. “Omega Hydroponic Garden Gets Five Times As Much Food Per Watt .” Treehugger (blog), September 14, 2009. http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/omega-hydroponic-garden-gets-five-times-as-much-food-per-watt.html (accessed November 02, 2012).

Using green power sources coupled with local consumption of the goods produced, would generate close to zero fossil fuel inputs compared to the present system of production with farm tractors, pesticides, a 1500 mile farm to market transportation statistic per food shelf item, along with packaging, refrigeration, etc., all of which are heavily dependent on fossil fuel inputs. They also claim that it reduces water consumption by 99% and eliminates runoff. But the most interesting claim is that the rotation of the plants actually increases the yield significantly: Geotropism relates to the effect of gravity on plant growth hormones called Auxins. Omega Garden discovered that if plants are continually rotated horizontally top to bottom these Auxins are evenly distributed throughout the plant aiding in plant growth and strength. The distribution of Auxins due to plant rotation increases plant growth rates by several times that of a stationary plant assuming that all other factors are equal. This phenomenon has been termed “Orbitropism” by Omega Garden Int.

OYSTER FILTRATION Oysters: Food, Filters, Fish Habitat For more than 100 years, Chesapeake Bay water men have made their living harvesting oysters for resale to restaurants and seafood wholesale companies. Until the mid-1980s, oystering was the most valuable commercial fishery in the Bay. After the oyster stocks crashed, crabbing became the most lucrative fishery. Today, even crab stocks are declining. Oysters also have tremendous ecological value, which may be the most important benefit they provide. Filters Oysters purify the Chesapeake Bay as they filter the water for their food. An adult oyster can filter as much as 50 gallons of water a day. Sediment and nitrogen cause problems in Bay waters. Oysters filter these pollutants either by consuming them or shaping them into small packets, which are deposited on the bottom where they are not harmful. The oysters in the Bay could once filter a volume of water equal to that of the entire Bay (about 19 trillion gallons) in a week. Today, it would take the remaining Bay oysters more than a year.

CGIS Home, “Oyster Fact Sheet.” Accessed October 24, 2012. http://cgis.hbg.psu.edu/CHC/documents/resources-1/CBF oyster facts.pdf.

Fish Habitat Anyone who fishes the Bay knows that oyster reefs are among the best places to fish because they are teeming with life that attract large predator fish, such as striped bass and sea trout. The hard surfaces of oyster shells and the nooks between the shells provide places where small marine animals live. The packets of sediment that oysters deposit on the bottom provide food. Hundreds of animals use oyster bars: grass shrimp, amphipods, bryozoans, anemones, barnacles, oyster drills, hooked mussels, mud crabs, and red beard sponge, to name a few. Many of these serve as food for larger animals including striped bass, weakfish, black drum, croakers, and blue crabs. Fading Away? During the twentieth century, oysters were the most harvested animals in the Bay. This harvest pressure, combined with loss of reef habitat, pollution, and disease, have resulted in their decline. Bay oysters used to grow in tall reefs that were much better for the Bay than today’s flat oyster beds. The reefs were elevated, which kept oysters above the silty bottom and exposed them to food-rich currents above. The healthy oyster reefs of 100 years ago were so large that they were considered navigational hazards. Reefs provided far more nooks and crannies for creatures to hide in than today’s flatter beds.

Bradbury, Michael. Real Science, “Real Science.” Last modified 08/28/2012. Accessed October 22, 2012. http://www.realscience.us/2012/08/28/oysters-help-filter- pollution-in-new-york-rivers/. CGIS Home, “Oyster Fact Sheet.” Accessed October 24, 2012. http://cgis.hbg.psu.edu/CHC/documents/resources-1/CBF oyster facts.pdf.

SITE ANALYSIS

POPULATION DENSITY

-United States Census Bureau, “United States Census 2012 Interactive Population Map.” Last modified 2010. Accessed November 11, 2012. http://2010.census.gov/2010census/popmap/.

