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Transferable aspects

Where will I be aiming to go from the previous project? What aspects will be transferred across, what will not? Within my previous project, my main themes were urban agriculture and self-sufficiency. These themes are integral to the next stage of this project.

The aim of this new project is to design a hybrid building. My personal aim would be to design a multi-functional building that incorporates ideas of urban farming, greenery, energy producing, minimal waste schemes in an attempt to be self-sufficient.

As mentioned within my previous blog, a main aspect of this project is focusing on urban growth and the increase in population that is inevitable within cities. Urban agriculture would be essential to help provide food to local residents and markets. Increasing food production within cities will help resolve issues such as: traffic pollution from transporting crops, air pollution from introducing additional greenery and feeding the population. Through this, encouraging minimal waste, implementing energy producing strategies, the buildings we design can become self-sufficient. With additional greenery and also an opportunity to return to our roots, it can help increase quality of life, encourage exercise, improve mental health and provides opportunity for education on agriculture.

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Beginning sketches

Looking at using large spaces, this car park seems to be a good potential site based on my found statistics. Many people in Peckham do not own a car, this space can be utilised to benefit Peckham in a different way.

Taking the use of bridges from the precedent by Kengo Kuma, the bridges in my concept would link different buildings. It would allow direct links to different areas.

To incorporate the use of farming, there could be a floor dedicated to indoor vertical farming and a floor dedicated to outdoor farming. The indoor farms would allow for fruits and vegetables that need a hot climate to be grown all year round.

A unique concept is the first one below. The building could be make up of a unique shape rotated on a single point. These could create steps on the outside of the building leading to the top. There could be bridges to each building with platforms coming off them that can be used for outdoor farming, garden or greenery space.

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Eco-Luxury Hotel

A project by Kengo Kuma that has been designed for Paris.

  • Unconventional
  • Wooden architecture
  • Traditional Paris inspired balconies
  • Lush vegetation
  • Ambitious
  • Multifunctional
  • Sustainable
  • Landmark
  • Innovative
  • Greenery
  • Embraces nature within urban landscape
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Vertical Forest

Name: Vertical Forest

Architects: Stefano Boeri

Location: Milan, Italy

Notes:

  • Residential building
  • Construction was completed in 2014
  • 110 and 76 metres tall
  • Has 400 condominium units
  • Nature within cities
  • Embraces Nature
  • Equivalent to 30,000 square metres of woodland and undergrowth
  • 2500 thousand plants growing on the towers´ balconies
  • 5,000 shrubs
  • 800 trees
  • Wastewater from the building is used to water the plants
  • Wastewater is filtered using the energy provided from solar panels
  • Self-sufficient
  • Architectural biodiversity
  • 90 species of plants
  • Welcoming wildlife
  • New plants have attracted birds and insects
  • Allows a relationship between humans and other living species
  • The plants filter fine-particle pollution (the city’s traffic)
  • The plants produce oxygen and absorbs CO2

Information from: https://www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net/en/project/vertical-forest/

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Initial look at the site

Before visiting the site, I decided to take a look at the resources provided for us. Just by looking at the map, I can see that it is a built-up area with predominantly man-made structures. There does not seem to be much greenery around our site. The only road that appears to have a strip of greenery is Holly Grove. This area is simply a path through grass with some shrubs and trees on one side. 

There appears to be some greenery surrounding the site in small areas. For example, Warwick gardens sits West of Holly Grove, the Surrey Canal walk is North of the site, next to the leisure centre. Warwick Gardens is a small field of grass with a play area and football posts. This area must be used frequently as it is near local schools. There are quite a few schools nearby which shows that play areas and natural areas are essential. 

Surrey Canal Walk appears to be similar to that of Warwick Gardens but longer in length and leading up to Burgess park. Burgess Park is much further from our site, being a 20-minute walk from Peckham Library. Peckham Rye Park and Common is closer still, being a 13-minute walk from Peckham Rye train station. 

Based on these observations, it may be beneficial for Peckham to have more greenery areas. These areas could include play area, sport courts and pitches that would be available for the public. 

Along the high street there are many businesses ranging in size. It would be essential to allow for commercial businesses to remain. However; smaller or independent companies should be taken into account and they should be able to continue their business in an affordable area. Ideally, with a living space above for the owners.