Grow
Architecture in the City
Architecture in the City
The notion to bring agriculture back into the city, is something many people can agree with however the question of how to do it successfully still presents a problem. This exploration critically approaches the models that have been presented and aims to develop a modern innovative strategic method for this to happen.
Key elements of design
Key elements of design
Garden Polyculture
Rather than using the traditional method of 'monoculture', where you grow only one crop/plant in one area - using the idea of the 'polyculture' we can grow more than one crop/plant in an area, where the crops/plants can benefit from the other and also creates for a more diverse growing culture.
Rather than using the traditional method of 'monoculture', where you grow only one crop/plant in one area - using the idea of the 'polyculture' we can grow more than one crop/plant in an area, where the crops/plants can benefit from the other and also creates for a more diverse growing culture.
Macro Strategy
Taking a 1km radius around the Clerkenwell area in London, I started to form a strategy for the project
Taking a 1km radius around the Clerkenwell area in London, I started to form a strategy for the project
Masterplan Option 1
This diagram shows all of the available spaces that one can potentially use for growing. This also presents the very real prospect for what can be achieved right now.
This diagram shows all of the available spaces that one can potentially use for growing. This also presents the very real prospect for what can be achieved right now.
Masterplan Option 2
This looks at Masterplan Option 1, 10 years down the line, where growing areas have been opened up.
This looks at Masterplan Option 1, 10 years down the line, where growing areas have been opened up.
Masterplan Option 3
This option builds on Option 2, again another 10 years down the line. You will see much more space has been opened up, creating connections to each of the spaces.
This option builds on Option 2, again another 10 years down the line. You will see much more space has been opened up, creating connections to each of the spaces.
Masterplan Option 4
Going one step further from Option 3, this option creates a belt of green, whereby creating a large park area that is also an area that can be used for agriculture, offering a somewhat more traditional vast expanse of area for growing with the method of polyculture embedded into its foundation.
Going one step further from Option 3, this option creates a belt of green, whereby creating a large park area that is also an area that can be used for agriculture, offering a somewhat more traditional vast expanse of area for growing with the method of polyculture embedded into its foundation.
Micro Strategy
Wanting to base the project in the present, I took forward Option 1 and started to concentrate the design exploration.
Wanting to base the project in the present, I took forward Option 1 and started to concentrate the design exploration.
Focused Area
I focused the area around a Pub that sites very much in the middle and a large site adjacent to it. I wanted to explore the idea of Food, Education and Trade.
I focused the area around a Pub that sites very much in the middle and a large site adjacent to it. I wanted to explore the idea of Food, Education and Trade.
3 Sites
I broke the Focused Area down to three sites, giving them uses:
- The Pub area would become the Food Site
- The middle site would become the Educational Site
- The bottom site I wanted to use as the Trade Site
I broke the Focused Area down to three sites, giving them uses:
- The Pub area would become the Food Site
- The middle site would become the Educational Site
- The bottom site I wanted to use as the Trade Site
Start to End
The idea was that there would be a journey from the Trade Site (from the bottom), which would become a Market, where people would share produce they grew with one another and people would also be able to buy produce.
From there they would be able to make their way via a high level walkway to see and explore how produce can be grown via the educational centre in the middle, encouraging the public to explore with their own gardens at home.
So once people have learnt about growing produce, they can enjoy themselves by eating some great organic food at an organic cafe and restaurant, that sits in the middle of the whole strategy, promoting what can be achieved with organic produce.
The idea was that there would be a journey from the Trade Site (from the bottom), which would become a Market, where people would share produce they grew with one another and people would also be able to buy produce.
From there they would be able to make their way via a high level walkway to see and explore how produce can be grown via the educational centre in the middle, encouraging the public to explore with their own gardens at home.
So once people have learnt about growing produce, they can enjoy themselves by eating some great organic food at an organic cafe and restaurant, that sits in the middle of the whole strategy, promoting what can be achieved with organic produce.
Concept Image 1
This shows the area next to the pub becoming an organic garden.
This shows the area next to the pub becoming an organic garden.
Concept Image 2
This image shows what a unused green area can be turned into.
This image shows what a unused green area can be turned into.
Final Design
Schematic design for an organic cafe/restaurant
Schematic design for an organic cafe/restaurant
Birds Eye View of the Organic Cafe and Restaurant
Section of the Cafe and Restaurant
Walkway connecting the Cafe and Restaurant
