Agritectural Banking Farm
Zipu Zhu
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“You can never get enough of what you don’t need to make you happy.” - Eric Hoffer
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Preface Chapter I. - Southwark & South of London
Chapter II. - The Agritectural Banking Farm
Chapter III. - Material & Construction
Chapter IV. - Post Construction Effects
Chapter V. - Future Developement
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“In our storybook towns, the street is bracketed by the Bank, Library, Post Office, and Town Hall. These grand buildings are designed to exemplify modernity and progress. Many of these institutions are now virtually redundant, as are the institutions that they represented. In the second term we will be asking how these high street dinosaurs might be re-invented, re-programmed and knitted back into the fabric of our cities. We will be working with a set of sites along London’s river edge. Through examining the physical fabric of these spaces and the possible function of the institutions that we are re-designing, we will look for a new hybrid of types that engage with the institutional life of the town/city in the 21st century.�
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Chapter I
Southwark & South of London
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Inspired by the banking system, and with the increasing demands for agricultural production, a new institution is created to provide for the project demands of the community in the London Borough of Southwark, and an attempt to contribute to the creation of the Union High Street. The prototypical institutions that were adopted are the bank and the farm.
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“The Shard” 9
London South Bank & Southwark The cities everyone wants to live in would be clean and safe, possess efficient public services, support a dynamic economy, provide cultural stimulation, and help heal society’s division of race and ethnicity and class. These are not the city we live in. This is in part because the city is not its own master; cities can fail on all these counts due to national government policies or to social ills and economic forces beyond local control. The south of London has always been stigmatized for the lack of activities and underdevelopment, Southwark and the Southbank of London have undergone many redevelopments over the past decades, such as the Tate Modern, and its corresponding projects as a method of bringing more “activities� to the south. Tate Modern being the central development, created various opportunities for Southwark to be developed accordingly. As people would often come to visit the Tate from the north and return to the north, thus an alternative route to the Tate from Southwark Underground station was created to bring attention to the southern areas. 10
Flatiron Square & Island Cafe
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Southwark Agricultural History In the 1400s many small trades and industries were set up by refugees fleeing religious persecution in Europe. In the 19th century, in the City of London, heart of the city, the livestock market was an essential element for the growing population and demand of meat consumption, but it also meant that livestock keeping and the nuisance from the slaughter houses became an increasing problem.
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Borough Market
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Barnet (1800’s)
Metropolitan Cattle Market (1855-1930s)
Smithfield Market
Bermondsey Market(1800’s)
Borough Market(1756)
East St Market (1600s) N
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Walworth Common (1600s)
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Common Historical Herding Routes
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Common Histor
In the 1400s many small trades and industries were set up by refugees fleeing religious persecution in Europe. In the 19th century, in the City of London, heart of the city, the livestock market was AD.190 an essential element for the growing population and demand of meat consumption, but it also meant that livestock keeping and the nuisance from the slaughter houses became an increasing problem.
Agriculture was the first major industry in Southwark. In the 1200s, watermills were built on the Bankside to grind corn. In the 1700s,
In the 1400s many small trades and industries were set up by refugees fleeing religious persecution in Europe. In the 19th centu
Peckham and Camberwell were large farming areas, where as Walworth was famous for its fruit orchards and market gardens. Southwark has
the City of London, heart of the city, the livestock market was an essential element for the growing population and demand of meat co
tion, but it also meant that livestock keeping and the nuisance from the slaughter houses became an increasing problem. always had a relationship with agriculture; it has had a history and tradition of markets, such as the Bermondsey Market which closed down 1300’s was Market. the first major industry in Southwark. In theUnion 1200s, watermills were was built on the Bankside grind in 1963. Other popular markets today include the East Street Market, and the Agriculture Borough In recent years, Street the host toof
corn. In the
Peckham and Camberwell were large farming areas, where as Walworth was famous for its fruit orchards and market gardens. Southwark ha
an event called the “Union Street Orchard”, a project to showcase sustainable of living. always ways had a relationship with agriculture;
it has had a history and tradition of markets, such as the Bermondsey Market which closed
in 1963. Other popular markets today include the East Street Market, and the Borough Market. In recent years, Union Street was the ho an event called the “Union Street Orchard”, a project to showcase sustainable ways of living.
