Symbiosis in City How can vertical farming be integrated in a high rise mixed use development? Supervisors Dushko Bogunovich Cesar Wagner Explanatory Document A Research Project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional) Unitec Institute of Technology, 2016 Jaskirat Matharu 1352624 1 2 3 Symbiosis In City How can vertical farming be integrated in a high rise mixed use development? 3 Symbiosis is derived from Greek words ‘Together’ and ‘Living.’ It is a close and long term interaction between different biological species.1 1. Wikipedia, “Symbiosis,” last modified September 20, 2016, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbiosis 4 Abstract Vertical farming is one of the promising This research project takes into account solutions – we should start experimenting existing state of knowledge, to create a high with it.. Vertical farming has a wide range rise mix use building with a vertical farming of benefits that can provide a sustainable facility. As a result, the proposed building alternative to traditional farming. The design combines wide range of uses, functions and solution needs to become a model that not procedures to create a functional artificial only provides food security but also raises ecosystem. In the process, a harmonic awareness about an issue that requires symbiotic relationship is established between broader attention. humans, plants and all other components involved. Architecturally this project addresses implications of putting a vertical farming With population rapidly rising, arable in the heart of the city. Urban design land diminishing and cities sprawling ever requirements, full exposure to allow bigger, the way we grow food is going to maximum sunlight into the building and require a revolution. It is important that creating a public friendly entity that becomes new approaches are tried and tested and any pride of the city. Equally important is shortcomings are dealt with earlier on. In to address how a vertical farming can the case of Auckland, as the city intensifies, be combined with a high rise mix use with it dependency on infrastructure and development. carbon-intensive resources is on the rise. While there are wide range of intensification This requires close attention to functional, plans in place of the city, there is minimal structural, environmental and formal to no discussion about the future of food requirements to ensure both parts of supply systems. On the contrary, farming is the building are equally resolved and are reinforcing each other. Figure 1. Bee collect nectar from flower and as a being pushed out as the city sprawls. result pollinate different plants. 5 Contents 2.2 Vision For Auckland 15 2.4.3 Vertical Greenhouse for 2.2.1 Low Carbon Auckland 16 Urban Agriculture 33 Acknowledgments 1 2.2.2 Auckland Civil Defense and 2.4.4 EDITT Tower: Ecological Emergency Management 17 Design in The Tropics 37 1.0 Introduction 2 2.2.3 Intensifications Plans 18 2.4.5 Vertical Harvest 41 1.1 Background of the project 3 2.2.4 Development Plans 19 1.2 Project Outline 4 1.3 State of Knowledge 4 2.3 Why Vertical 20 3.0 Site 45 1.4 Research Question 4 2.3.1 Less Resources 22 1.5 Scope and Limitations 6 2.3.2 Higher Yield 22 3.1 Aotea Square 48 1.6 Methods 7 2.3.3 Health and Safety 22 3.2 Prominent Buildings 51 2.3.4 Ecological Restoration 23 3.3 Past and Present 52 2.3.5 More jobs 23 3.4 Future 53 2.0 State of Knowledge 8 2.3.6 Controlled Environmental 3.5 Site vs Location 54 Agriculture 23 3.6 The Bigger Picture 55 2.1 The Issues 9 2.3.7 Physiological Benefits of 2.1.1 Growing population 10 Plants 24 2.1.2 Deforestation 10 2.3.8 Improved Air Quality and 4.0 Program and 2.1.3 High Prices 11 Economical Benefits 25 Design Intention 56 2.1.4 Pesticides and Food Borne 2.3.9 Implications of Indoor Plants 25 4.1 Breakdown of the Program 57 Diseases 11 2.3.10 Agriculture and 4.2 Formal 58 2.1.5 Globalization of Food and Architecture 26 4.3 Environmental 58 Food Miles 12 4.4 Structural 58 2.1.6 Agriculture Run off 14 2.4 Precedents 27 4.5 Function 60 2.1.7 Climate Change 14 2.4.1 Precedents Categories 28 4.6 Symbiosis 60 2.4.2 EVF : Experimental Vertical 4.7 Dietary Requirements 62 Farm 29 6 7 4.8 Growing Requirements 62 5.3 Detail design 83 8.0 Bibliography and 4.9 Brief 63 5.3.1 Form Development 84 List of Illustrations 108 5.3.2 