BITES & BYTES

BITES & BYTES ABDELKHALEQ YAGHMOUR

01 DESIGN INTENT

06

02 FRAMEWORK

16

03 PROPOSAL

28

04 ENVIRONMENTAL

62

05 STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

80

06 CDM & REGULATIONS

100

07 PROCESS

106

01 DESIGN INTENT

06

02 FRAMEWORK

16

03 PROPOSAL

28

04 ENVIRONMENTAL

62

05 STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

80

06 CDM & REGULATIONS

100

07 PROCESS

106

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DATA CENTER

Data Centers are the Internet materialised, in fact, the Internet we interact with every day is an intuitive and user-friendly way to access those servers of the data centers.

According to the International Energy Agency, Data Centers consume approximately 200 terawatt-hours of electricity or nearly 1% of global electricity demand; studies predict that this number might reach 13%. This high energy demand results from the electricity required by the servers to run, in addition to the significant amount of heat generated, which must be cooled down using air conditioning. Usually, nonrenewable energy sources are used to meet these energy demands, contributing to the climate crisis.

2015 Best Case 2030 Expected 2030 Data centers

2010

40,000 twh Other Demands

2030

As we enter into Web 3.0, we see a radical transition and increased reliability in the digital world. Crypto-currencies show a shift from national currencies into decentralised currencies, while non-fungible tokens present the art world’s future. This considerable reliance on the digital world will increase the load on Data Centers. Let’s look at Bitcoin, the most expensive Crypto-currency. It requires 91 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, more than the amount used by the country of Finland, equating to around

0.5% of global electricity demand.

Spain

Bitcoin Energy Demands (twh)

6 l DESIGN INTENT

Energy Demands (twh)

9,000

Sweden

131.15 twh

Netherlands Finland Chile

Denmark

2017

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2020

2021

“The Cloud” is a real place, the pictures you post on Instagram, the birthday wishes that you keep on your Facebook feed, the series you stream on Netflix, and the emails you keep in your inbox are not stored in a mass of condensed watery vapour floating in the atmosphere.

Instead, they live in rows of servers all connected, stored in giant towers and warehouses

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URBAN FARM

Food insecurity is one of the leading global challenges. By 2050, the human population is set to increase to 10 billion people, meaning if we want to feed everyone with this expanding global population, we need to produce the same amount of food in the next 40 years as we did in the last 8000 years.

The global food system is the most significant contributor to climate change. Responsible for one-third of the greenhouse emissions.

80%

of humanity could require more food by 2100.

The number of people suffering from hunger and malnutrition has been increasing with the global population since 2014.

Agriculture is the primary driver for deforestation, habitat loss, and biodiversity loss.

The agricultural land area around the globe is approximately five billion hectares or 50% of the habitable land. We have entirely disturbed ecosystems and eradicated nature worldwide to create agricultural land and meet our dietary needs, and it is still not enough.

To put it into perspective, if everyone on earth ate the diet of an average American, that would require all habitable land to be agricultural, and we would still be 38% short. In addition, climate change driven water scarcity, rising global temperatures, and extreme weather will have severe long-term effects on crop yields. Urban farms can be used to control rooms climatically to facilitate growth, and better quality produce, in fact, these spaces can be used to emulate climatic conditions of any country and season. A broad range of technologies can be used; this includes adjusting the LED hue for better nutritional value and pest resistance, moth killing drones, and AI to learn plant behavior and constantly adjust.

To meet the growing food requirements and tackle global challenges, a sustainable and efficient method of food growing is required, using less land, fertiliser, pesticides, and water.

If we compare a high-tech urban farm in the Netherlands to an open food market in Spain.

The Urban farm produces 20X more tomatoes with 4X less water.

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SYSTEMATIC THINKING

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Understanding the connections between seemingly distinct areas is crucial to the way we move forward. We need to adopt systematic thinking- a way of understanding how independent structures interact in a dynamic system. The heat generated from the Data Servers can be harnessed and used to regulate the temperatures of the spaces and water needed for sufficient growth in the Urban Farm. Equally, the community spaces and the market will benefit both the Data Center and the Urban Farm by raising public awareness of the environmental impact of the IT and food industries.

Technology Data Center

The project should place sustainability at the heart of the design. It should be tackled from multiple angles, finding the intersectionality between all sustainability solutions and balancing them.

The three primary considerations should be technology, food, and community, which are tackled through different parts of the programme, and then linked together using multiple sustainability considerations.

Sustainability

Community Market

Food

Urban Farm

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HONESTY

9 l DESIGN INTENT

The scheme aspires to become a model for contemporary industrial projects, with aspirations to redefine the infrastructure of our cities, focusing on sustainability and public interactivity, making the scheme a monument to inspire other similar projects. To achieve this, the architecture must be driven by the requirements of function, where the architecture manifests to achieve the efficiency of function. In the same vein, the following photographed industrial pieces are blatantly honest about their function, making them iconic pieces engraved into our cities and minds.

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PUBLIC INFILTRATION Data Centers are usually built in secure isolation from the urban environment and are connected to cities via a network of fiber optic cables. Unfortunately, this disconnect between the Internet users and its physicality has led to assumed invisibility and a common ignorance about its environmental impact; Data Centers have become the ultimate form of disembodied architecture.

The same applies to the agriculture industry since vast land areas are needed to produce large quantities of food, resulting in high transportation costs and carbon emissions.

The community acts as the glue between these two different functions. By placing the project in the middle of an urban context, the consumers of the food industry and the IT industry are brought closer to the reality of both systems, and they are educated about the environmental challenges we are facing regarding these two industries.

Public functions are intertwined within the scheme to create an interaction between the people and the industries. The infrastructure becomes the backdrop to everyday life, and the scheme becomes a prime example of co-inhabitation between humans and infrastructure.

10 l DESIGN INTENT

The Urban Farm will be accompanied by a food market, providing the facilities for the local people to grow their food and sell it in the market within the same building, cutting down on transportation, creating opportunities for the local people and increasing the public function of the building.

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USERS LOCALS The primary users of the scheme are the locals. However, all members of the local community and beyond are welcome to use the different functions of the building. For example, classrooms are available for the locals to be educated about the IT industry and the food industry, while other workshops will integrate the locals into the farming procedures. The local communities include the Cruising Club, newly built King’s Cross development residents, Sommers Town, etc.

SHOP OWNERS

TOURISTS Any visitors are welcome into the building, whether they want to sit in the restaurant, buy from the market, or even participate in one of the workshops.

DATA CENTER STAFF Specialised staff will be appointed full-time for the maintenance and control of the Data Center section of the building. They will mainly work in their designated offices, accessing all Data Center facilities.

URBAN FARM STAFF A combination of trained individuals and students producing food and researching sustainable food production methods. They mainly work between the Urban Farm and the designated office space.

11 l DESIGN INTENT

This is a sub-section of the local community. The market space will create opportunities and jobs for people to sell their food. A range of temporary and permanent shops will be set up, ensuring the market is constantly evolving with new people and food.

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CLIENT & STAKEHOLDERS

12 l DESIGN INTENT

The client is Digital Realty, providing consumers with a network of connected campuses in the digital world.

Digital Realty has 280+ Data Centers across 26 countries. The organisation is placing sustainability at the heart of its business expansion plans. Thus, this Data Center will be an experimental model for future progression.

This project will be a valuable investment since it tests several concepts that push the sustainability agenda.

This new Data Center also tests a new business model, where the heat becomes a new source of income for the organisation since the Data Center will be connected to district heating.

The organisation aims to bring farming into the city by inspiring people to grow their food and make an income out of it; they also aim to grow food commercially via a network of FARM: projects. They will be in charge of all the Urban Farming procedures and host classes and workshops to involve the public.

The Camden Town Shed is an association offering workspaces where users can work on practical projects.

They are currently equipped for woodworking and hand-building in clay, hoping to expand beyond that. The association will be the community representatives; they will provide locals with the opportunities to grow and sell their food within the building.

The St. Pancras Cruising Club currently occupies and maintains the site. Many of the owners of the narrowboats located within the St. Pancras basin are also members of the club. As a result, the community and the club’s needs are integrated within the scheme and the programme.