INDUSTRIAL REUSE AREAS

-Philadelphia City Planning Commission. “City Wide Vision: Philadelphia 2035.” William Penn Foundation to the Fund for Philadelphia, Inc. Philadelphia, PA. June 2011. 12. Dec. 2012. http://phila2035.org/home-page/city/

URBAN RENEWAL

COMMUNITY GARDENS & FARMERS MARKETS

SUPER MARKET LOCATION

HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS

Philadelphia City Planning Commission. “City Wide Vision: Philadelphia 2035.” William Penn Foundation to the Fund for Philadelphia, Inc. Philadelphia, PA. June 2011. 12. Dec. 2012. http://phila2035.org/home-page/city/

BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES

HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS

NORTHER LIBERTIES

8th & MARKET

PENN’S LANDING PHILADELPHIA GAS WORKS

NAVY YARD

BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES I-2 General Industrial district is to accommodate moderate-impact manufacturing, wholesaling, warehousing and distribution uses, including storage and work-related activities that occur outside of enclosed buildings.

CMX-3 Community Commercial Mixed-use district is primarily intended to accommodate community- and region-serving retail and service uses. The range of allowed uses is broader and floor area limits are relaxed compared to the CMX-1 and CMX-2 districts.

Super CMX-5 actually describes a mapped area of Center City and University City in which any parcel zoned CMX-5 is entitled to a higher base Floor Area Ratio and more bonus FAR than CMX-5 parcels outside the mapped area. I-3 Heavy Industrial district is to accommodate intensive, high-impact manufacturing and industrial uses.

-City of Philadelphia, “Interactive Zoning Map.” Last modified 2012. Accessed November 11, 2012. http://www.phila.gov/Map.

PROGRAM STUDY

HYDROPONIC

ORCHARD

PRODUCT GROWING AREAS

COMMUNITY GARDEN

CLEAN WATER

URBAN FARM MARKET PUBLIC ACCESS

WATER FILTRATION OYSTERS

RESTAURANT HOTEL

REPLENISH BAY POPULATION

FOOD WASTE THESIS ABSTRACT_TABLE OF CONTENTS_TOPIC PAPER_INVESTIGATIVE METHODS_SITE ANALYSIS_PROGRAM STUDY_THESIS OBJECTIVES_WORK CITED_PROCESS DOCUMENTATION_FINAL DESIGN DOCUMENTATION_CRITIQUE OF COMPLETED PROJECT

GROWING AREAS Hydroponic & aquaponic growing systems provide a large quantity of fresh quality produce. Growing produce locally, allows for quality produce to be distributed to local markets and restaurants.

Orchards within the city help to provide local fresh fruit while also improving air quality and preventing soil erosion.

Community gardens provide space for the public to grow their own food as well as become more aware of the benefits of farming within the city environment.

-“Aquaponics and Hydroponics.” : Growing Salad Vegetables in Aquaponic Systems. October 5, 2011. Accessed May 07, 2013. http://hydro-aq.blogspot.com/2011/10/growing-salad-vegetables-in-aquaponic.html. -Mason. “Food on Mars.” Mars 2012. July 21, 2012. Accessed May 07, 2013. http://mars2012.chancestoriestold.com/?p=362.

HYDROPONIC vs. CONVENTIONAL Omega Gardens rotating technology produces 3-5 times the growth sized in the same amount of time as outdoor growing does. In 150 square feet outdoor growing produces 50 heads of lettuce. Omega gardens produces 500 heads in the same amount of square feet.

OUTDOOR

HYDROPONIC

50 HEADS

500 HEADS

When you add these two factors together Omega gardens produces 30-50 more heads of lettuce per square foot then outdoor gardening does.

- -

Alter, llyod. “Omega Hydroponic Garden Gets Five Times As Much Food Per Watt .” Treehugger (blog), September 14, 2009. http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/omega-hydroponic-garden-gets-five-times-as-much-food-per-watt.html (accessed November 02, 2012). Sanders, Douglas C. NC State University, “Lettuce Production.” Accessed December 12, 2012. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/hil/hil-11.html.

WATER FILTRATION

Creeks form in the valleys between rideges

Some creeks are no longer visible because they have been enclosed in pipes and integrated into the sewer system.

By using water that would normal go into the city sewer system the farm can alleviate some of the stress on both the city and the rivers which it usually ends up in. Using oysters within the farm system serves multiple functions. By raising oysters as part of the farm system, we are growing a resource that can replenish the decimated populations within the rivers and bays, while also using them as a filtration system for irrigation.

