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The Sanctuary

A living building

Why?

My motivation with this project is to create a symbiosis between the users; an architectural intervention that all life forms can benefit from. In doing so, I focused my research on four distinct groups: humans, fungi, flora and fauna (concentrating on insects as part of fauna).

As my research at a city level has highlighted the good connectivity of the site with other major points of interest, I believe this to be the perfect site for developing a new type of landmark. The programme for the humans consists of a spiritual centre that also incorporates a cafe and a gallery.

How?

Myresearchpointed towardsastrong mutually beneficial relationship between termites and mycelium. A ‘mycelium garden’ can be found in the centre of the colony/hive. It serves the purpose of an extra corporeal digestive system. The myceliumisbeingfedbythetermites with pre-digested plant mater.

In return, the fungus not only provides food (mushrooms) for the larva (which can not yet digest more complex matter) but in doing so, it also cleans the nest by disposing of the faeces. This makes it the perfect building material when designing for insects.A nestbuildoutofmycelium would be self-cleaning, self-healing and produce food for it’s inhabitant.

Flora (tree roots)

BehindtheConcept

Expanding the ‘non-human’ experience

An ectomycorrhiza is a form of symbiotic relationship that occurs between a fungal symbiont, and the roots of various plant species. While the mycelium receives nutrients and water, it gives back sugar and carbon. This exchange is crucial for the health of wide green areas. Furthermore, mycelium has been found to connect trees between each-other,

facilitating the transfer of nutrients between element of flora. On the site, this connection is broken by an abrupt level change (blue line), a 8m drop. My intention is to patch up this separation between the vegetation on site by creating a connecting system that uses mycelium, consequently, enhancing the botanical system.

The next step was to tackle the human experience. In doing so, my focus was on creating strong plays of light and challenge scale in a way that produces a contemplative state for the user. I developed three types of spaces, in relation to the amount of sun and rain they allow through. They were then ‘arranged’ on site in accordance with the already existing conditions (mapped in img 2), as to disturb the vegetation as little as possible. The result created an environment in which humans can experience the site through the lens of non-humans. (in terms of climatic conditions)

BehindtheConcept Stepping into the world of the small

I took this concept one step further in an attempt of creating a space that transports the human user into the world of the non-humans (mycelium). I believe that through understanding the complexity of the worldsparalleltoourswouldcreatea meaningful shift in the perception of the users regarding the importance of protecting nature.

After testing various structures that would encourage insect occupation, and decided on one (img 3), I took inspiration from it in the general volume of my design (img 4), as well as from other microscopic views of mycelium and mushrooms.

CreatingaStory Designing the

experience

My aim is to manufacture an awakening experience for the human user, and, maybe even to createashiftintheanthropocentric view held by so many. The scale of the spaces unfit for humans (going up to 9m in height) gives the feeling of being in the presence of something bigger than yourself. The worm-like tunnels and dim lighting further emphasize the fact that you find yourself in the world of the non-human.

The journey

1. Entering the space through the tunnel under the bridge. I am using this pre-existing threshold as a tool in defining the passage into a different state of being.

2. Going through the exhibition spaces, where sculptures and artistic installations related to climate change awareness can be found

3. Walking through a winding dark path symbolic of the initiation journey the ‘hero’ has to go through in order to be worthy of finding ‘the truth’ about life and himself

4. Spiritual space, the hearth of the architectural organism, (fact indicated by the central vertical pillar made out of mycelium) This spaceisbrightyetsolemn,creating the sense of spiritual awakening and contemplation alongside the realisation that something as small as mycelium is at the core of the natural world.

5. Transitional space between inside and outside accessible throughawaterfall(whenraining), symbolic of rebirth.

Proposal Masterplan and Site Section

Thedesignfacilitatesgreenandbluespacesforthelocal community, alongside spaces for social interaction, crucial for health and well-being; it creates valuable new connections between vegetation and provides shelter and food for insects. Theconstructionmaterialsneededarecollectedfromthe site, reducing the embodied carbon of the intervention to almost zero. By using 95% bio-based materials, the intervention insurers minimal long-term site pollution.

MaterialityandFunction

Axonometric section

The intervention presents two main levels of access for the human users. The elevated paths on top provide the visitor with an overall view of the construction, connectivity between different levels and a walk on top of a green area designed to enrich biodiversity. The lower level presents a series of exhibition spaces, a café and most importantly, the path designed to create a spiritual experience for the user.

