Following on from my detailed exploration of the modular allotment earlier in the week, I have been studying its affect internally on the market area through digital and physical representation. A physical model of the wind shelter at roof level has also been made at 1:100, which encompasses folding geometry to create a retreat/viewing platform at roof level for the allotment workers.
I have been working on a quick study of the allotments at detail, thinking about their spatial requirements and materiality. Below shows a few images of my workings, with seating, storage, and irrigation all being integrated into the modular corten unit.
I have been exploring the idea of allotments (which inhabit the ramped landscape) protruding into the soffit of the ramped entrance level on the north bank of the Thames. These structures which are all 12.5 meters square and require an hour of attention each per week, could span the width of the building and the profile be a part of the structure. The image below shows the entrance sequence and the mentioned allotments.
Initial thoughts are that the allotments are terraced, to maximise the amount of sun reaching each plot. Irrigation and nutrients could be provided by a network of pipes which interlink the separate plots, providing optimum growing conditions.
Initial view of the under carriage of the proposal, with the service station in the foreground and the administration block in the distance.
P.S. These images are only intended to represent a snapshot of where the design is and are not representative in terms of material or structure!
I have been mainly developing a digital model this week, whilst testing certain massing moves which arise through physical modelling. The massing model below was made earlier this week, in a bid to explore the concept of a ramped landscape and to test different ways of housing mass around each of the sets of piers.
I returned to my infrastructure model this week, adding more detail as the proposal develops. The piers have been added which provide the structure for the form to evolve, with a ‘wired’ framework linking each of the piers. Initial design moves have been added, with pontoons represented by mesh at water level and a ramped landscape weaving its way between the piers.
Below is a snap shot showing the initial design approach from the north bank of the River Thames. This is being developed through a combination of physical and digital models and driven by initial conceptions of a ramping public route from one side of the river to the other with a productive ‘surface’ above (shown in pink) housing allotments. All of which is to sit within the framework provided by the existing piers. The size of each allotment plot is to be determined by the hours the individual has to spend each week; making it a far more manageable and feasible activity for many of London’s busy office workers. Cuba took a similar design approach, where the masterplanning of productive plots were governed by what was deemed suitable for one person to cultivate as a full time occupation. 500m2 was the maximum area for one individual, and with this research in mind, I have abstracted the figure to an area able to be cultivated per hour per week. (12.5 m2 are able to be cultivated per hour based on 500m2 requiring 40 hours, or 1 working week). This will enable me to design the size of plots based on the number of hours individuals intend spending ‘on site’.
A sample of what was presented on Monday. I am now going to deploy the programme across the site, causing variation in the forms and sizes of each of the ‘pods’ according to the spatial requirements of the programme. The idea of a public park will also be explored alongside allotments at bridge level.
The study looks at the area between Waterloo and Tower Bridge, a 3km stretch of the River Thames. The calculations are based on of each one of the floating structures (barges etc) that currently populate the river being converted to food production.
Below are a few images of the boards which were produced for yesterdays tutorial/ crit. The next day or so is to be spent storyboarding the activities of the barges, with facts and figures denoting how much they can actually produce and the population they can sustain. This needs to be done as quickly as possible so that I can really get into the design of the proposal so that it is a at a suitable stage for next week. So without further ado……
This weekend is going to be spent exploring structural solutions to my proposal through origami. I will explain the reasons for this more on Monday, but, in the mean time here is quite a provoking video I came across recently……..
Rigid Origami from Daniel Piker on Vimeo.
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