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SCHEDULE OF ACCOMMODATION

Offices, Staff Facilities 80 m2

Transformers 30 m2

Power Center 180 m2

Restaurant & Kitchen 350 m2 Server Room 1250 m2

Control Room 80 m2

Urban Farm 750 m2 Public Workshop/ Classrooms 600 m2

Market 1500 m2

Loading Bay & BOH 100 m2 Plant Room 200 m2

Primary Entrance 50 m2

Bicycle Parking 50 m2

Food Processing 50 m2 Aquaponic Tanks 100 m2

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Batteries/ Electrical Supply 50 m2

01 DESIGN INTENT

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02 FRAMEWORK

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03 PROPOSAL

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04 ENVIRONMENTAL

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05 STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

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06 CDM & REGULATIONS

100

07 PROCESS

106

CONTEXT PLAN

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CONTEXTUAL HERITAGE The completion of the regent’s canal in 1820 linked London to major industrial cities in Northern England. The construction of Kings Cross and St. Pancras stations in the 50s and 60s established the area as the central transportation hub, and industrial use thrived.

In the latter half of the 20th century, the area went from a busy industrial and distribution hub to an industrial scrub.

In the ’80s and ’90s, King’s Cross was seen as an undesirable place due to the issues with drug dealers, drug addicts, crime, prostitution, and homelessness. The area was also the center of hippie and rave culture, with three main rave spots, including the coal drops.

17 l FRAMEWORK

The King’s Cross Central Development gained outline planning permission in 2006; it was a vast construction project that completely transformed the area. At the same time, St. Pancras station was named the terminus for Eurostar. The development included several reuse projects, such as the Gasholders, Coal Drops, and German Gymnasium. These reuse projects provide an interesting case study into the reuse and preservation of the industrial heritage with the addition of new contemporary functions.

SURROUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE REUSE

GASHOLDERS

COAL DROPS

Camden Highline

Conversion of Grade II-listed cast iron gasholders to three apartment blocks and the fourth framing a park.

Ornate cast-iron and Victorian brick structures that housed 15,000 tones of coal have been converted into 60 high-end shopping units, with the yard underneath as a new permeable public space.

A vision to regenerate a 1.1km stretch of disused railway passing through Camden to create a new garden for the neighbourhood.

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SITE The site is adjacent to the St. Pancras Basin on the Regent’s canal, just north of Camley Street. The site is within the Regent’s Canal Conservation Area and is on the King’s Cross Conservation area boundary. The Regents Canal has a rich industrial character; its historical significance and visual interest contribute immensely to the quality of the surrounding urban environment.

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Waterpoint

Lock Keeper Cottage

Dry Dock

Cruising Club Clubhouse

Demolish and rehouse in the scheme

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Adaptive Reuse

18 l FRAMEWORK

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2 View from Gasholder Park

3 Car Park

4 Cruising Club & Dry Dock

5 St Pancras Railway & Basin

6 Sommers Town Bridge & Camley Street Natural Park

19 l FRAMEWORK

1 Approach View from Camley Street

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ACCESS Pedestrian Vehicular Blocked Access Boats Covered Arch

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LOADING BAY

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IMPROVING SITE ACCESSIBILITY 1

BRIDGE The design of the existing sommers town bridge creates an accessibility issue into the site, since it takes people away from the direction of the site and creates a disconnect from the natural park. This is an opportunity to change the bridge to make it interact better with the site and scheme.

RETAINING WALL & RAMP The retaining wall cuts off the site, disconnecting the car park from the peninsula, and a ramp runs parallel to it to get into the peninsula. Part of the wall can be demolished to achieve better permeability, and level changes between both parts of the site will be carried out so that the site slopes towards the peninsula side.

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COVERED ARCH A covered arch exists in the retaining wall since the rail used to pass through it. The covered arch will be opened up, and the jetty will be extended to create outdoor seating as an extension of the building’s internal functions. This creates a secondary circulation route, and the connection with the water is amplified.

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LOCK ACCESS Integrated walkways exist to the side of both locks. Access is currently restricted to members of the cruising club.

However, this is an opportunity for a secondary entrance into the proposed scheme.

21 l FRAMEWORK

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BRIDGE & CANOPY 1 Steps straight into building 2 Connection with Waterpoint 3 Ramp to ground 4 Community allotments 5 Skylights 4

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6 Shaded market 7 Connection with the park

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EXISTING BUILDINGS REUSE EXISTING CONDITION WATERPOINT The grade II listed Waterpoint has maintained its integrity and architectural qualities externally, despite the building having been chopped into three parts and moved. However, internally the building is filled with clutter and is only open to the public for around five days a year. In addition, the building currently does not celebrate its architectural and historical significance as the water tank that used to provide water for the steam trains.

LOCK KEEPER COTTAGE

23 l FRAMEWORK

The grade II listed cottage is currently used as a private residence. The building sits humbly on site in good condition.

PROPOSED

WATERPOINT

LOCK KEEPER COTTAGE

The waterpoint is reinstated as a water tank for the building, giving it the original function of supporting infrastructure. The building is cleared out, the roof and doors are removed, and the water tank is elevated.

The waterpoint becomes a pavilion-like building that people can pass through and appreciate.

Since the cruising clubhouse shed will be demolished, the clubhouse will be moved into the cottage.

Providing them with a space for gathering, workshop, kitchenette and an office counter.

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TEXTURES

The floor textures are extended from the internals of the building towards the main entry points into the site, this will blur the lines between the internals and externals, increase the permeability into the building, making the market space feel like an external one, and the connection with the canal and surroundings is maintained.

24 l FRAMEWORK

The soft landscaping of the Camley Street Natural Park is extended around the visitor center to create a unique and different space where people can gather. A gradient between soft and hard landscapes is created, suggesting the idea of co-existence between nature and infrastructure.

The canal is acknowledged through the use of hard landscaping textures around it.

1 Embankment wall.

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2 Rough texture (Exposed aggregate/ Cobble stones) 3 Smooth Pavers

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1:50 Detailed Textures Plan

The same pattern is carried out in the scheme, where the glazing line becomes the division between the exposed aggregate and the pavers. This creates a subtle difference between the internal space and external space and the canal is acknowledged. Nevertheless, the internal space would still feel like an external one due to the use of typical external floor textures.

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SITE PLAN

01 DESIGN INTENT

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02 FRAMEWORK

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03 PROPOSAL

28

04 ENVIRONMENTAL

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05 STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

80

06 CDM & REGULATIONS

100

07 PROCESS

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DIAGRAM

VARIED VS REPETITIVE

While most heat is taken out through water cooling, 30% of the heat is taken out through the air. Therefore, the Urban Farm is positioned on top of the Data Center as heat rises to use that heat.

The Urban Farm is divided into three parts since different crops need different climatic conditions for growing.

However, the Data Center remains a solid base since the typology is consistent with the repetition of computer servers.

28 l PROPOSAL

HEAT

PUBLIC INFILTRATION The public functions infiltrate underneath and between the infrastructure, making the functions a backdrop to everyday life and creating a building where people and infrastructure co-exist. The levels step to the public views into the Data Center and Urban Farm. The stepping also helps the Urban Farm spaces since different crops need different heights to grow.

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PLAN ANALYSIS

INFRASTRUCTURE BACK

CLEAR VIEWS The public functions exist within the infrastructure. Since all the services are moved in the towers outside the rectangle, the people get undisturbed views of the functions. The new infrastructure of the building creates an axis, while the older infrastructure of the city creates a perpendicular axis between the gasholders and the railway.

Escape cores, toilets, and a riser are all to one side of the scheme in 4 square towers. This frees up the rectangle for maximum efficiency and visual permeability.

SERVICE CORRIDOR An external service corridor exists between the infrastructure rectangle and the towers, designed for circulation into the core towers. The service corridor tackles multiple issues, including the long site and maintaining a logical public and private interface.

BALCONIES PUBLIC CIRCULATION The public circulates in two circular cores, including steps and a lift each.

The cores stand out in the plan and visually, making them special moments in the scheme.

The balconies break the pure form of the rectangle. They highlight the public levels since they follow the stepping and soften the rectangle’s rigidity. Most importantly, they provide external spaces where people can breakout and enjoy a different environment, linking the occupants back into the context of Camden and London.

29 l PROPOSAL

The Data Center and Urban Farm are compacted into a rectangle, as it proved to be the most efficient after various other iterations. Both functions step up, thus shrinking or expanding within the perimeter of the rectangle.

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DATA CENTER

URBAN FARM

PUBLIC

EXTERNAL

31 l PROPOSAL

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GROUND FLOOR

The ground floor takes the people through the building towards the staircase; this is mainly done by the exhibition, which talks about the history of the site and infrastructure in the area and links that to the present and the building. Adjacent to the exhibition, there is a cafe where people can grab a quick coffee before heading up to the workshops upstairs, or people may choose to sit down to enjoy the coffee near the canal. The market is located deeper into the plan, where produce harvested in the Urban Farm is sold to the community.