1500’s
1600’s
Agriculture was the first major industry in Southwark. In the 1200s, watermills were built on the Bankside to grind corn. In the 1700s, Peckham and Camberwell were large farming areas, where as Walworth was famous for its fruit orchards and market gardens. Southwark has always had a relationship with agriculture; it has had a history and tradition of markets, such as the Bermondsey Market which closed down in 1963. Other popular markets today include the East Street Market, and the Borough Market.
1700’s 1300’s 1500’s 1600’s 1700’s
1700’s
1700’s 1300’s 1500’s 1600’s 1700’s
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Traditional Bank Hisotry
The Bank of England was first charted in 1694, and has since become the exemplar of all modern banks. The Bank began with the original capital of 1,200,000 sterling, which consisted in government stock. This new corporate institution business began under the reign of King William with intentions of purchase and sale of bills of exchange. The subscribers to the bank had lent the government above the original sum, at an interest of eight per cent, and an additional annuity of 4,000. On one hand, the Bank began to stabilize itself through these subscribers, but on the other hand, it was impossible to do business with these same people. Finally, this lead to the invention of banking notes, as the Bank would give its own notes payable at the bank on demand, and to be circulated among the merchants as money. The convenience of these notes soon spread them over the kingdom; and as the capital and credit of the Bank increase, they continued to gain an increasing circulation. This allowed the charter to be renewed from time to time, often with conditions of new loans to the government. But as the credit of the government had greatly improved since establishment, the Bank was obliged to purchase the renewal of its charter, not by loans at eight per cent, but at a very moderate rate of the interest. In 1781, the final capital increase raised to 11,642,400, at which amount it has ever since remained.
The main developers of banking in London were goldsmiths, who transformed from simple artisans to becoming depositories of gold and silver holdings. Merchants began to lose trust in the existing institutions due to King Charles’ greed and drove them to more trusted alternatives such as the goldsmiths. The goldsmiths soon found themselves with money for which they had no immediate use, and they began to lend the money out at interest to both the merchants and the government. By the end of the 16th century and during the 17th, the traditional banking functions of accepting deposits, moneylending, money changing, and transferring funds were combined with the issuance of bank debt that served as a substitute for gold and silver coins. New banking practices promoted commercial and industrial growth by providing a safe and convenient means of payment and a money supply more responsive to commercial needs. The original Bank of England located in the heart of City of London was the work of Sir John Soane in the 1800s. (BankofEngland) Built in neo-classical style, the architecture of the Bank stood in the city with monumental status as an important institution, whilst the interior provided needs for the current banking system. Even though private banks can be rather flexible in size, central banks such as the Bank of England is always grand in size, as it does not only demand the space for storage, it also houses a large group of working people to keep the institution running on daily basis.
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Original Bank of England
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Death of The High Street and Banking Institutions The roles of central banks today are: monopoly issuer of currency, regulator of commercial banks, lender of last resort and conductor of monetary policy, although these are done much more efficiently by private banks and institutions. Banks made sense as people needed it to protect and deposit their money; this gives the freedom for banks handle the money at their will, in exchange for a small interest, much lower than the profit that banks make on the loan. Every mistake that the banks make with people’s money is greatly reflected back on them, as in less extreme credit contractions, retirement accounts may suffer through declining values. However, as seen in history, larger crisis means that people would pay more to keep the financial system afloat, as the banks keep the profits they earn in good times for their employees and shareholders, and when they collapse, outsourcing their losses to taxpayers. This may be linked to a large social problem of present society – consumerism. Consumerism is a concept that the continuous and expanding consumption of goods, tangible (objects of desire) or intangible (information) is advantageous to the economy. It is not only false, but consumerism may also be the source of deprivation for human creativity. Annie Leonard says in The Story of Stuff, “Our primary identity has become that of being consumers – not mothers, teachers, or farmers, but of consumers. We shop and shop and shop.” The act of finding new goods for consumption takes over the need to be creative, and the fulfilment takes away the possibility of creating a replacement for the lack of goods. 18
The things we own, end up owning us. 19
Agriculture & Production Agriculture involving domestication of plants and animals was developed at least 10,000 years ago. Agriculture as important as it is has many problems, such that huge production farms generate huge amounts of waste, and chemical disposals that directly harms the surround environment. Furthermore, because our societies have congregated around cities, and continue to do so at an increasing rate, 80% of the world population is expected to live in cities by 2050. Thus, the distance that our food has to travel has a huge impact on the cost of food as well as carbon emissions that contribute to the already existing problem of global warming. In the U.K, a massive increase in agricultural productivity was between the 16th century and the mid-19th century through advances in agricultural knowledge. However, as efficient as it may be, U.K still relies heavily on food imports, especially with large cities such as London; it is a food consumer city that is completely dependent upon these imports.
