BIOLOGICAL LAKE FILTRATION: The Best Aquatic Plants for Natural Filtration

Southern perspective of my hybrid building proposal with the self-cleaning lake

HORNWORT

  • One of the best plants for pond water filtration
  • Fast growth rate
  • High metabolic rate allowing it to absorb waste in order to grow faster
  • Due to it’s quick growth there is some maintenance and pruning needed
  • No specialist requirements for growth
  • Appealing aesthetic quality
  • Extremely efficient at removing impurities from the water

WATER HYACINTH

  • Very appealing aesthetics
  • Floating plantage
  • Aquatic life appreciate the shade this plant provides
  • Offers some protection for fish against predators above the water
  • Medium growth rate
  • One of the better plant for keeping water clean and clear thanks to its efficient filtering characteristics
  • Requires a lot of sunlight, which is available for the pond within my site
  • Fairly easy to maintain, only requires occasional trimming

Evidence of Studio Engagement

Brief and Concept Pin Up

Preliminary work pin up on padlet

Interim Showcase

Interim showcase screenshot of pin up on Padlet

Final Formative Review

Screenshot of final review submission box

Technical resolution portfolio surgery

Screenshot of Technical review submission

Means of escape and access quiz

Bookings for technical resolution workshop

DEVELOPMENT OF CONCEPT FORM: Following Interim Showcase

Canada Earth Tower, by Perkins + Will

  • Tallest Timber Skyscraper
  • Beautiful timber structure exposed to interior open plan apartments
  • Large terraces with trees and foliage improve air quality and natural ventilation
  • Setting back these terraces allow balconies to provide shading to areas bellow
  • The vertical connection of greenery juxtaposes the sleek cladding material
  • Subtracting Vertical Green Corridors from the Original Mass

Perkins + Will Design the World’s Tallest Wooden Skyscraper for Vancouver | ArchDaily

Physical Sketch Model of Vertical Green Corridors

  • Brings natural light deeper into the building
  • Juxtaposition of soft foliage and solid structure
  • The subtracted green corridors creates an eye catching shape that frames the greenery within
  • By bringing nature into the open-air atrium space, that cuts through the centre of the building, will improve air quality, natural ventilation and solar lighting/ heating

Subtraction of Courtyard Spaces: Experimentation in Plan

  • More apartment rooms have a window to provide natural lighting
  • Breaking up the overall mass of the building presents a less intrusive/ overpowering aesthetic in relation to the surrounding context
  • Greater interaction with the surrounding landscape by bringing nature into the building and letting foliage grow upon the façade

CARBON STORAGE FROM TREES: Deciding Upon Tree Species

Site Plan

Existing trees upon the site
Legend
  • Within the site boundary there are 7 London Plane, 5 Norway Maple and 3 Small-leaved Lime trees
  • The surrounding context also includes London Plane, Norway Maple, Small-Leaved Lime, Birch, Sycamore, pear and a variety of other trees

London Tree Map | London City Hall

London I-Tree Report

10 Most Important/ Dominant Trees in Inner London:

Graph from I-tree report and edited by myself
  • London Plane, Norway Maple and Small Leaf lime are within the top 10 most important trees and they are all located upon the site within Peckham

Carbon Storage: Net Sequation Per Year

Carbon Net Sequation
  • London Plane stores the most Carbon within Inner London
  • Silver Birch is the best medium sized tree for storing carbon in London
  • Oak species are very effective at storing large amounts of Carbon

Replacement Cost for London’s Trees

Replacement cost for all the trees in London
  • Out of the 10 most significant trees Silver Birch is the most cost-effective to replace
  • London Plane is more cost-effective than English Oak but stores a similar amount of carbon

London i-Tree project – Treeconomics

Choosing Trees to Incorporate in my Proposal

London Plane

  • Stores high amounts of carbon
  • Most common tree in London
  • Multiple trees already exist upon and around the site
  • They can live for hundreds of years
  • Ability to adapt to urban conditions
  • High resistance to pollution and absorbs particulates

London Plane (Platanus x hispanica) – British Trees – Woodland Trust

London Planetree Tree on the Tree Guide at arborday.org

Silver Birch

  • Fast Growth rate; short term sustainability benefits by storing carbon quickly
  • One of the most cost-effective tree to replace according the the I-Tree report
  • It’s light canopy allows light to pass through, promoting plant growth; in particular bluebells and violets are commonly found growing near silver birch trees
  • Provides food for over 300 insect species
  • Leaves act as food for moths, caterpillars, ladybirds and other species
  • Roots improve soil quality over time
  • Thanks to it’s toughness, silver birch is commonly used for furniture

Silver Birch (Betula pendula) – British Trees – Woodland Trust

Betula pendula | Native Silver Birch Trees | Ornamental Trees Ltd (ornamental-trees.co.uk)