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LV0

1. Recycling & Bins 2. Temporary Storage 3. Community Temporary Market 4. Cruising Club Clubhouse 5. Workshop 6. Kitchenette 7. Jetty 8. Entrance Lobby 9. Cafe

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10. Exhibition 11. Permanent Market

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12. Electrical & Mechanical Room 13. Dry Dock

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LV1

1. Bridge 2. Outdoor Seating 3. Community Allotments 4. Waterpoint 5. Service Corridor 6. Control Room 7. Server Room 8. Power Center

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PUBLIC SPACES

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CLASSROOM : LV2 The flexible classroom is used for seminars or workshops organised by the clients to educate the public about agricultural and Internet industries since the building serves to raise awareness about these industries and the future of infrastructure. The classroom is positioned near the office since the office staff manages the classes. Breakout spaces for casual seating set around.

2 RESTAURANT : LV3 The restaurant is a key space as it exists between the Data Center and Urban Farm, and it is telling the story of coexistence as it is a highly public function. The restaurant has a close connection with the idea of food production, as it is creating another closed loop within the building between the Urban Farm and the restaurant.

An open kitchen was chosen because a driving factor in the scheme is the transparency of the processes and an open kitchen emphasises that idea.

3 OPEN PLAN WORKSHOPS : LV4 The workshops are flexible bookable spaces that the clients use to host more informal sessions with community members to integrate them with the processes. The public can also book the workshops as coworking spaces. Curtains are used to divide the spaces; this provides a degree of privacy compared to a completely open plan. A kitchenette and breakout spaces are designed to serve the users.

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LV2 9

1. Admin Office 2. Meeting Room 3. Kitchenette 4. Flexible Classroom 5. Breakout Space 6. Gardening Balcony 7. Service Corridor 8. Server Room 9. Power Center 10. Waterpoint Tank

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PUBLIC CIRCULATION

The public circulation creates a journey that truly takes people through different spaces and functions to experience the scheme and its ideas. The circulation picks up on the ground floor closer to the entrance so that people do not have to walk deep into the plan. The core passes through the Data Center, giving the people a view of the servers; it then arrives at the classroom floor and carries to the restaurant floor. The first staircase stops at the restaurant, which sits between the Data Center and Urban Farm, representing the scheme’s main idea of combining these two functions. The restaurant is then designed so that people can pass through it to continue to the second staircase, which goes further up to the flexible workshops.

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LV3

1. Leafy Greens Farm 2. Food Processing 3. Water Tanks 4. Service Corridor 5. Cloak Room 6. Restaurant Seating 7. Open Kitchen 8. Storage 9. Outdoor Cafe Seating Balcony

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10. Server Room

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11. Waterpoint Tank

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BALCONIES

ACTIVITY BALCONY : LV4

42 l PROPOSAL

The activity balcony provides a breakout space for recreation and relaxation for the people working or learning in the flexible workshop space. Multiple furniture installed for different interests, including table tennis, bean bags, seating, and an edge planter.

RESTAURANT SEATING BALCONY : LV3 The restaurant balcony is an extension of the internal seating for the restaurant. This balcony is bigger than the other two, as it is the most public one, where people will enjoy the food grown and served in the building with magnificent views over London.

GARDENING BALCONY : LV2 The gardening balcony is in dialogue with the flexible classroom space, where members of the public will be gaining new skills and knowledge about farming and the Internet. The balcony will further enhance that as members of the public can also be taught about external growing. In addition, the balcony provides an exterior breakout space for the offices. It is mainly covered with corten planting pots and an edge bench for seating.

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LV4

1. Leafy Greens Farm 2. Brown Roof & Skylight 3. Vines Farm

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4. Service Corridor 5. Open Plan Workshops 6. Activity Balcony

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VARIOUS CROPS

GREENHOUSE : LV5

44 l PROPOSAL

Multiple crops are grown in the space, including berries, aloe vera, and even honey culture. The single height volume allows for good light penetration without overshadowing. Therefore the roof is entirely glazed, making the space a greenhouse with a high reliance on natural light for growing. The greenhouse is a more flexible growing environment that could occasionally interact with members of the public with the supervision of an Urban Farm worker.

VINES FARM : LV4 The vines farm is a double-height space because vines grow vertically and need enough clearance to grow. In addition, there is a height added by the planters being raised to a comfortable level and the height occupied by the services. Cucumbers and tomatoes are grown in the vines farm.

LEAFY GREENS FARM : LV3 Leafy greens and herbs do not need much height, creating an opportunity to stack layers of planting racks supported by a braced steel structure. They are placed in the triple-height volume to generate high crop yields through horizontal stacking.

In addition, the racks are elevated at certain positions to provide space underneath for the water tanks and food processing.

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LV5

1. Leafy Greens Farm 2. Brown Roof & Skylight 3. Vines Farm

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LONG SECTION

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50 l PROPOSAL

SHORT SECTION

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51 l PROPOSAL

SOUTH ELEVATION

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EAST ELEVATION

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WEST ELEVATION

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USER EXPERIENCE

JOHN: UCL Computer Science student living in Camden

LV0 John Cycles from home and parks between the Natural Park and Bites & Bytes.

56 l PROPOSAL

LV2 He attends a seminar hosted

by Digital Realty on 5D optical storage, an experimental data storage technology.

LV4 After the session he books a space to work on his university coursework in the flexible workshops. He meets another student from London Metropolitan University and they share a space.

LV4 John and his new friend take a break from work and head to the balcony for a table tennis challenge.

LV0 Before leaving he takes a quick stroll in Camley Street Natural Park.

BITES BYTES Urban Farm Worker

LV0 Sandra arrives using her narrowboat and parks in her designated spot in the basin.

LV0 She has a few minutes to spare before work, so she enjoys some coffee next to the canal.

LV3 She starts work in the leafy greens farm, monitoring the produce and the growth rates and adjusting the climatic conditions to optimise growth.

LV3 On her lunch break, she meets with a fellow colleague from the Data Center department in the restaurant, where they discuss future collaborations for public tours.

LV0 After going back to work she arranges for the delivery of produce to an external market. The delivery van is late, so she stores the produce in the temporary storage next to the loading bay.

LV0 Before leaving, she passes by the internal market to grab some food to bring back home.

57 l PROPOSAL

SANDRA:

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62 l ENVIRONMENTAL

DATA CENTER REQUIREMENTS

TEMPERATURE

The temperature must be maintained in the range of 18-27 OC (64-80 OF) to guarantee a cool environment for the servers and other electronic and electrochemical devices to run properly.

HUMIDITY

Humidity levels must be maintained at 50-60%. If air is too dry, static electricity build-up may lead to potential discharges. While extra humid conditions could lead to condensation build-up.

Electrostatic humidifiers hanging from the ceiling will be used to release the required amount of water vapour.

FIRE & SMOKE

Fire suspension system is employed with its own monitoring and alarm notifications. This includes a water tank, nitrogen cylinders, and a detection mechanism.

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URBAN FARM REQUIREMENTS Crops growth can be optimised by altering the environment around, however these growing conditions are not constant and vary according to the type of crop and the growth stage.

Germinating

Growing

Flowering

5,500 Lux

18,500 Lux

44,500 Lux

HUE LEVELS Light and hue levels increase and change as the crops grow. Therefore, the growth will be closely monitored to provide the plants with the optimum light quality, increase efficiency and plant absorption, and minimise energy use.

HUMIDITY 80%

70%

55%

Humidity levels need to remain relatively high but in a decreasing gradient as crops grow. Different crops require varying humidity levels, one of the climatic factors that informed the separation of the different crops into different spaces in the design.

TEMPERATURE

Leafy Greens Farm: O 60 F (15.5 OC)

Vines Farm: 75 OF (24 OC)

CO2 LEVELS

Greenhouse: 59-75 OF (15-24 OC)

CO2 levels need to be within the range of 800-1000 parts per million regarding the fact that the CO2 levels in a well ventilated room range between 600-1000 parts per million, thus the levels will need to be artificially raised.

CO2 levels can be raised in the growing space by ‘importing’ CO2-laden air from the public spaces within the building and circulated through the main air handling unit.