- -

Boating Local, “Oyster Farms Proposed to Clean Up Northport, NY.” Last modified 2012. Accessed Novemver 11, 2012. http://boatinglocal.com/news/oyster-farms-proposed-to-clean-up-northport-ny.html. Philadelphia Water department, “Your Watershed.” Last modified 2012. Accessed November 02, 2012. http://www.phillywatersheds.org/your_watershed.

PROGRAM TYPES Using a hotel as the program to infuse into an urban farm works on a few levels. A hotel will naturally be an extra source of income. In addition to this it is also generating a constant stream of occupants who have the chance to experience what it is to live a healthy lifestyle in a healthy building.

- -

By integrating a restaurant into the project not only does create a public place for people to enjoy, but it gives a venue for the produce to be showcased. A restaurant also adds additional revenue to the project and helps to complete the closed loop system.

“12 Examples of Theoretical Architecture.” Color Coat. (2011). http://www.colorcoat-online.com/blog/index.php/2011/01/12-examples-of-theoretical-architecture/ (accessed November 18, 2012). JG Domestic, “10Best.” Last modified 2012. Accessed December 11, 2012. http://www.10best.com/destinations/pennsylvania/philadelphia/center-city/restaurants/jg-domestic/.

CLOSED LOOP SYSTEM_Creating a closed loop system with an urban farm as a focal point. REJUVINATING THE WATERFRONT_By using abandoned areas along the waterfront it will allow the city to reclaim their disconnected waterfront. CITY WIDE CHANGE_Creating a system which is economically beneficial while also informing the public of healthier and more earth friendly way of living.

WORK CITED - “12 Examples of Theoretical Architecture.” Color Coat. (2011). http://www.colorcoat-online.com/blog/index.php/2011/01/12-examples-of-theoretical-architecture/(accessed November 18, 2012). - Alter, llyod. “Omega Hydroponic Garden Gets Five Times As Much Food Per Watt .” Treehugger (blog), September 14, 2009. http://www.treehug ger.com/green-food/omega-hydroponic-garden-gets-five-times-as-much-food-per-watt.html.(accessed November 02, 2012). - Altieri, Miguel A., Nelso Companioni, Kristina Cañizares, Catherine Murphy, Peter Rosset, Martin Bourque, and Clara I. Nicholls. “The greening of the “barrios”: Urban agriculture for food security in Cuba.” Agriculture and Human Values. 16. (1999): 131-140. - Boating Local, “Oyster Farms Proposed to Clean Up Northport, NY.” Last modified 2012. Accessed Novemver 11, 2012. http://boatinglocal.com/news/oyster-farms-proposed-to-clean-up-northport-ny.html. - Bolund, P., and S. Hunhammar. 1999. Ecosystem services in urban areas. Ecological Economics 29:293–301.Campanioni, N. (1996). “El Huerto Intensivo en la Agricultura Urbana de Cuba,” in Seminario Taller Regional “La Agricultura Urbana y el Desarrollo Rural Sostenible” (pp. 39–48), FIDA-CIARA-MINGAG. - Canning, Patrick, Ainsley Charles, Sonya Huang, Karen R. Polenske, and Arnold Waters. Energy Use is the U.S. Food System. Rep. USDA, Mar. 2010. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR94/ERR94.pdf. - CGIS Home, “Oyster Fact Sheet.” Accessed October 24, 2012. http://cgis.hbg.psu.edu/CHC/documents/resources-1/CBF oyster facts.pdf. - City of Philadelphia, “Interactive Zoning Map.” Last modified 2012. Accessed November 11, 2012. http://www.phila.gov/Map - Cuellar, Amanda D., and Michael E. Webber. “Wasted Food, Wasted Energy: The Embedded Energy in Food Waste in the United States.” Environmental Science and Technology. 21 July 2012. Web 12. Dec. 2012. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2922696/. - Flores, A., S. T. A. Pickett, W. C. Zipperer, R. V. Pouyat, and R. Pirani. 1998. Adopting a modern ecological view of the metropolitan landscape: the case of a greenspace system for the New York City region. Landscape and Urban Planning 39:295– 308. - Folke, C., S. Carpenter, B. Walker, M. Scheffer, T. Elmqvist, L. Gunderson, and C. S. Holling.2004. Regime shifts, resilience, and biodiversity in ecosystem management. Annual Review of Ecology, Ecology and Society 11(1): 34 Evolution, and Systematics 35:557–581. - “Fuel for Food: Energy use in the U.S. Food System- Amber Waves, Sep. 2010, Feature.” USDA Economics Research Service – Home Page. Web. 12. Dec. 2012. http://www.ers.usda.gov/amberwaves/sept10/features/energyuse.htm. - Ganzel, Bill. “Cropping Patterns.” Living History Farm. 2007. Web 12 Dec. 2012 http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe50s/crops_04.html. - Hawken, Paul, Amory Lovins, and Hunter L. Lovins. NATURAL CAPITALISM: CREATING THE NEXT INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION. New York: Back Bay Books, 2008. http://www.natcap.org/sitepages/pid5.php (accessed october 2, 2012). - Hill, Holly. “Food Miles: Background and Marketing.” ATTRA. 2008. Web. 12. Dec. 2012. http://kirikiva.com/PDF/Foodmiles.pdf. - Jansson, Å., and P. Nohrstedt. 2001. Carbon sinks and human freshwater dependence in Stockholm County. Ecological Economics 39:361–370. JG Domestic, “10Best.” Last modified 2012. Accessed December 11, 2012. http://www.10best.com/destinations/pennsylvania/philadelphia/center-city/restaurants/jg-domestic/. - “Major Crops Grown in the United States.” US Environmental Protection Agency. 10 Sep. 2009. Web. 12 Dec. 2012.

