My Final Boards

The Term Is Finally Over

So after what seems like a MASSIVE slog, the final presentation is done, and school is finished for another year.

My research continued into algae farming, but I began to look more at the architectural consequences for creating this closed loop system. The thermal and phenomenological characteristics of the algae system created flux in the ambiance and colouration of the spaces as well as a seasonal migration of programme from inside to outside as the outdoor spaces become more habitable.

The making of the model

The rings around the outside of the model could not be addes, but here are the process photos for the rest of the model.

Some Interesting Moves Made Over The Weekend

The structural grid has now become a Delaunay triangulated mesh, open on the outside, housing flat glass algae tanks on the inside. Surface area is optimised, allowing for more productivity, while architectural opportunities occurs in the spaces created in between.

The Project Progresses

The programme projects out in most directions allowing specific views of Saatyat Island. The views each protrusion frames is appropriate to the activity that will occur in that part of the building. The museum of Satyaat Island looks out over the freeway so one can survey the new Zaha, Nouvel and Gehry bulidings to the northwest and the Tadao Ando Maritime Museum to the South East. The Real Estate offices give select views over what will be the residential part of the island, while the restaurant at the top presents a panorama of the whole island.

The lattice frame work holds the algae farm in flat tanks and contributes structurally to the sinuous forms that contain the more standard programmes. Everybody here agrees that the rigid square frame is holding back the more dynamic and gestural interior.

Plot #3

The algae farm exists in thin tanks embedded within the 20' X 20' structural frame.  These panels are habitable, and are located according to programmatic needs for outside access using a variety of different cut out sizes in the matrix.  Once mature, the algae is fed into the core of the building where processing begins.  Using a process called transeterification, the algae is electrified with a low voltage current that breaks down the membrane and allows faster extraction of the lipids and therefore bio-diesel.  

All the other programme sits outside the central infrastructural core looking in through large windows making the algae processing the focal point of the whole building.  An inverted Lloyds of London or Centre Pompidou, if you will.  

Working Out the Programme/Farm Relationship

Instead of using tubes for algae cultivation, I have moved into flat tanks. These will provide more local colour variation and can also be unitised for ease of installation and mainenance. The downside of this is that the water does not circulate around the building, and therefore gains huge thermal mass, essentially working like a trombe wall...not what you need in the middle of a dessert. Efforts will have to be made to pull the skin away from the programme where heat in not required and vice-versa.

It occurred to me that if I was treating the skin and programme as separate, I might as well have independent systems that maximise each others capabilities.  These drawings use a scaffold lattice that acts as structure for the programme, but also houses the algae tanks.  The programme interlaces the farm space and also directs light into the depths of the algae farm using sinuous form.

Algae Farming Research for Skyscraper Typologies in the Middle East.

Algae farming can have huge potential as a bio-diesel generation technique.   If 1/10th of the area of New Mexico is given over to algae cultivation then, even using todays technologies, the ENTIRE energy needs of the U.S. can be met.

As a gateway building to a new city district in an oil rich country that is beginning to take precautions for peak oil, the potential of algae farming as both practical solution and symbolic gesture can not be underlined enough.

concept painting for algae farming skyscraper

potential vessel for algae cultivation

removable vessels contain algae in fluctuating skin.  The algae farm can continue above the building adding and subtracting as energy needs dictate

potential vessels for algae cultivation

The studio looks awesome with all these huge models!!!

The second iteration of my highrise model

New Term. New Models.

I'm doing a Studio with Thom Faulders where we are investigating the high-rise building typology.  Our site is in Abu Dhabi, so hopefully we'll get some things out that can equal the eccentricity of the location.

Here are the first iterations.  very early doors yet.  for a scale comparison, see the last image.

Studio 3 Board 3

Studio 3 Board 2