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Hackney City Farm Site Plan 1
Pigsty & Goat Pen
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Sheep Pen & Donkey Stable
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Small Animals, Chickens, Ducks & Geese
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Shop & Cafe
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Bike Repair Shop
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Garden
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Roaming Grounds
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Ponds
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Precedence of city farms is Hackney City Farm and Kentish Town City Farm. First established in 1984 their main purpose was to provide a farming experience for those who live in the city, as well as offering recreational activities for the young. However, it does not directly contribute to any agricultural problems, on the other hand, it is more important to re-evaluate the questions of what is being produced, how it’s produced, and how much of it is generated.
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Chapter II
The Agritectural Banking Farm
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Project Site - Union Street In the 1850s commuter train lines were created, and Acts of Parliament were passed to guarantee discounted worker’s fares. The middle-class worker could now commute into the city on a daily basis, allowing him to reside in a quiet locale free from the problems of downtown. The urban developments had a profound effect on metropolitan growth that occurred later, both in England and the rest of the world. While it allowed countless families to lead quieter, more secluded lives away from the bustle of the city, the lack of regulation led to immense land waste and destruction of valuable parkland and scenery. Union Street runs along the railway viaduct of the South Eastern trains, therefore naturally creating a site of many arches. The urban fabric of the area imbeds itself within these arches, and operates under them, adapting and utilizing them, thus creating a unique composition of occupied infrastructural spaces. However, there are still many derelict areas under the arches to be exploited where as other areas of open fields are gated and unutilized.
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Ewer Street Arch Alley way
Derelict Railtrack
Ewer St
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This last decade, architect and urbanists have been reluctantly rethinking those abandoned space. Yet most of them have been transformed in pathway, with luxurious shops flourishing along them, transforming them into shopping centres inaccessible to the local dwellers, rather that serving the needs of production and works of the citizens. The site located in Southwark is to ultimately bring attention to the Southbank of London, focusing on Union Street, utilizing various thresholds and expropriating redundant spaces to creating a new high street with various new institutions. The Argitectural Banking Farm will also act as the revival of livestock markets, bringing food production closer and eliminating imports.
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Clients & Finance The Southwark Council will be the main financial support for the project, with visions of regenerating the area and the goal to double recycling rates from 20 per cent to 40 per cent by 2014. The London Waste and Recycling Board (LWRB) based in Union Street in Southwark, are very familiar with the site, and readily see the unused spaces eager for development. The LWRB was established by the GLA Act 2007 to promote and encourage the production of less waste, an increase in the proportion of waste that is re-used or recycled and the use of methods of collection, treatment and disposal of waste which are more beneficial to the environment in London. Together the Southwark council and the LWRB will be build the Agritectural Banking Farm with visions of creating a more environmentally aware Southwark.
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Agritectural Banking Farm -
Recycle Banking Process
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Waste Collection (Donations & Investments)
8 Paper Pulping & Compost Mixing 8
2 Paper & Compost Organization
9 Mixture for Pig Feed Paper as Main Ingredient
3 Transportation
10 Farm & Grow Animals Till Mature
4 Paper Shredding
11 Execcution and Evisceration of Animals
5 Paper Cleaning
12 Cleaning of Animals
6 Paper Screening
13 Processing of Lamb Pork & Chicken
7 Ink Removal
14 Storage & Redistribution to Investors
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The Agricultural Investment The Agritectural Banking Farm is an attempt to expand the public realm, to expropriate what is seen as derelict spaces rendering it to be used for agriculture; it is to condense the natural suburban and country side context into an urban context, creating a unique duality of urban country space.