VISUAL WORK CITED -“12 Examples of Theoretical Architecture.” Color Coat. (2011). http://www.colorcoat-online.com/blog/index.php/2011/01/12-examples-of-theoretical-architecture/ (accessed November 18, 2012). -Alter, llyod. “Omega Hydroponic Garden Gets Five Times As Much Food Per Watt .” Treehugger (blog), September 14, 2009. http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/omega-hydroponic-garden-gets-five-times-as-much-food-per-watt.html (accessed November 02, 2012). -“Aquaponics and Hydroponics.” : Growing Salad Vegetables in Aquaponic Systems. October 5, 2011. Accessed May 07, 2013. http://hydro-aq. blogspot.com/2011/10/growing-salad-vegetables-in-aquaponic.html. -Bradbury, Michael. Real Science, “Real Science.” Last modified 08/28/2012. Accessed October 22, 2012. http://www.realscience.us/2012/08/28/ oysters-help-filter-pollution-in-new-york-rivers/. -Boating Local, “Oyster Farms Proposed to Clean Up Northport, NY.” Last modified 2012. Accessed Novemver 11, 2012. http://boatinglocal.com/ news/oyster-farms-proposed-to-clean-up-northport-ny.html. -Canning, Patrick, Ainsley Charles, Sonya Huang, Karen R. Polenske, and Arnold Waters. Energy Use is the U.S. Food System. Rep. USDA, Mar. 2010. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR94/ERR94.pdf. -CGIS Home, “Oyster Fact Sheet.” Accessed October 24, 2012. http://cgis.hbg.psu.edu/CHC/documents/resources-1/CBF oyster facts.pdf. -City of Philadelphia, “Interactive Zoning Map.” Last modified 2012. Accessed November 11, 2012. http://www.phila.gov/Map. -Cuellar, Amanda D., and Michael E. Webber. “Wasted Food, Wasted Energy: The Embedded Energy in Food Waste in the United States.” Environmental Science and Technology. 21 July 2012. Web 12. Dec. 2012. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC2922696/. -Curry, Mark. “Research Project.” Mark Curry. 2011. Accessed May 07, 2013. http://mec3yh.wordpress.com/research-project/. -Food Networks 2. Philadelphia: College of Architecture and the Built Environment Philadelphia University, 2011. -Fowler, Heidi. “Gardening for Dummies: Companion Planting {Free Printable}.” Onecreativemommycom. March 13, 2013. Accessed May 08, 2013. http://onecreativemommy.com/planning-the-garden-companion-planting-free-printable-helpful-insects/. -“Fuel for Food: Energy use in the U.S. Food System- Amber Waves, Sep. 2010, Feature.” USDA Economics Research Service – Home Page. Web. 12. Dec.4 -Ganzel, Bill. “Cropping Patterns.” Living History Farm. 2007. Web. 6 Sept. 2011 <http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe50s/crops_04. html>. -Hill, Holly. “Food Miles: Background and Marketing.” ATTRA. 2008. Web. 12. Dec. 2012. http://kirikiva.com/PDF/Foodmiles.pdf.