Norway Maple

Norway Maple Tree Image
Norway Maple (brandeis.edu)
  • Relates to existing trees in the site context
  • Often planted in cities due to their appealing aesthetics and tolerance to shade and pollution
  • Birds and small mammals eat the seeds produced from the tree
  • Leaves can be eaten by caterpillars
  • Good carbon storage (More than Silver Birch but less than London Plane)

Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) – Woodland Trust

Proposal

Proposed Roof Plan: Colour Coded Tree Species

Diagrammatic Roof Plan showing existing and proposed tree species
Legend
  • A large number of London Plane trees create a perimeter around the site; acting as a barrier between urban pollution and the hybrid building/community park
  • The wall of London Plane trees will absorb particulates from passing vehicles, improving air quality
  • Norway Maple trees that are located adjacent to the Northern façade will help to create a healthier atmosphere within the hybrid building thanks to their pollution resistance
  • As Norway Maples have good tolerance to shade I have placed them to the North of the building where there is more shading from the sun
  • Silver Birch trees provide food for a range of wildlife, thus promoting biodiversity
  • Thanks to Silver Birch trees’ light canopy solar radiation can pass through to promote plant growth which is why I have placed them within the community garden
  • Silver Birch trees are shorter than London Planes and Norway Maples so they will cause less shading upon the solar powered street lighting and the public spaces in general

Climate Analysis on Autodesk CFD

Climatic Analysis of the Site

Isonometric of the Site from South-East

Westerly Wind Velocity (Empty site)

Plan and Section of Westerly Wind upon the Site
  1. High winds upon empty site
  2. Existing buildings block fast winds between the site and St Mary’s Primary
  3. Some Wind protection from the railway bridge

Solar Radiation upon the Site in October

Plan and Perspective of Solar Radiation upon the Site
  1. Lots of shading to the north of the Railway bridge
  2. Good amount of solar gain onto the site
  3. Large amounts of solar radiation on the southern railway bridge façade

Climatic Testing of Concept 3 (Without Terraces)

Isonometric of Concept 3 mass as a solid extrusion

Westerly Wind Velocity (concept 3 no terraces)

  1. Some increased wind speeds between this building and the proposal
  2. Higher wind speeds: may be improved with the addition of trees within the landscape
  3. Semi-circular entrance courtyard is well protected from the wind

South-Westerly Wind Velocity (concept 3 no terraces)

  1. Semi-circular courtyard is still well protected from the SW wind
  2. Wind speeds up around the curved edges of the building
  3. Wind speeds at pedestrian level are 10m/s and below (comfortable for walking)

Solar Radiation (Concept 3, no terraces)

Solar Radiation testing for concept 3 without terraces
  1. high solar radiation on the roof: effective location for solar panels
  2. Large amount of shading to the north of the building, especially in winter
  3. high solar radiation on this façade: large amounts of glazing for passive solar gain

Concept 3 with Terraced Form

Isonometric of concept 3 with terraces

Westerly Wind Velocity (concept 3 terraced)

Plan and Section of Wind Velocity from the West
  1. Wind as reduced slightly between the adjacent building to the NW and the proposal
  2. Higher windspeeds upon the community park area but these are not uncomfortable speeds
  3. Due to the terraced form the wind is guided up and over the building, reducing wind speeds at pedestrian level

South-Westerly Wind Velocity (concept 3 terraced)

Plan and Section of wind velocity from the South-West
  1. low wind speed/ negative pressure zone: comfortable, and could be used for passive ventilation
  2. Reduction of windspeeds around the building to around 8 m/s which is comfortable for walking pedestrians
  3. Terraced form is guiding the wind up and over

Solar Radiation (concept 3 terraced)

Solar Radiation for concept 3 with terraces
  1. High solar radiation on the roof: good for solar panel efficiency
  2. There is still some solar gain to the west façade, thus interior functions can still benefit from natural light in this area
  3. High solar gain to this façade: glazing could maximise passive solar gain
  4. large amounts of shading to the north in winter: good street lighting is needed or cut out part of the building form to allow sunlight to pass through

Interim Showcase

Cover page for Part 1 of Interim showcase

Part 1 is a brief summary of my research, site analysis, precedents and development so far within the project.

Part 2 Cover Page

Part 2 of my Interim showcase presents my most recent concept design

CONCEPT 3: Circular Form Responding to the Renewable Lake

Site Plan and Ground Floor Plan at 1:500 Scale

Landscaping and building design are design both respond to the circular shape of the central lake. This lake is biologically cleaned using aquaponics and diverse plant life which will save energy usage and cost. All the Paths from around the site converge upon this lake, enhancing a sense of community. As well as the circular influence, the site also responds to the linear connection to Rye-Lane by continuing a pedestrian path through the proposal along the same axis as Bournemouth Road.

Functional layouts

Residential units are partly south facing allowing for natural light into the properties, improving well-being of the inhabitants. Public functions interact with residential functions via community libraries for relaxed reading, studying and social interaction, as well as a central atrium full of natural light, circulation between floors and reception areas to help guide visitors. Educational and commercial facilities are also provided to improve community support.

