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.
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.
Following on from earlier in the week, I have started to visualize the nature of the service station- the market hall present on the north bank and the more industrial activities spanning between the existing piers to the south. Initial studies indicate some sort of a control tower will occupy the central most piers, with ancillary spaces such as offices and storage spaces also inhabiting this area of the site.
After the crit on Monday, I have decided to refine the programme. I believe the proposal should revolve around the idea of a service station for allotments- which would predominantly be floating but could also help to provide materials, seeds etc to one of the many traditional allotments in the borough of Southwark. The reason for this is to ensure the programme informs the architecture, rather than the contrary. The programme is extremely unusual, along with the choice of site and I believe that it is this aspect of the thesis which should be as visible as possible when viewing the project at later dates. This process of refinement has led me to believe that I should trim out aspects such as auditoria, meeting rooms, libraries etc and concentrate on the functional requirements of a service station. Offices, storage (for materials which are later sold to the public) and the market are the aspects which I intend to keep, with cranes and robotic arms spanning between the existing piers tending to the barges below.
I have started to calculate the potential ‘growing power’ of the barges, which I will comment more on at a later date, but initial calculations suggest that the area between Tower Bridge and Waterloo (a 3km stetch of the Thames) could serve upto 836 people. This is based on the fact that there are currently 55 barges occupying this stretch of water, covering 33,000m2. A traditional allotment of 250m2 during the Second World War was estimated at providing enough fresh vegetables to cater for the annual needs of 6 people. These calculations do not take into consideration the fact that that farming hydroponically on the barges could increase this figure. If London’s average population density of 4,800 ppl/km2 is applied to this data, then, if only the EXISTING barges are devoted to food production then this area of the Thames could cater for 34% of the population. There is the potential for this figure to increase if additional structures are proposd.
Green spaces in London- Including back-gardens, parks and waterways. All of which, if utilized, could help to increase the amount of food we produce in the capital.
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