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The system of banking will be integrated as a way of encouraging people help with issues of waste and recycling which directly impacts the environment and economy. Recycled paper and compost will become a form of “investment” into the meat that the farm will eventually produce. The investors will be able to constantly keep track of their “investment” by visiting the open farm. Due to health and safety legal policies, in Britain, one does not have the right to see how the meat is produced, almost as if it is kept behind a veil of corporate secrecy, and an execution of the capitalist exploiting those of skilled labour for profit. The Agritectural Banking Farm is an institution where the idea of investment banking is applied to farming, decreasing the distance between the production and consumption. It is observing the process of life & death of animals, but also a system of waste, recycle, destruction, sacrifice, as a way of celebrating and critiquing the excesses of the city.
Recycle Centre Mapping Diagram Recycle Your Rubbish Specialist Waste Recycle Management
Rapid Skip
Agritectural Banking Farm
Allen Waste Management London Waste & Recycling Board
A S Recycling
The All Clear Company
RTS Waste Management
Paper Round Ltd
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Agritectural Banking Farm Plan Overview on Site 32
Average Pig Dimensions
75-90 Cm
120-180 Cm
The Pig skin is non porous and therefore needs to cool it’s body temperature down by rolling around in mud or manure, thus generating the unpleasant odor. 55-70 Cm
Average Pigs Eating Behaviour
Average Pig Space Occupation
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30-45Cm
60-75Cm
75-90 Cm
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Gathering & Loose Bunching
Initiating Movement
Controlling Movement Direction
Movement Control Through Gates
Blind Spot Edge of Flight Zone
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Point of Balance
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Traditional Herding Pattern
Farm & Herding Area
Herding Circulation
Proposed Herding Circulation
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Green Spaces in Southwark
Proposed Highline & Herding Path on Union Street
Proposed Circulation Path from Farm to Street 37
Experiment Circulation Models 38
Proposed Dual Circulation Models 39
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Tate Modern
Agritectural Banking Farm
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Main Farm
Main Access Point W
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Access to Street Level
Green Spaces S
Proposed Herding Path & Access Point
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5m
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4.2 m
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B
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B
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Highline in Plan & Sections 42
Highline on Plan & Section
3. 4 m
Highline East Elevation
Highline North Elevation
Highline Plan
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Agritectural Banking Farm Highline Condition 44
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Train & Delivery Station
Farm & Herding Area
Bank & Offices
Farm Animal Pods
Waste & Recycle Processing Department
Abattoir & Butchery
Institution Programs
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Agritectural Banking Farm West Elevation Section 47
Agritectural Banking Farm North Elevation Section 48
Agritectural Banking Farm Ground Floor Plan - Train Station & Storage Space 49
Agritectural Banking Farm 1st Floor Plan Animal Space - Herding Path - Feed Storage - Butchery
Agritectural Banking Farm 2nd Floor Plan Animal Space - Herding Path - Feed Storage - Abattoir
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Agritectural Banking Farm Interior - Pigsty 51
Agritectural Banking Farm Interior - View from Pigsty 52
Agritectural Banking Farm Interior - Abattoir 53
Agritectural Banking Farm 3rd Floor Plan Paper & Compost Organization
Agritectural Banking Farm 4th Floor Plan Paper & Compost Processing - Storage
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Agritectural Banking Farm Interior - Compost & Paper Processing 55
Agritectural Banking Farm 5th Floor Plan Banking Offices
Agritectural Banking Farm 6th Floor Plan Banking Offices
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Agritectural Banking Farm Interior - Banking Office 57
Agritectural Banking Farm Axonometric Section on Site 58
Agritectural Banking Farm Interior - Animal Herding Path & People Interaction 59
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Chapter III
Material & Construction
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Surface Study of Various Materials on Site
Sawdust Experiments Casting with Steel Decay Thin Sheet under Light
Initial Material Documentation & Study 62
Tyvek Under Various Conditions - Exposure to Fire - Under Light - Under Light with Oil - Drenched in Oil - Drenched in Water
Experimentation of Transient Surfaces Stretchable Material or Structure That Reacts to Wind Forces to Open & Close
Experimentation of Trasient Surfaces 3- A strechable material or structure that reacts to wind forces to open & close
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Final Thatch Material 64
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Material & Light Experiments 66
Interior Light Studies with Various Materials 67
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Chapter IV
Post-Construction Effects
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Surrounding Interactions The Agritectural Banking Farm impacts the existing area and institutions in various ways, such as the Men’s Shed (Josh), a learning institution. Urban farming is becoming more popular as it may very well be the solution to future problems, providing services to allow the awareness to spread is very helpful, thus in respond to people’s need for information, the Shed will provide onsite classes to educate urban growers and encourage them to start their own food production in backyards, rooftops balconies etc. In addition, it creates the opportunity to increase the knowledge of recycling, and promote sustainable methods of composting and green manure.