Isonometric Drawing

Isonometric representation of building within context, from the South-West

Inspired by the Edible Academy, my proposal provides a large flexible learning environment that provides a place to learn about how to grow food and the sustainable benefits: this is supported by the community garden a few steps from the classroom.

SECTION A.A: for Structure and Functional Interaction

1:200 Section through the Site

Primary Structure:

  • Glulam Timber Frame
  • Steel Sheet Pile retaining walls and foundations for the basement car park
  • Reinforced concrete core and slab foundations

Secondary Structure

  • Stone/masonry cladding for the ground floor
  • Timber Cladding for floors 1 – 4
  • Double/ Triple Glazing

Atmospheric Perspective

Perspective from the south

CONCEPT 2

The above image presents some key views around the site. View 1 was a prominent inspiration for this concept as it highlights the direct connection between Rye-Lane and the Site via Bournemouth road.

Concept 2 Sketch Masterplan

Emphasising the connection to Rye-Lane was the main driving force of this concept. I have attempted to do this by improving the pedestrian path along Bournemouth road that connects to the ‘green’ Rye-Lane (as proposed in Major project: preparation). The brown surfaces represent a shared space for the road surfaces to the west of the site: this would help to naturally slow traffic and create a safer environment for pedestrian circulation.

Isonometric Drawing

Isonometric of Concept 2 with Functional Colour Coding

Draft Ground Floor Plan

When drafting the layout of different public and residential spaces I tried to ensure there was some interaction between the two. Services within the residential units share a parti-wall where possible to efficiently place the electrical and water services.

Concept 2 Section

Glulam Timber Frame

OSB and Softwood I Joists

Engineered Wood Products – Taylor Lane (taylor-lane.co.uk)

Conceptual Massing upon the Site

Up Mountain and Buitenplein, by Amstelveen / Rijnboutt

Up Mountain and Buitenplein Amstelveen / Rijnboutt | ArchDaily

  • Each apartment has access to an exterior space
  • The stepped balconies allow for interaction between residents
  • The design maximises the amount of apartments with a balcony
  • The section shows how the stepped apartments provides a large open area within the building that can be used for circulation or other activities
  • Natural light is provided to an atrium space via roof glazing (Sky lights)

Major Project Concept Massing: Isonometric Representation

  • Bicycle parking will promote more sustainable travel
  • Providing a path between the site and the station will provide safe circulation between the two places whilst
  • Promotes walking/cycling to and from school, work or home

Site Plan Concept

  • Provides pedestrian/ cycling connections to Rye-Lane, Peckham-Rye train station, St Mary’s Primary School and the new bus station
  • Relocation of the derelict bus parking to the north of the site
  • New self-cleaning lake to provide water source heating to the building
  • Lake creates a central gathering space where all routes connect
  • Shared space as a learning and relaxing environment
  • Promotes community/ social interaction
  • Public functions on ground and first level for easy public access
  • Fire safety core is located to the North of the building as it does not need access to natural light

Old Telephone box converted into community library where people can donate old books for others to borrow at no cost. Promoting community engagement and providing methods of learning for children that may not have sufficient access to educaition

Affordable Housing

Affordable housing guidance for Southwark from Affordable_Housing_SPG_2008.pdf
  • 17 out of 33 residential units offer affordable housing
  • Over 50% of the housing on offer will be affordable housing (in accordance with Southwark Council’s aims)
  • Of the affordable housing units: 7 are 3 bedroom flats, 7 are 2 bedroom flats and 4 are one bedroom flats
  • The decision to have more 2/3 bedroom flats is in response to the Southwark council guidance on affordable housing

Residential Units

Demographic Research

People in Peckham

Student work using information from Demographic factsheet (1).pdf

20 – 39 year olds are the most common age group within the Lane Ward. The fact that there is also a high percentage of 0 – 19 year olds implies a lot of young families live in Peckham, who would require 2 / 3 bedroom flats.

Housing Types

Around 75% of people living in Southwark live in flats due to factors such as cost and urban density. My project will continue with the trend of offering flats because they provide a more affordable housing option for the community.

Average number of bedrooms

The above diagram highlights that the three main sizes of residential housing in Peckham are: 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom units; therefore my project will offer these types of units to respond to the demand.

Deciding the Number of Residential Units:

Number of Units for proposal based upon Southwark average data (Estimate)

Total proposed residential flats = 33

Housing Types with the Corresponding Tenure

From this diagram one can clearly see that Social Renting is the primary source of housing in Southwark. Because of this my project will incorporate primarily affordable/social housing units to provide for low income housing for the community.

Residential Units: Massing

Government Guidance on Minimum Floor Space

RIBA Suggestions on Floor Space

1 person, 1 bedroom flat = 37m2 minimum

5 people, 3 bedroom flat = 93m2 minimum

homewisereport2015pdf.pdf (architecture.com)

Minimum Surface Area for Major Project Residential units

Massing of Minimum flat sizes to be used in proposal

These masses represent the minimum floor space that will be offered by residential units in this proposal. I will use these masses as a rough guide when diagramming functional layouts.

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