63 l ENVIRONMENTAL

LUX LEVELS

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HEATING & COOLING LOOP One of the main drivers of the scheme is creating a more energy-efficient and improved piece of infrastructure. Combining the Data Center and Urban Farm into one building allows for the reuse of the heat generated by the Data Center in the Urban Farm (a heat consuming typology) and other parts of the building. The same water used to heat the spaces cools down after going through the different stages, it then circulates back to cool down the Data Center, and the loop continues.

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Water Cycle (70% of the heat) Air Cooling (30% of the heat)

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ELECTRICITY PRODUCED

Heat moves from one body of water to another if there is a temperature difference between the two bodies by simply connecting them with pipework. Thus no energy will be required to move the heat between different parts of the building. This water loop lends itself to a water cooling system for the Data Center.

HEAT

ENTHROPY

ARUBA AREZZO IT1 2200 sqm 4 MW

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BYTES & BITES 1350 sqm 2.5 MW

By comparing the server room floor area between the proposed scheme and an existing Data Center, it can be deduced that the Data Center will run on 2.5 MW of electricity.

The scheme will connect with existing and future district heating network corridors to provide heating for the surrounding community.

According to Data Centers in Sweden, 10 MW is enough to heat 20,000 modern residential apartments. If we compare that with the amount of energy being produced in the scheme (2.5 MW) where 70% of that value (1.75 MW) can be cooled with water and connected to the district heating, we can conclude that the scheme can provide heat equivalent to the amount needed to warm 3,500 modern residential apartments.

The proposed scheme will become an asset to the community and will encourage similar projects and the development of further district heating corridors within the borough and London.

Heating demands Site Proposed network corridors Existing heating networks Under work network corridors Future network corridors

65 l ENVIRONMENTAL

DISTRICT HEATING NETWORK

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BITES BYTES

HEATING REQUIREMENTS FORM FACTOR Total Heat Loss Area

=

Total Floor Area

6215

Passivhaus buildings aim to achieve a form factor of 3 or less. Thus a form factor of 1.49 is an incredible number as the surface area to volume ratio minimises heat loss.

= 1.49

4184

VENTILATION HEAT LOSS

Total ventilation heat loss

Mechanical heat recovery

= V nvpCp air = 14,487 m3 x 7.5 ac h-1 x 0.33 Whm-3K-1 = 35,855 WK-1

Qv T Qv

= 35,855 x 80% = 7,171 WK-1

T

The number of air changes per hour (7.5) was based on the average between the public spaces and the Urban Farm spaces, which are the spaces that need ventilation. 7.5 is a significant number; this is due to the continuous air circulation needed by the crops on the one hand and the busy public function on the other.

66 l ENVIRONMENTAL

FABRIC HEAT LOSS Area (m2)

U -Value (Wm-2K-1)

Heat Loss (WK-1)

Solid Walls: Insulated stud wall with Corten cladding

1,479

0.1

147.9

Double Glazing

3,011

2.8

8,431

Ground Floor: Insulated Concrete Slab

650

0.13

84.5

Raised Floor Underside: Insulated Concrete Floor Slab

350

0.15

52.5

Roof: Insulated Concrete Floor Slab with Brown Roof

725

0.13

94.25

OVERALL BUILDING HEAT LOSS & REQUIREMENTS Total Fabric Heat Loss

Overall Heat Loss

Qf

=

T QT

= 8,810 + 7,171 = 15,981 WK-1

=Qf +QV

T

Heating Requirements (assuming a degree day for December in London is 254)

= 147.9+8,431+84.5+52.5+94.25 = 8,810 WK-1

UA

=QT x

T x 254

= 15981 x 24 x 254 = 97,420 kWh

DISTRICT HEATING CONTRIBUTION As calculated earlier, the data center runs on 2.5 MW 70% of which can be taken out through water and used for the district heating network (1.75 MW).

This can be used to calculate the amount of heat being produced yearly to compare with the heating requirements: 1.75 MW = 1750 kW 1750 kW x (24 x 365) = 15,330,000

kWh of heat produced by Data Center yearly.

This value is 0.006% of the heating demands of the building, which is near negligible. The rest of the heat will be given to the district heating network, with the capacity to heat 3,500 modern residential homes in London.

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LIGHTING STRATEGY

>150

LUX

60K

6

4

5

1 3

1

4

The Data Center is an entirely artificially lit black box space; this is to keep the space environmentally controlled.

Urban Farm spaces are glazed to supply sunlight for the crops as a supplemental source to minimise the usage of LED lighting. LUX levels reach up to 40K at certain times of the day, which would be sufficient for the crops to grow.

2

5

Public spaces have floor to ceiling glazing to maximise daylight penetration.

Filtration of light provided by external mesh to minimise solar gains since heating demands are achieved using the heat produced by the servers.

3

6

Internal user-controllable blinds in workshops to prevent glare and heat.

Roof of the greenhouse farm is glazed to maximise sunlight for the crops.

67 l ENVIRONMENTAL

2

&

BITES BYTES

VENTILATION STRATEGY

4

3 2 1

68 l ENVIRONMENTAL

1 GROUND FLOOR The ground floor is naturally ventilated using cross ventilation when the climate allows. The space is a semi external space that is completely open when the weather permits and is not intensely heated.

Distribution Supply Extract

2 DATA CENTER The Data Center and server rooms hardly need any ventilation.

However, humanoccupied rooms such as the control room will need a proper mechanical ventilation system.

3 PUBLIC FUNCTIONS The public functions are naturally ventilated using cross ventilation when the climate allows. Windows are controlled by the occupants.

4 URBAN FARM The Urban Farm will be ventilated using a mixed-mode system in the summer months and mechanically ventilated for the rest of the year.

LV5 Plan

BITES BYTES

Fresh Air intake from Air handling unit on the roof

&

Urban Farm Triple and Double height ventilated at the top

69 l ENVIRONMENTAL

Vents connected to mixing cabinet in Data Center to take out heat and bring in fresh air from outside

20mm deep sealant

Insulation

Steel tray

Services are distributed from the main riser to a horizontal gap underneath the external service walkway.

As services pass through the wall, a sealant is applied for fire and thermal protection.

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BITES BYTES

DATA CENTER COOLING

DIRECT TO CHIP COOLING The servers are mainly cooled with the direct to chip cooling system, where a liquid coolant directly cools hot components via a cold plate attached to the chip. This system is connected to the main building water loop so that the heat captured is moved to the thermal store and beyond.

70 l ENVIRONMENTAL

Since the chip produces 70% of the heat in these servers, 70% of the total heat generated by the Data Center is taken out through this cooling system and can be used more efficiently elsewhere.

LAYOUT The 30% of heat remaining is taken out through air circulation within the Data Center. Thus the typical arrangement of the hot aisle and the cold aisle is needed to ensure efficient air circulation is taking place and different air temperatures are not mixing.

Mixing cabinet open to the ceiling and raised floor.

Perforated woodcore tiling for flooring and suspended ceiling to manage air circulation.

Floor raised on cement filled steel pedestals to support the load. Liquid cooling pipes pass under.

Overhead busway cabling for ease of maintenance and not to disturb airflow in the raised floor.

BITES BYTES

N NW

C

O

30

&

PASSIVE COOLING

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

NE 23

W

E

15 8

SW

SE

S Prevailing wind directions are mainly from the SW. Therefore openable windows must be oriented in that direction.

0

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

When cooling is needed in the summer months, the temperature ranges between 1523 OC, which is ideal for the growing environments. The urban farm spaces will need a mixed-mode strategy between passive and mechanical to reach the ideal climatic conditions for each space.

4.2 m

14.7 m All Urban Farm and public spaces can be naturally cross ventilated, due to the high head height and the narrow plan dimensions.

W<5H 14.7<(5 x 4.2) 14.7 < 21

OPENABLE WINDOWS

URBAN FARM SPACES: the 0.5m windows pivot inwards by actuators and sit between the columns so that the growing space and circulation are not disturbed.

PUBLIC SPACES: windows pivot outwards and are controlled by the occupants.

71 l ENVIRONMENTAL

ROOM PROPORTIONS

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ROOF STRATEGY SKYLIGHTS

GREENHOUSE: The roof over the greenhouse farm is completely glazed to maximise light levels, thus reducing the reliance on artificial lighting.

72 l ENVIRONMENTAL

THERMAL STORE TANK

STAIRCASES: A portion of the roof above the staircases will have a circular skylight to bring in light into a key element of the scheme.

The highly insulated thermal store tank will be located on the roof close to the riser.

7.7 m 7.7 m 2m

The mass of the water can be calculated using the specific heat capacity of water, the energy value of 1.75 MW which is 70% of the heat cooled by water, difference in temperature, and assuming the heat needs 2 hours to move.