VISUAL WORK CITED -JG Domestic, “10Best.” Last modified 2012. Accessed December 11, 2012. http://www.10best.com/destinations/pennsylvania/philadelphia/centercity/restaurants/jg-domestic/. --Mason. “Food on Mars.” Mars 2012. July 21, 2012. Accessed May 07, 2013. http://mars2012.chancestoriestold.com/?p=362. -Michael Pawlyn, Biomimicry in Architecture, (London: Riba Publishing, 2011), 56-57. -Philadelphia City Planning Commission. “City Wide Vision: Philadelphia 2035.” William Penn Foundation to the Fund for Philadelphia, Inc. Philadelphia, PA. June 2011. 12. Dec. 2012. http://phila2035.org/home-page/city/ -Philadelphia Water department, “Your Watershed.” Last modified 2012. Accessed November 02, 2012. http://www.phillywatersheds.org/your_watershed. -Rodrigue, John-Paul. “Transportation and Economic Development.” Department of global Studies and Geography, 2011. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch7en/conc7en/ch7c1en.html. -Sabina, Ellen. “Agropolis: The Future of urban Agriculture.” JustMeans (blog), Sept. 14, 2010. http://www.justmeans.com/Agropolis-Future-ofUrban-Agriculture/30772.html. (accessed October 10, 2012). -Sanders, Douglas C. NC State University, “Lettuce Production.” Accessed December 12, 2012. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/hil/hil-11.html. -United States Census Bureau, “United States Census 2012 Interactive Population Map.” Last modified 2010. Accessed November 11, 2012. http://2010.census.gov/2010census/popmap/. -Vinnitskaya, Irina. “ArchDaily: The World’s Most Visited Website for Architects.” ArchDaily. ArchDaily, 10 Apr. 2012. Web. 21 Aug. 2012. http:// www.archdaily.com/224513/largest-rooftop-farm-by-brightfarms-coming-to-brooklyn-ny/.

PROCESS DOCUMENTATION

URBAN AGRICULTURE_EVOLVING THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT

Thesis_The analysis of closed loop systems to aid the design of a

hotel infused within an urban farm, in order to diminish the lack of fresh food production within the urban ecosystem.

SITE PLACEMENT

8TH & MARKET

RETAI

L DIST

CHINA

RICT

OLD CI

TOWN

CENTE

R CITY

JEFFER

SON H

OSPITA

INITIAL DESIGN

Passive ventilation produces they need for a double skin system on the exterior of the building.

By expanding the width of the double skin system a green house is created on the exterior of the building.

The use of an exterior greenhouse cuts down on the need for artificial growing light.

PRECEDENTS_30 ST. MARY AXE, LONDON

Curry, Mark. “Research Project.” Mark Curry. 2011. Accessed May 07, 2013. http://mec3yh.wordpress.com/research-project/.

WATER CYCLE

The water cycle within the building is a gravity fed system that collects dew and rain water from the exterior facade.

Once water is collected, it runs through an irrigation system and is then stored as grey water for use in toilets.

After being used as toilet water, it then enters a living machine filtration system under the glass site plaza where it is filtered and used for fish hatcheries and laundry.

PRECEDENTS_JAMES R. THOMPOSN CENTER, CHICAGO

Helmut Jahn central atrium in the James R. Thompson Center, lets in an enormous amount of light.

Curry, Mark. “Research Project.” Mark Curry. 2011. Accessed May 07, 2013. http://mec3yh.wordpress.com/research-project/.

PRECEDENTS_PONTE TOWER, JOHANNESBURG

Although the Ponte Tower in Johannesburg is another great example of an open central atrium, I felt that there was not enough light penetrating into the center core.

Curry, Mark. “Research Project.” Mark Curry. 2011. Accessed May 07, 2013. http://mec3yh.wordpress.com/research-project/.

SOLAR STUDY

By using Vasari to run light studies I was able to determine where to best place growing areas within the facade.

The sun studies also influenced the separation between floors in order to allow light into the buildings core.

EVOLVING FORM

To allow extra light into the central core, larger openings were made by sliding the rooms seen in yellow regions to the sides.

These pushed rooms connected with the rooms to either side and became suits.