The paths on the rooftop have been designed with the accessibility regulations as a starting point. The slope of the inclined paths is 1:20, meaningthatforeachriseof500mm,10000mm of ramp are required. Furthermore, a landing of 2000x2000mm can be found after every ramp, whit a change in orientation after two ramps. The paths are 2000mm wide, allowing easy access for wheelchair users.

Step 7: Installing the corten paths

Step 6: Planting the layer of vegetation

Step 5: Filling up the structureuntilreachingan even layer with a mixture of soil and compost

Step4: Adding the living mycelium bricks

Step 3: Installing the mycelium frames for insects

Step 2: fitting together the rammed earth bricks and terracotta bricks to create the structural frame

Step 1: placing the stone foundation and setting up the ground source heating system

‘FirstFloor’Plan ‘SecondFloor’Plan

1. Spiritual space, metaphoric of the heart of the concept

2. Dark corridor leading up to the spiritual space, metaphoric of the blind search for spiritual answers

3. Corridor maintaining the original path found on site

4. Exhibition spaces designed for outdoor sculpture

6. Transitional space between ‘inside’ and ‘outside’

7. Exit area from the spiritual space, that creates a waterfall effect when raining, metaphoric of a rebirth

5. Enclosed exhibition space 8. Non-human designated area

9. Meditation space

10.Cafe

11. Toilets

2. Corridor leading up to the spiritual space

3. Corridor through the building maintaining the original path found on site

4. Series of exhibition spaces designed for outdoor sculpture

5. Enclosed exhibition space

6. Suspended paths and gardens

7. Ectomycorrhiza

1. Meditation space

Mycelium bricks acts like a reservoir of nutrients

The Sanctuary

MaterialBuild-up 1:20

section

The path to the spiritual space is paved with the same terracotta bricks that can be found on the outside layer of the installation. While they only serve a functional role for the non-human users,( providing access through to the ‘insect housing’ layer while representing the main structural strategy) in this context, they are creating a different atmospheric effect than the rest of the installation, preparing the human for entering the spiritual space by bringing him closer to the experience of the non-humans.

1) two layers of terracotta bricks with metal reinforcement

2) mycelium frame (insect homes)

3) soil

4) mycelium bricks (infill)

5) waterproof membrane

6) rammed earth bricks

7) one layer of terracotta bricks

8) stone foundation in gabion basket

9) drainage system

CafePlanat1:50

Manufacturing process

1:5 model of the cafe wall build-up

1. One layer of terracotta bricks

2. Mycelium frame for insects

3. Mycelium bricks (infill)

4. Waterproof membrane

5. Rammed earth bricks (75 cm)

6. Various bio-based insulation in a timber frame (30 cm)

Buildability Techniques and processes

These structural rammed earth bricks have been presented as part of the 4th International Architecture Biennial of Antalya (IABA) by Pot+ design research group..

They meet the requirements of my design by allowing access through for fauna, letting sun through (necessary for the flowering stage of the mycelium) separating humans from the mycelium and providing a structural stability.

In order to accommodate the voids necessary for plants to grow and have access to sunlight along with generating continuous surfaces to direct rainwater to plants, research on minimal surfaces had been done using digital modelling techniques. The bricks are manufactured from rammed earth using a mould.

Given that the climate in Turkey is arid, a watering system had to be adopted.

Considering the precipitation frequency in Manchester, this is no longer needed. On the other hand, the precipitations imply the need of a different materiality, as exposed rammed earth would have longevity under these conditions. Instead, the bricks will be fabricated out of terracotta, making them water resistant, while also fitting in better with the aesthetic of the city.

Step 1: For mass manufacturing the terracotta bricks, a mock brick needs to be carved out of clay first.

Step 2: The brick is then casted in plaster, in order to capture a negative volume of the original brick.

Step 3: Silt is poured into the mould and left to harden. The process is then repeated. The bricks are then burned in a temporary Furness built on site at 540C.

Close up view of the insect access route through the terracotta brick to the mycelium frame (insect homes)

The Community Centre

The brief of this project asked for a remote community centre, orientated towards the west, that uses steel as the mainconstructionstrategy.Thebriefalso mentioned the existence of a beautiful scenery towards the west.

My motivation with this project was to create a passive house, that can sustain itself on it’s own, with minimal electrical use. In order to achieve this, I made use of the thermal mass of the hill, I facilitated a water collection strategy, as well as solar energy retention, while also designing an adaptable design( dependingontheseason)thatmaximises passive ventilation.