Q=mc T m=[1,750,000 x 7200] / [4182 x (85-60)] m=120,516 kg Thus Volume= 121 kg/m3

SOLAR BROWN ROOF The roof makes use of both the benefits of a brown roof and a photovoltaic roof.

The brown roof helps with rainwater attenuation and increases biodiversity.

Due to the ambitious nature of the building’s programme, the building will have high energy demand to supply the servers and led lights ; therefore, the photovoltaic roof will help with meeting that demand.

ROOF BUILDUP -

200mm Brown Roof Substrate 100mm Drainage Layer Waterproof Flat Roof Membrane 200mm Rigid Insulation Damp Proof Membrane 50mm Protective Screed 250mm Hollow Core Concrete Slab

BITES

1:250 1

BYTES 5

10

25

&

ROOF

1. Photovoltaic Panels 2. Brown Roof 3. Storage

6

4. Thermal Store Tank 5. Air Handling Units 6. Skylights

5

4

2

1

3 2

1

&

BITES BYTES

WATER SYSTEM

1

74 l ENVIRONMENTAL

2

Water Tanks 3 Rainwater 1

Water is collected across the roof and retained in brown roof or fed along gutters.

2

Water is directed down the central riser.

3

Water is stored in grey tank ready for redistribution.

Hot Water supplied to the building.

Freshwater intake form grid and wastewater out-take to sewage system.

RAINWATER COLLECTION = Yearly Rainfall x Roof area for water collection x 90% efficiency x Percentage runoff coefficient = 690 x 615 x 0.9 x 0.4 = 152,766 liters CARBON SAVING SYSTEM Annual volume of water collected x Carbon footprint of mains water = 152,766 x 0.298 = 45,524 kgCO2e

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AQUAPONIC TANKS

The aquaponic water tanks are placed in the triple-height Urban Farm space on the ground, elevated above the planting racks.

Water is distributed from these tanks to other Urban Farm spaces.

75 l ENVIRONMENTAL

Rainwater Harvesting

Purified Reverse Osmosis Filter

Purified Reverse Osmosis Reservoir

Aeration pump

Delivery Pump

Fish Tanks Planter The Aquaponic farming process has multiple advantages from a water efficiency perspective. Compared to traditional farming, the method uses 30% of the water needed. The process also creates a loop of water purification between the crops and the fish, allowing for water reuse.

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BITES BYTES

OPERATIONAL CARBON

SYSTEMATIC THINKING The scheme pushes for creating a circular system where multiple functions can work simultaneously in a symbiotic ecosystem. This is most prominent in the heating and cooling loop. However, it is also true for other elements in the scheme, such as using the crops in the market and restaurant, and cutting down transportation footprint.

The scheme aspires to create a model that can inspire other projects to develop more sustainable solutions, projects that think of waste as an opportunity and beyond.

PASSIVE DESIGN

76 l ENVIRONMENTAL

The scheme makes use of the passive and “carbon free” strategies that decrease the need for energy to sustain the functionality and comfort of the building. This ranges from daylighting, natural ventilation, rainwater harvesting, and solar gathering.

Form Factor 1.49

LOW FORM FACTOR The amount of envelope area compared to the usable floor area is at a low level; this reduces the thermal exchange between the internals and externals, reducing the heating and cooling loads. This also means more heat will be provided for the district heating from the Data Center heat.

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&

EMBODIED CARBON

FUTURE IN MIND As humans become more reliant on data and the Internet as part of their everyday lives, and as the human population exceeds 10 billion by 2050, the need for food production and Data Center services will only increase, so the building is predicted to have a long lifespan.

The scheme was designed to accommodate flexibility, future use, and durability; such strategies include a regular column grid, high floor to ceiling levels, and minimal maintenance requirements for the structure and facade.

The structure used is sized for maximum efficiency of the material and space requirements. In addition, low carbon alternatives are used, such as GGBS concrete, which utilises waste products of steel production as a replacement for cement, which accounts for a high percentage of concrete’s carbon footprint.

PRECAST Precast structure is used; this allows for the use of hollow-core concrete slabs, reducing the amount of material used. Precast concrete can also be more durable, increasing the structure’s lifespan.

77 l ENVIRONMENTAL

MATERIAL

01 DESIGN INTENT

06

02 FRAMEWORK

16

03 PROPOSAL

28

04 ENVIRONMENTAL

62

05 STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

80

06 CDM & REGULATIONS

100

07 PROCESS

106

&

BITES BYTES

MATERIAL PALETTE

CORTEN

80 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

Corten is used externally mainly for the facade. The material will give the building a distinctive identity that will make it stand out as a monumental modern piece of infrastructure. This approach is also contextually responsive due to the bold and distinctive elements around the site, including the gasholders and the basin. The material also expresses the raw industrial pedigree of the building due to its weathered look.

CONCRETE

Concrete is used for the primary structure within the building for its structural and environmental characteristics. Concrete is seen externally and internally to express the bones of the building, making the building an honest piece of architecture. In addition, GGBS concrete will be used to reduce the embodied carbon of the building and increase the stability and durability of the structure due to the longer curing process.

TIMBER

Timber is used internally for the wall finishes and furniture for the public functions. The tactility and warmth of timber create a contrast with the rough corten and concrete textures, and that references the idea of integrating the public into the infrastructure of our cities.

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&

LOADING

DURABILITY

Both the Urban Farm and Data Center have very heavy loads; concrete is suitable as it is a sturdy structure to handle the loads.

Data and food requirements are rising, and it is expected for the building to have a long lifespan to meet these growing requirements, so a durable, low-maintenance structure with a long life span is needed.

FIRE PROTECTION

WATER

A concrete structure is used to provide the immense fire protection needed by the Data Center to guarantee the protection of the data stored, and so that the servers do not further contribute with the fire spread as they are highly combustible objects.

The structure will go into the water, and concrete is used as it does not rust or degrade over time as a result of being in contact with the water.

81 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

STRUCTURAL JUSTIFICATION

&

BITES BYTES

STRUCTURAL GRID The building follows a regular column grid of 14m x 6.5m modules and only changes to 14m x 5m around the public staircases.

The 250 mm hollow core concrete slabs will span the short dimension of 6.5m between the columns; however, structural beams will be needed to support the longer span of 14m.

82 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

The stability cores are aligned with the main structural grid. 900 mm thick beams will span between stability cores to support the external walkway slab spanning between the main structural grid and the cores.

5m

Structural Concrete Stability Cores 500mm x 500mm Concrete Columns 600mm x 250 mm Concrete Beams 6.5m

900mm x 250 mm Concrete Beams Spanning Structure: 250 mm Hollow Core Concrete Slab

14m

BITES BYTES

&

STRUCTURAL HIERARCHY

CORES

Ground Beam + Pile Cap + Quad Piles

Concrete walls stability cores

PRIMARY STRUCTURE

SECONDARY STRUCTURE

Concrete Columns + Slabs + Beams

Timber Stud wall + Steel Facade Fixing

83 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

FOUNDATIONS

BALCONIES Steel beams + Rods

&

BITES BYTES

EXPLODED STRUCTURE

2

84 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

1

4 3

5

6

1 Four concrete cores separated along the length of the building, providing lateral stability in all directions.

2 External walkways span between the beams supported by the cores and the primary structure.

3 Balconies are supported by steel beams tied to primary structure slabs and steel rods connected to the concrete cores.

4 The columns are sized at 500mm x 500mm to support the functions’ heavy load and be enough to selfbrace in the triple and double-height volumes.

5 Tie beams span between columns to support the facade structure.

6 The timber stud wall sits on the primary structure and holds insulation, membranes, and supports the facade.

BITES BYTES

&

PRE-CAST CONSTRUCTION CONNECTIONS

1 PRIMARY STRUCTURE 1 The joint is grouted solid.

2 Hollow core slabs are set on bearing pads on precast beams. Steel reinforcing bars are inserted into the slab to span the joint.

3 Beam sits on column extension and is welded with a steel angle connector.

3

3 FOUNDATIONS 1 Precast PAD Foundation.

2 Precast wall-holder ground beams.

2

3 Precast columns with bent rebars jutting out of base and adjusting device for alignment and fixing.

1

STRUCTURAL THERMAL BREAK Several columns towards the north end of the building extend from outside the building to inside. To guarantee the continuity of the thermal insulation Armatherm 500 block is used in line with the thermal insulation. The block is sized to provide the same compression strength as the column.