To allow light in all day long these larger openings spiral up the facade pattern.

PLANTING STUDY

Fruiting vegetables need a minimum of 8 hours of sunlight each day to produce normal growth, and should be placed along the building’s surface where they gather the most light. This family of vegetables includes tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and vine crops such as cucumbers. Root vegetables need a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight each day, and can inhabit areas of high light on the building’s surface. This vegetable family includes carrots, beets, and a variety of other vegetables. Leaf vegetables need a minimum 4 hours of sunlight each day, and can inhabit areas with lower light levels. This family includes lettuce, spinach, and other such vegetables.

High Light Intensity: Vine vegetables

Medium Light Intensity: Root vegetables

Shaded Areas: Leaf vegetables

North Light: Non passive growing areas

N Low Light Intensity: Leaf vegetables

Fowler, Heidi. “Gardening for Dummies: Companion Planting {Free Printable}.” Onecreativemommycom. March 13, 2013. Accessed May 08, 2013. http://onecreativemommy.com/planning-the-garden-companion-planting-free-printable-helpful-insects/.

FINAL DESIGN DOCUMENTATION

Lobby/Plaza Level

Room Floor Level One 74

Grow Floor Level One 76

FRESH FOOD GROWN WITHIN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT

CRITIQUE OF COMPLETED PROJECT At the very beginning of my thesis project my intent was to study a healthy closed loop system using the precedents of a natural ecosystem like a coral reef in order to understand how buildings can improve the living conditions of the urban ecosystem. Now looking back at where I started, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very happy with what I have accomplished. In a way I have made a loop of my own within my research and design. Throughout the year my research took me into details of the natural environment, in order to figure out how water is filtered through wetlands and oyster beds, and what type of environment each plant needs for optimal growth; then into growing systems which I could apply within an urban setting like hydroponics and aquaponics. As my thesis developed siting within an urban environment some unanticipated turns to my project leading to the understanding that the farming aspects needed to occupy the fringe of the urban area where light was abundant, while the hotel wanted to reside within the heart of the city center where tourism and economy thrive. The combination of these discoveries defined siting within cities to a middle ground where the architecture is no competing for light, yet a consistent flow of occupants are present. In the end all of the different system, and siting issues began working with each other to form my design for a hotel infused within an urban farm.

A thesis on the analysis of closed loop systems to aid the design of a hotel infused within an urban farm, in order to diminish the lack of fresh food production within the urban ecosystem. The hotel provides the perfect forum in which to feature farming within the urban environment, because it provides a constant stream of new visitors. By designing, a hotel, with a focus on net zero food sustainability, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m able to introduce hotel visitors to methods in which ecological design forms a healthy building, and demonstrate how a healthy building leads to a healthy lifestyle. The issue we face in a majority of our cities today is a lack of food production within the cities ecosystem. When any population overgrows its bounds, it requires resources from outside of its immediate ecosystem. When looking at cities more specifically, outside food resources are required to sustain the dense population because barely any food is produced within the city itself; because of this, transportation costs and pollution are produced, and land that was once natural forest is cut to be cultivated. By transforming our cities from linear base consumers and producers of waste, into a closed loop system, which entails producing food inside of the city bounds; we can eliminate cost, pollution, and time caused by transportation. Additionally food, air, water, and community quality will improve.

I would like to develop my thesis further in a few main regions, further development of each system within the building, dispersing public spaces throughout the building, mixing hotel with the possibility of housing for the farmers, and the functionality of each space. As I developed my project I scraped the surface of each system, looking at compartmentalizing heating and cooling to each floor even each room at times. Systems like Mitsubishiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heat exchanger units that swap cool air from one side of the building with the hot air from the side taking the most solar gain, and radiant heating and cooling, would enable the compartmentalization of each floor. Using passive ventilation both in the exterior greenhouse space as well as the central atrium allows me to save energy. These systems along with water collection, wind harvesting, solar harvesting, and the rest of the mechanical all have a great amount of potential that I intend on developing further. Equally as important to my project is the social aspect. By developing the way the public interacts within my building as hotel occupants, general public, and full time farming residents can help me better understand how much a closed loop system can enhance the living conditions of architecture within the urban environment.

Philadelphia University_School of Architecture_Thesis _Fall 2012- Spring 2013_Tim Knapp