Structure of 1 Merchant 8.1 Bibliography 109 Square, London 87 8.2 List of Illustrations 116 5.0 Design Process 64 5.3.3 Structural system of Shanghai Tower 88 5.1 Initial Development 65 5.3.4 Structure 89 9.0 Appendix 122 5.1.1 Corner of Queen Street and 5.3.5 Design Features 90 9.1 Alternate Site 123 Mayoral Drive 66 5.3.6 Floor Layout 91 9.2 Alternate Structure 124 5.1.2 Typology of the Building 67 9.3 Alternate Tower Forms 125 5.1.3 Standard Urban Block 68 9.4 Site Sections 126 5.1.4 Tower 68 6.0 Design Outcomes 92 5.1.5 Podium and Tower 68 6.1 Outline 93 9.5 Response to Low Carbon 5.1.6 Podium Option 1 69 6.2 Floor Planing Strategy 94 Auckland 127 5.1.7 Podium Option 2 70 6.3 Podium Design 95 9.5.1 The way we use and generate 6.4 Facades Overview 96 energy and Zero Waste 127 5.2 Massing Studies 71 6.5 Retail Facade 97 9.5.2 Our Built Environment and Green 5.2.1 Massing Study View Points 72 6.6 Passageway Facade 98 Infrastructure 128 5.2.2 Iteration 1 73 6.7 Apartment and Office 9.5.3 The Way We Travel 129 5.2.3 Iteration 2 75 Facades 99 9.5.4 Forestry, Agriculture and Natural 5.2.4 Iteration 3 77 6.8 Vertical Farming Facade 100 Carbon Assets 130 5.2.5 Tower or Slab 80 6.9 Vertical Distribution 102 5.2.6 Selected Model 81 9.6 Mark ups and Agriculture 131 7.0 Conclusion 104 7 9.7 Hydroponic Systems 133 9.7.1 Drip System 133 9.7.2 Nutrient Film Technique 133 9.7.3 Aeroponics System 134 9.7.4 Aquaponics 134 9.8 Dietary Requirements 135 9.8.1 Brain 136 9.8.2 Healthy Sight 136 9.8.3 Sustained energy/ Source of fiber 136 9.8.4 Immunity 137 9.8.5 Healthy Insides 137 9.8.6 Vital Hydration 137 9.8.7 Healthy Bones and Joints 138 9.8.8 Healthy Skin 138 9.9 Dietary Needs Table 139 9.10 Produce Growing Conditions 141 9.11 Final Presentation 147 8 9 9 Acknowledgments It goes without saying how thankful I am to my primary thesis supervisor, Dushko Bogunovich. For your unconditional and unwavering support and help throughout the duration of this project. Your enthusiasm and input made this project what it is. I am equally grateful to Cesar Wagner for your support. For your continuous help and inspiration throughout the year. David Chaplin for being so readily available to provide feedback when I needed help. I am eternally grateful to my family for providing me with unfailing support and continuous encouragement throughout my years of study. Mum and Dad, Thank You, not only for this year but for all the years of my life. My Brother, Thank You, for all the time you spent proof reading this document. This accomplishment would not have been possible without all of you. Thank you. 1 2 2 1.0 Introduction Figure 2. Fishing feeding on algae from sea turtle’s shell, cleaning the shell in the process. 1.1 Background of the project From living and growing food at the Humans developed farms over ten thousand same place to being disconnected to food years ago. Back then humans used to live production is a drastic transformation. and farm at the same place. Urbanization Today there are many issues that threaten of the world created cities and suburbs. traditional farming methods and society is While breakthroughs in technologies led to oblivious to these threats. Intensification revolutions in all fields. of the city needs to take into account food production. Food security in the form of Vertical Farming is needed. Farming being dismissed as a low end occupation and land becoming valuable pushed farms further and further out of the This research project, Symbiosis in City, city. Food started to transported in from all which brings food production in city, while parts of the country and even world. People taking into account society’s needs, wants started taking food for guaranteed, while and context, aims to raise awareness and being unaware about its source. present a possible architectural solution to this problem. 3 1.2 Project Outline 1.3 State of Knowledge 1.4 Research Question This project is a high rise mix use Despommier D Dickson’s The Vertical How can vertical farming be integrated in a development with vertical farming facility. Farm : feeding the world in the 21st Century, high rise mixed use development? Located in Aotea Square, Auckland City. Vertical Farming Association provided range of theoretical information. While wide range of Auckland Council plans make the project specific to the city.