85 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

2

&

BITES BYTES

1:50 DETAIL SECTION

86 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

1

2

3

4

BITES 1 PARAPET

-

-

BYTES

&

250mm x 250mm weathered steel hollow section connected to weathered steel up-stand Corten parapet capping Timber studs Damp proof membrane 2 Rigid insulation layers

2 BROWN SOLAR ROOF

-

200mm Brown roof substrate 400mm perimeter pebbles for drainage 100mm Drainage layer Water proof flat roof Membrane 200mm Rigid insulation Vapour barrier 50mm Protective screed 250mm Hollow core concrete slab

-

-

-

Triangulated corten mesh cladding bracketed onto steel angle 250mm x 250mm weathered steel hollow section Aluminum metal grating floor for maintenance Water proof membrane 200mm rigid insulation Vapour barrier Operable corten framed double glazing unit tied back to the tie beam with an steel L section 400mm x 400mm concrete tie beam

4 INTERMEDIATE FLOOR

-

65mm polished concrete screed 100mm groved insulation with underfloor heating pipes 250mm hollow core concrete slab 600mm x 250mm concrete beams (parallel to section cut)

5 SERVICE CORRIDOR

-

5

-

-

Perforated corten metal flooring raised on pedestals 900mm x 250mm concrete beam spanning between stability cores 350mm concrete slab spanning between the beam and the slab (schock thermal break used between interior and exterior slabs) 50mm rigid insulation Services 50mm x 50mm steel tubes Corten sheet soffit

87 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

3 CORTEN MESH CLADDING

&

BITES BYTES

1:50 DETAIL SECTION

88 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

7

8

9

BITES 6 BALCONY

-

&

Hardwood deck flooring 50mm x 150mm timber battens 300mm x 130mm Weathered steel I-beams tied back to concrete beam and supported by steel rods hanging from the concrete stability cores

7 SOLID WALLS

-

-

Corten panels ( outset panels wrap around in cross-section to be bolted to vertical support) Horizontal and vertical mullions Water proof membrane 12mm plywood sheet 300mm rigid insulation 12mm plywood sheet Vapour barrier Smooth internal render

8 FIRST FLOOR

-

-

-

9

-

Woodcore flooring tiles alternating between perforated and solid based on hot aisle and cold aisle arrangement 600mm raised floor for air cooling and water cooling pipes (Cement filled steel pedestals to support the load of servers) 12mm plywood sheet Vapour barrier 200mm rigid insulation Water proof membrane 250mm hollow core concrete slab 600mm x 250mm concrete beams (parallel to section cut) FOUNDATIONS + GROUND FLOOR 65mm polished concrete screed Vapour barrier 100mm groved insulation with underfloor heating pipes Waterproof membrane 150mm hollow core concrete slab 50mm floating screed 150mm hardcore 850mm x 500mm ground beams 1500mm x 900mm pile caps Quad piles

89 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

6

BYTES

&

BITES BYTES

1:50 ELEVATION

BITES BYTES

&

FACADE BREAKDOWN MESH: URBAN FARM

Refer to pg.87 for detail breakdown

Eco-Farm Series Visitor Center, Cina - Kunshan Vector Architects

SOLID: DATA CENTER

The Data Center is surrounded by solid walls to be controlled environmentally to maintain the required conditions for the equipment. Corten panels create a checkered pattern of insets and outsets to portray the dimensions of the servers so that the expression of the building becomes a register of the internals. This same idea can be seen in the following storage building precedent, where the facade is an impression of how materials are stored internally as stacked wooden pallets.

Angled sheet for draining

Refer to pg.89 for detail breakdown

Ricola Storage Building, Laufen Herzog & de Meuron

91 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

A mesh is used for the Urban Farm to bring light to the growing space as a supplement to the LED lights, but it also filters the light reducing the amount of heat gathered passively since the Data Center meets the heating requirements of the building. The mesh also allows views into the farm, making it a beacon of new infrastructure. The mesh triangulation gives the building different transparencies depending on the angle of perception, as seen in the following precedent, further evoking the public interest.

&

BITES BYTES

92 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

PUBLIC STAIRCASE

4

1

2 5

3 6 1 170mm x 170mm steel hollow section connected to concrete slab

2 50mm diameter brushed stainless steel handrail at 900 mm height

3 Open work corten steel plate balustrade welded to the outer side of the stringer at 1100mm height

4 50mm thick Corten tread welded to the inner side of the stringer

5 50mm thick corten steel double sided curved stringer beam

6 Laminated glass core

BITES BYTES

&

BALCONIES 2

4 3

93 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

1

1 Hardwood flooring planks continue to become edge seating around planters.

2 Hardwood flooring planks are separated and stand as elements that embody the timber canal boats, which can be seen between the gaps.

3 I-beams are connected to concrete beams spanning between stability cores. A different structural language is used since the balconies break the pattern of the plan as separate external elements.

4 Balconies further supported with suspension cables hanging from the stability cores.

&

BITES BYTES

EXISTING BRIDGE The existing sommers town bridge is divided into two parts. A 38m bridge span above the canal is only 15mm thick and achieves a minimum depth of 400mm at each end; the form of the bridge follows the bending moment, demonstrating the bending moment where steel is needed. The second half is a walkway sitting on top of gabion walls.

Bridge

94 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

Walkway

Supported on the historic brick wall on one end.

The other end of the bridge is supported by two columns which go into the gabion walls.

The handrail detail slowly transitions from stainless steel to planned hardwood as the bridge transitions into a walkway.

Typical handrail with infill plate profiles modified to include supports.

100m spaced steel plates form the balustrade, flat in elevation but skewed in plan.

Painted steel ribs skewed relative to bridge centerline.

Mild steel deck plate with varying height and a resin bound aggregate finish.

BITES BYTES

&

Existing Bridge

95 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

BRIDGE & CANOPY

Bridge Extension 4

2 3 1 1 Existing bridge and columns retained.

3 Corten staircase supported on a single steel stringer underneath midpoint of stairs.

2 Bridge extension follows the same details and bending moment.

4 The handrail transitions from stainless steel to corten as it approaches the building.

A 200mm concrete columns spaced 7mx 7m apart support a 200mm concrete slab.

B Ramp supported on the concrete columns and plinth, exposed composite aggregate finish as a continuation of the bridge.

C

D

C Corten Planters.

D Aluminum Framed skylights to bring in lighting to shaded market underneath.

A B

&

BITES BYTES

CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE

STEP 4: Mobile crane to construct cores providing stability for construction/ Mobile crane to install tower crane in third core to the north.

STEP 2: Leveling site / Relocating trees / Demolishing sheds / opening hole in wall / Retrofit Waterpoint & Lock Keeper Cottage.

STEP 5: Precast concrete frame constructed floor by floor / MEP installation / Construction of balconies.

STEP 3: Sheet piling to pump out water and fill with gravel / Piling mat and drilling to insert piles.

STEP 6: Solid facade to be constructed as floors rise.

96 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

STEP 1: Exploratory site survey / 3 Test piles / Site offices set up and storage area defined.

BITES BYTES

&

97 l STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

STEP 7: Tower crane to be removed and final core to be completed / Windows installed / Sheet piling removed.

STEP 8: Internal fit out / Mesh cladding installed.

STEP 9: Demolishing bridge walkway / Construction of shaded canopy and bridge extension / Landscape changes.

01 DESIGN INTENT

06

02 FRAMEWORK

16

03 PROPOSAL

28

04 ENVIRONMENTAL

62

05 STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

80

06 CDM & REGULATIONS

100

07 PROCESS

106

&

BITES BYTES

CDM & SITE STRATEGIES

PRE CONSTRUCTION SURVEY: Archaeological and geological survey of the site to be carried out to highlight any issues with the site. This includes 3 test pits.

CONTRACTOR: A specialist contractor is selected with experience around challenging sites and water.

CDM MANAGER: Contractor to appoint CDM manager for detailed strategy based on construction phasing.

SURROUNDINGS: Discussions and ongoing communication with neighboring property managers, timeline must take into consideration the surroundings.

100 l CDM & REGULATIONS

CONSTRUCTION HOARDING: Protection and security across the site’s boundary to block public access and improve safety.

BRIDGE AND ACCESS: Existing Sommers Town bridge is kept functioning and works on the bridge left till the end.

FACILITIES: A site office, storage and facilities set up in a suitable location.

DELIVERIES: Arrival from Camley Street Natural Park as that is the only vehicular access point.

PRE-CAST CONSTRUCTION: Additional risks that should be assessed and monitored.

