“Eco - Quarter: Sustainability Hub” Proposal Scheme For Nottingham City’s Waterside Regeneration.
The “Eco-Quarter” Proposal: Located within the East Midlands, city of Nottingham. The Eco-Quarter can be found along the northern banks of the River Trent. Known as a key strategic location for the city and also a major drive for redevelopment to the surrounding area.
The Global Requirements For Vertical Farming Initiatives:
“Eco-Quarter’s aim: To Create, Develop and Establish; The East Midlands very first Vertical Farming Facility. As apart of a flagship initiative within an ongoing sustainable residential development scheme, of the Nottingham City’s River Trent frontage.
Project Name: Waterside’s “Eco-Quarter: Sustainability Hub” Development. Project Address: Unit 04-06, “Indus Furniture Manufacture” Poulton Drive Nottingham, NG2 4BN
Site Name: • SR 73 - Waterside Development (Trent Basin) Site Size: • Eco-Quarter Proposal: • Overall Plot Size - 2.19 Ha / 21, 198m2
Site Ownership: • Nottingham city council • Indus Furniture Shop/FloSkatepark Client: • Nottingham city council • Trent Basin Residents/Local Community. • Grow Up farms • Shockingly Fresh.
Why investigate into Vertical Farming?
What is Vertical Farming?
How does Vertical Farming Work?
• By 2050, the world’s population is expected to grow and reach 9.6 billion people. - UN Population Statement.
• Vertical farming is achieved by producing food on vertical surfaces. Instead of traditional linear farms.
There are four critical areas in understanding how vertical farming works:
• 86% of whom will live as an Urban population, within our ever growing cities. Thus causing a huge challenge and obstacle in how to create a healthy local food sources. • Due to industrial development and urbanization, we are losing arable farming land & clean water sources.
• The primary goal of vertical farming is maximizing crops output within a limited space. • Using Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technology, this idea uses artificial control of temperature, light, humidity and gases to produce food and medicine, within an internal environment.
What are the Advantages of Vertical Farming?
1. Physical layout: Producing more foods per square meter. 2. Lighting: Secondly, a perfect combination of natural and artificial light. 3. Growing medium: Replacing Soil - Aeroponic, Aquaponic or Hydroponic growing mediums are used. 4. Sustainability features. Vertical farming uses 95% less water, than their traditional counterparts.
What are the Limitations of Vertical Farming?
Having greater output from a much smaller cultivation area; Is not the only advantage of vertical farming on a global scale.
However, these benefits come with additional negative conditions also.
Following are some of the major benefits of vertical farming:
Following are the major limitations of vertical farming:
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Preparation for Future. Increased And Year-Round Crop Production. Less Use Of Water In Cultivation. Not Affected By Unfavourable Weather Conditions. Increased Production of Organic Crops. Human and Environmentally Friendly.
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No Established Economics exist for now. Difficulties with Natural Pollination. Specialised Labour Costs. Technology Dependency. High Energy costs.
South Ariel View: Riverside Frontage.
Existing Trent Basin Development:
Proposed Trent Basin Development:
Key Design Factors for the Eco-Quarter: Sustainability Hub.
Sustainability Initiatives.
Neighbourhood Sustenance. Re-establishing the concept “Neighbourhood Corner Shop”
Structural Materials and components, ethically & sustainably sourced. From renewable materials or recycled components.
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Fresh Produce & Vegetables will be made available to local residents. Removing the need for logistical chains & personal mobility for those without vehicles.
Renewable energy systems and passivehouse strategies will be implemented within in the design.
Ecology & Biodiversity.
Community Ethos.
A Bio-Diversity Action Plan will allow the natural colonisation of UK species along the waterfront area alongside an improved riverside habitat.
A Sustainable Riverside community of the Trent Basin Scheme is to be the key driving element of the scheme. Creating a symbiotic relationship between both the residents and the concept of sustainable agricultural food sources.
A Sustainable Urban Drainage System, is to be created to aid in this & flood mitigation.
Concept Designs & Site Landscaping Ideas
Conceptual Site Massing Concept Massing 01:
Spatial Layouts
This lead onto further in depth design considerations for: • Room layouts and how they would be interconnected to the adjoining services/ storage facilities. Including “Back of House Services” Sketch Design 01.
Farm Module
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Room positioning within the structure, so as to allow external views and natural light/ventilation.
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Additional privacy/security measures, that would be needed considering the adjacent Trent Basin Development along my Eastern Boundary
Food Hub Visitor’s Atrium
Concept Massing 02: This lead onto further in depth design considerations for: • An uneven distribution of space allocation and circulation, within the design. •
Food Hub Visitor’s Atrium
Landscaping Scheme 01
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Sketch Design 02. Farm Module
Impracticable travel distances from both farming to storage facilities.
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Mixing both Public Realm and Working Facilities, lead to complications with the layout of the service access, circulation & security issues. Which then lead me onto considering Part B Fire regulations - safe escape distances. Conceptual Mass - A very imposing structure, that would create a large overcasting shadow towards the Trent Basin Development. (E. Boundary.)
Concept Massing 03:
Sketch Design 03.
Farm Module Food Hub Visitor’s Atrium
Craig J. Gregory
This lead onto further in depth design considerations for: • With a large frontage of vertical farming units, consideration for maximizing solar gain & passive-house methodologies. •
The creation of a West-East ridge-line.
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Public facilities within a designated stair core, located externally from the main building, considering Part B Fire regulations - safe escape distances. Plant & Services - Easier mechanical layouts implemented. (Reducing service runs and implications with maintenance.)
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Architectural Technology BSc
Communal Gardens Concept
CIAT Awards
Landscaping Scheme 02
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