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The performance theatre creates opportunities for artist to perform music for animals, as studies show that music enhances animal growth in positive ways. The presence of animals may also inspire other musical artist to take interest in recording daily sounds of the farm and animals. The farm will be transporting and gathering waste food from the surrounding markets and restaurants to provide food for the animals, such as Borough Market. The Phenomenological Expressionist Dinning Local (PEDL) is one of the largest providers in the area, with a large portion of their vegetarian menu, and the waste food creates great composts. This makes the PEDL an influential investor to the banking farm system, as the fresh meat from the farm will eventually be served in the restaurant, thus creating a mutual system of dependence.
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Ultimately, with more exposure to urban farming, it is not impossible to create a state supported infrastructure based on agriculture and possibly create the city seen as a totality, “rather than a series of unrelated spaces and projects, and the awareness that the city could both obfuscate and exaggerate class divisions.” (Victoria E. Thompson). The Agritecutral Banking Farm may seem rather invasive; people may need to work around it at first, possibly creating new models of behaviour such as composting and recycling as the means of providing meat for the table. “We must rid ourselves of the delusion that it is the major events which have the most decisive influence for us. We are much more deeply and continuously influenced by the tiny catastrophes that make up daily life.” (Thomas Y. Levin). With the presence of animals in the daily lives of people, conflicts are bound to happen and will definitely affect people’s behaviour around the institution.
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The Agritectural Banking Farm expropriates derelict spaces and creates a system that would work ideologically. However, it may be rather inefficient to incorporate animals, as the extinction of animals once proved, the health and safety and possible odours is not the easiest to manage. In addition, animal protein is an inefficient source of calories compared with plants, and also they need more space in production. On the other hand, the compost and recycle banking system offers the opportunity for people to help the environment through regular daily routines as a method of obtaining food. This may be a model for future institutions to adopt as a way to promote and increase recycling.
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Chapter V
Future Developments
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Feeding & Butcher Station
Cleaning Station & Manure Dropoff
Sleep Station
Mud Ground
Feeding Station Cleaning Station & Manure Dropoff Sleep Station
Proposed Farm Train Route 82
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Exploded Axonometric Train Structure 84
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Train Extended State - Plan
Train Extended State - Cross ElevatioN & Section
Train Extended State - Front Elevation
Train Extended State - Movement
The Train is stretched out as it moves against the wind, the opening ing the negative pressure of the wind suction, an air movement is c ment inside. During certain times when moving against prevailing win Ultimately, the air flow created inside the train compartments w mud/manure t
Detail of Ventilation System on Train
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Train Normal State - Plan
Train Normal State - Front Section
Train Normal State - Cross Elevation
Train Normal State - Stationary
gs created in between the layers are where the ventilation operates. Utilizcreated inside the train as the vents open up, and creates a cool environnds a stronger air movment may be created as the wind forces are stronger. will keep the pigs cool and inhibit their behaviour of rolling around in to control the odor.
Train Transition State - Axonometric
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Bibliography Hildreth, Richard. “The History of Banks: To Which Is Added, A Demonstration of The Advantages And Necessity of Free Competition In the Business of Banking.”. Batoche Books Kitchener. 2001. Hackney City Farm. http://hackneycityfarm.co.uk/about. 2011 Urban Farms. http://johnstonarchitects.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/63/. 2010 Pinderhughes, R et al. http://online.sfsu.edu/~raquelrp//pub/2000_aug_pub.html. August 2000. Urban Agriculture in Havana, Cuba. 2000 Borough Market. http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/page/3036/The-History-of-Borough-Market. 2004 Bank of England Museum. http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/education/Pages/museum/walkthrough/buildings3.aspx. 2001
Acknowledgements Family: Changlian Zhu & Xiaoyang Wang, friends and tutors: Ingrid Schröder & AA FY tutors.
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