MAINTENANCE + USE WINDOW CLEANING: External walkways around mesh cladding for cleaning windows/ West facade windows cleaned on services corridor/ Self-cleaning coating used to reduce maintenance needs/ All other windows cleaned with extending pole or cherry picker.

ROOF MAINTENANCE: Roof-light window cleaning and plant maintenance require roof access; parapet and mesh cladding oversail prevent falling.

LANDSCAPE: The landscaping across the site requires maintenance; large parts are maintained and used by the community members.

Collaboration with Camley Street Natural Park to maintain landscaping between both sites.

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PART B - FIRE STRATEGY

MEANS OF ESCAPE Two fire escape cores are positioned at both ends of the building to provide all occupants with a route within the 45m limit to escape. The escape cores are accessed by a clear 2m wide corridor. Escape routes are adequately lit and signposted.

FIRE FIGHTING CORES The two concrete cores provide fire protection. The design consists of a lobby, refuge point, escape stair, dry riser, and a fire fighting lift since the building rises above 18m height.

The core is at 5.4m x 5.2, providing enough space for the stairs to be 1.1m wide with a landing midway through.

40m

101 l CDM & REGULATIONS

LV3:

38m

LV4:

45m 45m

20m

DETAILED ANALYSIS -

Fire alarm and detection system fitted in all parts of the building to the specified standards.

Data Center contains its fire suspension system employed with monitoring and alarm notifications.

Electrical fire warning system with manual call points located near exit doors, audible sounders and visual flashing cues to be installed throughout the building.

Sprinklers in high occupancy public spaces to reduce fire spread.

All internal finishes comply with Part B: fire-resistant ceiling and glazing with metal framework.

No adjacent buildings around the site, eliminating the spread of fire to the surrounding.

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BITES BYTES

PART M - ACCESS TO & USE OF BUILDINGS

102 l CDM & REGULATIONS

Loading

GROUND FLOOR

CIRCULATION

-

Public lift with an internal dimension of 1.4m diameter can accommodate wheelchair users. Fire core lifts are used as a services lift to move Data Center equipment and crops.

Wide circulation routes provide passageways wider than 1.5m.

-

Major groundworks and level changes are carried out to create a step free accessible site and building. The scheme creates connections with Camley Street Natural Park, pavement, and elevated platform on the other side of the canal.

Parking and drop off area for wheelchair users.

Bicycle parking.

Automatic opening doors.

Clear routes to reception and circulation zone emphasised by floor textures.

RAMP

TOILETS

The existing walkway ramp to be demolished and replaced with a ramp that creates better connections. The ramp was designed according to the length of the existing ramp (60 m) to provide a comfortable gradient of 1:15.

A wheelchair accessible toilet is provided on each floor.

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103 l CDM & REGULATIONS

PART K - PROTECTION FROM COLLISION & IMPACT

3

2

1

1

STAIRS All risers have a height of 170mm and a minimum going of 250mm in line with requirements for ambulant disabled users in public buildings.

2 HANDRAILS Stairs and ramp have 1100mm high guardrails and 900mm high handrails.

3 BALUSTRADES All the balustrades in the building are made up of vertical elements which are spaced at 100mm between centers to avoid accidents involving children.

01 DESIGN INTENT

06

02 FRAMEWORK

16

03 PROPOSAL

28

04 ENVIRONMENTAL

62

05 STRUCTURAL & TECTONICS

80

06 CDM & REGULATIONS

100

07 PROCESS

106

&

BITES BYTES

INITIAL IDEAS

106 l PROCESS

The process started with the idea of two rising masses, one for the Data Center and the other for the Urban Farm, and connecting them with the public functions as a glue. Several ideas were developed regarding the entrance and the journey through the building placing the focus on the public interaction with the functions. However, as the project progressed, the idea of two rising masses made it difficult for the public interaction with the actual Data Center and Urban Farm, and the interaction was limited to exhibition rooms and not with the real functions.

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HONESTY NOT “PASTICHE”

107 l PROCESS

The previous scheme was developed into multiple circular forms that reference the silos, as they are key infrastructure pieces that supported the agricultural industry, in addition the form related to the gasholders adjacent to the site. The roof of the urban farm was seen as an extension of the Camley Street Natural Park and an opportunity to create steps which people take to reach the restaurant on the top floor. However, the idea and the form produced were not intrinsic to either the Data Center or the Urban Farm. The scheme was more of an imitation of previous infrastructure, whereas the project should tell a story about a new contemporary piece of infrastructure. By going through this iteration, I realised the importance of creating an honest piece of infrastructure, and that became a driving factor for a lot of the decision making.

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HEAT & VIEWS

108 l PROCESS

As I further understood the project’s environmental requirements, it was decided to place the Urban Farm on top of the Data Center so that all the heat produced by the Data Center could be reused in the Urban Farm. Public interaction was through viewing the Data Center above the market and viewing the Urban Farm as people rise the roof. This iteration further enhanced the idea of merging these two functions into a symbiotic ecosystem rather than being separated into two different masses. However, it still does not entirely embody the idea of combining the function since they are not seen in conjunction. The journey of seeing the Data Center is completely separate from the journey of seeing the Urban Farm. Work was done on the existing bridge to try and create multiple paths and a better connection with the park.

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PUBLIC & PRIVATE

109 l PROCESS

The building was divided into two parts based on public and private, and circulation was in between, allowing people to look into both functions as they stepped up deeper into the plan. This created a more purposeful journey that told the story of the scheme, since the interaction with both functions became one journey. This design move made the Data Center and Urban Farm spaces quite narrow, creating problems with efficiency and circulation. The public circulation in the middle was too narrow and dark, and that weakened the experience of interaction with the functions.

The infrastructure part of the project was also undermined as it was not the primary element in the scheme and it was pushed to one side.

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CIRCULATION

110 l PROCESS

The infrastructure part of the project was moved to the heart of the site as the primary element; public circulation was through escalators that stepped up with the stepping of the Data Center and Urban Farm.

Every escalator landing led to a path between the Urban Farm and Data Center, allowing people to pass through into the public functions on the other side. As people pass through, they get a view into both functions in conjunction. However, public functions felt too separate and not integral to the scheme, which did not tell the story of co-existence between the public and the infrastructure. A central core was designed for services, toilets, and lifts, but it proved problematic as it divided spaces and prevented views; for example, the restaurant at the top was disconnected from the Urban Farm.

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INTEGRATION

111 l PROCESS

The scheme was developed so that the public functions existed within the same block, creating a more integral project were experiencing the functions were not limited to circulation, and it pushed the idea of coexistence further. The building did not slope anymore to create different Urban Farm spaces with varying head heights, allowing different crops to be grown. The idea of stepping was retained as it allows for better interaction and views from the public functions. The primary core was moved to the front of the building so that it was closer to the entrance and so it does not disconnect spaces. Other service towers were designed over the water to include fire escapes and risers. Public circulation was to one side between the towers and the infrastructure block, where it stepped up with every landing leading to a public function. The scheme felt more integrated; however, the public circulation was not celebrated and it forces people to walk long distances back to reach the primary core which includes lifts and toilets, specifically on the upper floors. The public functions were too disconnected, and the initial idea of the public being the glue between the two functions was lost.

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DIAGRAM

112 l PROCESS

The diagram was revised to simplify the scheme’s elements and create a unique and amplified experience. The public spaces became a connected stepping level between the Data Center and Urban Farm as the element combining them. The stepping is retained to allow for views into the functions. The circulation is moved into two circular cores creating a journey through the building arriving at different floors with views into the functions. Toilets and lifts moved from the main core to the towers in the back so that the elevation speaks a consistent language that is a clear embodiment of the diagram, and the towers become a different element with a different expression. Balconies are added between the cores highlighting the public spaces and creating external breakout spaces.

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EXPRESSION

113 l PROCESS

The expression of the building and the materials employed took multiple turns as the scheme developed. The idea started with creating a heavy base and a lightweight top, the Data Center was completely solid, and the Urban Farm was glazed. Multiple other iterations were tested; for example, an algae facade for the urban farm that produced energy was considered, which proved to be inefficient for the scheme and orientation of the site. All the iterations suggested created a disconnect between the two functions, which did not align with the intentions of the scheme. A later iteration employed a bio-material that opened up into thin slits to provide views into both functions. The same proportions were used, but different colours were employed to portray different functions. The expression was not intrinsic to the true requirements and conditions of the scheme, and it was a graphical design move, not an architectural one. The final iteration employed the corten material, which follows the same proportions but manifests into a mesh and solid facade for the Urban Farm and Data Center consecutively. The public functions are expressed with floor to ceiling windows that fade into the background as a non-material between the corten facades.

