Hi Steem it, Please see one of my conceptual designs for a competition a couple of years ago. I ran out of time and would have liked to develop it further.
LUMINOUS OASIS - LIGHT + WATER
The site is located on the corner of 10th avenue and 18th street Chelsea, New York City. The site positioned adjacent to ‘The High Line’ an abandoned elevated railway road converted to an impressive nature strip where landscape meets the urban city. The ‘The High Line’ can be seen as an ‘Oasis’ in a dense frantic urban environment where one can seek refuge, relief, from the busy urban life and restoring vital natural urban landscapes.
The inspiration behind the NYC farm tower is the ‘oasis’ where the built environment becomes a haven for food and drink; sustaining human life. The fundamental principles to sustain life on earth is ‘light and water’, hence the ideology behind the farm tower, to collect and control an abundance of light and water.
The public central space within the tower is contained by accessible vertical farms supported by a steel structure. Steel has been chosen for its strength, ductility, re-use, efficiency and it's contextual connection to the structural language of the Chelsea industrial area.
The vertical farms are enclosed by a translucent glass skin, with as much white surface area as possible reflecting and bathing the farm spaces with natural diffused light. Advantages of this Architectural system are the ability to control moisture, heat, pests and unfavourable weather conditions. Furthermore transparent photovoltaic glass panels are inserted inside the translucent panels to collect solar energy. The transparent PV panels reflect the infrared Light spectrum, reflecting excess heat in summer and retaining heat in winter. This will ensure a balanced atmosphere for plant growth. The multilayered facade system not only devises a stabalised environment, but also creates rays of mystifying light, that pierces the translucent PV panels like rain.
The spaces below are reinforced by an embracing bridge-like amphitheater connecting the ground plane to the ‘High Line‘. A significant entrance will encourage public gathering and social interaction.
The farms are surrounded by pools of water which is necessary for the oasis to exist and is symbolic of what sustains us. Rain water is collected from the towers glass facade where it travels to the reservoir. An internal waterfall cascades down the laboratories glass windows, creating a tranquil working environment where laboratory write up spaces are located. A single fruit tree is isolated centrally, where it is framed and protected by concrete along with a crystalline glass enclosure, symbolising the importance of nature.
The residence are lodged high above in the midst of the farms multi-layered glass facade. The timber condos form is made up of a louver system to filter and control light. The vertical farms glass facade adjoining the condos will incorporate horizontal bands of translucent glass, providing residence views of the farms and skyline beyond.
It is perceived that the majority of major urban cities treat landscapes separate from the built environment. ‘Luminous Oasis’ integrates the landscape, where it is envisioned that the farm tower is a reservoir of meaning, healing and culture that is facilitated through the abundance of the natural elements ‘light and water’.
Here is the Final Submission board
Thanks for reading and please comment, follow or upvote..