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FINALISING

114 l PROCESS

Final design alterations were implemented. The restaurant was moved to LV3, becoming a key space within the building as it exists between the Data Center and Urban Farm. The second public circulation core was changed so it does not continue down to the ground floor; this allows for an enhanced experience and journey through the building experiencing the different functions. The landscape strategy was reviewed to strengthen the connection with the park, and the bridge takes people straight into the building, creating a clear entry sequence.

Details were reviewed and finalised to create a feasible building that speaks a coherent language visually and structurally.

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REFLECTION The project was well-received in the final review, and it felt really positive, which made me feel accomplished and proud, helping me push through the final weeks to produce the design report. The discussion was mainly about the nuances of design from the perspective of different designers. Apart from the changes to the circulation and slight alteration of the core sizes, I could no longer make fundamental design moves, as the effort was put into the presentation and production. Nevertheless, the discussion was very insightful, and it was useful to get a pair of fresh eyes.

An interesting idea discussed in the review was the elements that form the scheme, where the feedback suggested reducing those elements. I find that quite interesting as it is a task I have been trying to accomplish since the start of the process - to create a more integrated and simple scheme to embody the idea of co-existence and symbiotic relationships.

Another idea raised was to drop down the mesh facade and raise the solid facade, so they come closer, making the glazing between a less prominent element. I personally think that would go against the “honesty” of the expression, as the facade would not truthfully embody the functions. However, further experimentation would be on the facade and trying to create a less prominent glazed element between the two functions.

115 l PROCESS

The suggestion was to try and make the external service corridor an internal one by pushing the facade to the edges of the stability cores. While an internal corridor was something I experimented with in the past, I feel like it is a valid point. If time allowed, I would have considered and sought a solution where the service corridor would not stand out as an extra element.

The most valuable lesson I learned in this project would be experimentation, as I went through many experiments and iterations before I arrived at a design resolution that embodies the design intent and functions logically as a building. I decided not to get too attached to any idea and to believe in myself and the scheme if a new design opportunity arose, even if it felt like time would be an issue. I made those decisions because I was always striving for better solutions and because I believe a good design helps continue designing itself, while a flawed one only creates issues along the way.

Apart from my interest in infrastructure and sustainability, one of the main reasons I decided to go with a technical project was to challenge myself environmentally and structurally, as I believe I needed to enhance my skills in those area, and selecting a technical project would push me to integrate the structure and environment from early stages. After finishing the project, I can confirm that my knowledge in these areas has immensely deepened, and I will take the skills I have learned further into my career.

Although it was a technical project, I always kept on reminding myself to focus on the keystone ideas and not lose them along the way as the requirements piled up with the project progression, and I kept on revisiting the diagram, which is one of the main reasons the designed took multiple turns. I feel like that helped create a good balance between a building which is efficient and functional from its industrial side, but also a building which is public, interactive, and inviting.

I would like to thank my tutor Tim Rolt for all the support and insights, I always felt motivated to embark on a new journey after our tutorials, and that truly pushed the design and helped me develop as a designer.

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BITES BYTES

REFERENCING DIAGRAMS Data Center Energy Demands : Ratka, S. and Boshell, F., 2020. The nexus between data centres, efficiency and renewables: a role model for the energy transition - Energy Post. [online] Energy Post. Available at: <https://energypost.eu/the-nexus-betweendata-centres-efficiency-and-renewables-a-role-model-for-the-energy-transition/#:~:text=Estimates%20suggest%20that%20 annual%20electricity,scenarios%20(Nature%2C%202018).> [Accessed 25 January 2022].

Future data center demand (graphs): cited Bitcoin Energy Demands: Nytimes.com. 2021. Bitcoin Uses More Electricity Than Many Countries. How Is That Possible?. [online] Available at: <https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/09/03/climate/bitcoin-carbon-footprint-electricity.html> [Accessed 25 January 2022].

Infrastructure Typologies: Becher, B. and Becher, H., 2004. Typologies. Cambridge: MIT Press.

Contextual Heritage: King’s Cross, 2013. St Pancras Cruising Club. [video] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=0fvsq1kZT58> [Accessed 25 January 2022].

Gasholders London: WilkinsonEyre. n.d. Wilkinson Eyre Architects | WilkinsonEyre. [online] Available at: <https://www. wilkinsoneyre.com/projects/gasholders-london> [Accessed 25 January 2022].

Coal Drops Yard: Castro, F., n.d. Coal Drops Yard / Heatherwick Studio. [online] ArchDaily. Available at: <https://www.archdaily. com/904676/coal-drops-yard-heatherwick-studio> [Accessed 25 January 2022].

Camden Highline: Ing, W., 2021. Camden Highline vision revealed by James Corner-led team. [online] The Architects’ Journal.

Available at: <https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/james-corner-led-team-reveals-latest-vision-for-camden-highline?tkn=1> [Accessed 25 January 2022].

116 l REFERENCING

Lock Keeper Cottage internal: SpareRoom. 2022. Unique St Pancras Lock Keepers Cottage Kings Cross. [online] Available at: <https://www.spareroom.co.uk/flatshare/london/king’s_cross/7611412> [Accessed 18 May 2022].

Mesh Facade: Divisare. 2022. Vector Architects Eco-Farm Series – Visitor Center. [online] Available at: <https://divisare.com/ projects/265945-vector-architects-eco-farm-series-visitor-center> [Accessed 18 May 2022].

Solid Facade: Arquitectura Viva. 2022. Ricola Storage Building, Laufen - Herzog & de Meuron. [online] Available at: <https:// arquitecturaviva.com/works/almacen-para-ricola-laufen-3> [Accessed 18 May 2022].

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TEXT REFERENCING 1.

Alfalaval.com. 2022. Liquid cooling. [online] Available at: <https://www.alfalaval.com/industries/hvac/data-center-cooling/ liquid-cooling/> [Accessed 18 May 2022].

2.

Camden.gov.uk. 2022. [online] Available at: <https://www.camden.gov.uk/documents/20142/1458280/ Heat+Demand+and+Heat+Source+Mapping.pdf/97c68e53-f442-cf14-3357-268207b64075> [Accessed 18 May 2022].

3.

Digital Realty. n.d. Colocation Data Centre Seattle WA 2001 Sixth Ave. [online] Available at: <https://www.digitalrealty.co.uk/ data-centers/seattle/2001-6th-ave-seattle-wa> [Accessed 25 January 2022].

4.

Digital Realty. n.d. Digital Realty | Data Centre Services. [online] Available at: <https://www.digitalrealty.co.uk/> [Accessed 25 January 2022].

5.

En.wikipedia.org. 2021. St Pancras Lock - Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Pancras_ Lock#:~:text=By%20the%20south%2Dwest%20corner,the%20lock%20keeper%20in%201926.> [Accessed 25 January 2022].

6.

FARM:. n.d. About. [online] Available at: <http://farmlondon.weebly.com/about.html> [Accessed 25 January 2022].

7.

Freethink, 2019. The Futuristic Farms That Will Feed the World. [video] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=KfB2sx9uCkI> [Accessed 25 January 2022].

8.

McClue, J., 2021. Camden Planning Context. [lecture]

9.

Our Changing Climate, 2019. Is the Internet bad for the environment?. [video] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Byl87SBFoo8&ab_channel=OurChangingClimate> [Accessed 25 January 2022].

10.

Server Room Environments. 2022. Best Practice Data Centre Environmental Monitoring. [online] Available at: <https://www. serverroomenvironments.co.uk/blog/best-practice-data-centre-environmental-monitoring-guide#:~:text=For%20a%20 data%20centre%20or,and%20technicians%20who%20work%20there.> [Accessed 18 May 2022].

11.

Slideshare.net. 2014. Aruba Data Center - English. [online] Available at: <https://www.slideshare.net/Aruba-spa/aruba-datacenter-30042052> [Accessed 25 January 2022].

12.

The Camden Town Shed. n.d. Welcome - The Camden Town Shed. [online] Available at: <http://www.camdentownshed. org/> [Accessed 25 January 2022].

117 l REFERENCING

Biba, E., 2017. The city where the internet warms people’s homes. [online] Bbc.com. Available at: <https://www.bbc.com/ future/article/20171013-where-data-centres-store-info---and-heat-homes> [Accessed 25 January 2022].