Urban Vertical Conservatory

URBAN VERTICAL CONSERVATORY A need of the hour, a conservatory that preserves natural ecosystem in an urban context.

A thesis presented by Vrushank Pradeep Purva Warang to Department of Architecture in partial fulfilment for the degree of BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE

Design Dissertation Guide: Ar. Pushpaganda Shukla and Ar. Mrunmayeegaurie Nandgirikar

Year: 2021-2022

UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI CTES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, CHEMBUR

CHEMBUR TROMBAY EDUCATION SOCIETY’S CTES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the project entitled

“Urban Vertical Conservatory” is the bonafide work of

“Vrushank Pradeep Purva Warang” who is a student of the Final Year of CTES College of Architecture (2021-2022) and has carried out this work under my guidance and supervision

Signature Name of Guide Design Dissertation Guide Date

Signature Prof. Ar. Alka Tawari Principal Date

DESIGN DISSERTATION, PART 1 APPROVAL

This dissertation entitled “Urban Vertical Conservatory”

By “Vrushank Pradeep Purva Warang”

is approved for the partial fulfilment for the degree of Bachelor of Architecture.

Examiners: Signature: Name: ___________________________________ Signature: Name:___________________________________ Date: Place: CTES College of Architecture, Chembur

DECLARATION I hereby declare that this written submission entitled “Urban Vertical Conservatory” represents my ideas in my own words and has not been taken from the work of others (as from books, articles, essays, dissertations, other media and online); and where others’ ideas or words have been included, I have adequately cited and referenced the original sources. Direct quotations from books, journal articles, internet sources, other texts, or any other source whatsoever are acknowledged and the source cited are identified in the dissertation references.

No material other than that cited and listed has been used.

I have read and know the meaning of plagiarism* and I understand that plagiarism, collusion, and copying are grave and serious offences in the university and accept the consequences should I engage in plagiarism, collusion or copying.

I also declare that I have adhered to all principles of academic honesty and integrity and have not misrepresented or fabricated or falsified any idea/data/fact source in my submission.

This work, or any part of it, has not been previously submitted by me or any other person for assessment on this or any other course of study.

Signature of the Student: Name of the Student: Vrushank Pradeep Purva Warang Roll No: 1780 Date: *The following defines plagiarism: • “Plagiarism” occurs when a student misrepresents, as his/her own work, the work, written or otherwise, of any other person (including another student) or of any institution. Examples of forms of plagiarism include: • The verbatim (word for word) copying of another’s work without appropriate and correctly presented acknowledgement; • The close paraphrasing of another’s work by simply changing a few words or altering the order of presentation, without appropriate and correctly presented acknowledgement; • Unacknowledged quotation of phrases from another’s work; • The deliberate and detailed presentation of another’s concept as one’s own.

• “Another’s work” covers all material, including, for example, written work, diagrams, designs, charts, photographs, musical compositions and pictures, from all sources, including, for example, journals, books, dissertations and essays and online resources.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I Vrushank Warang would like to earnestly acknowledge the sincere efforts and valuable time given by my mentor Ar. Pushpaganda Shukla and Ar. Mrunmayeegaurie Nandgirikar.

Their valuable guidance and feedback has helped me in completing this project.

Also, I would like to mention the support system and consideration of my parents who have always been there in my life.

I would like to be grateful to my friends Payoja Mankame, Milit Satra, Vedaant Pandit, Rushikesh Wavekar, Utkarsh Jagtap, Dhir Patel and Anas Shaikh for their vital guidance and for believing and supporting me I would like to thank all the hardworking students, professors, architects and people of other profession for profusely putting up their research online, for me to cite and take learn from.

Without them, I could never had completed this task.

Thanks a lot.

“Be truthful. Nature only sides with truth.” - Adolf Loos

Abstract This paper analyses how urbanization has affected our urban ecosystem in a negative way, by being driving it away from the nature. The very reason for an urban ecosystem to have been formed is the reason for its deterioration. What all could be possible solutions for this effect to be treated positively and what could be the possible outcome if one tried to imitate an amalgamation of Nature and an urban ecosystem.

Urban Vertical Conservatory strives to set an example of an amalgamation between the natural ecosystem and the urban ecosystem. It thrives to be a metaphorical bridge between these two ecosystems and eventually benefit the nature as well as the humans. The conservatory will focus on preserving the local flora and fauna within the city of Mumbai. It will also be a part of urban farming techniques that would be practiced and the outputs would be commercialised. Urban farming indirectly helps nature, people would be educated in urban farming techniques for them to practice on their own.

Urban Vertical Conservatory answers to a number of questions possessed by the city of Mumbai.

A living conservatory which provides food, water, energy, conserves local nature while providing an edible and visual experience to the metropolitans sounds like an utopia.

Abstract

Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Background 2.1.A. Impacts of Urbanization 2.1.B. Carbon Emissions 2.1.C. Heat Island Effect 2.1.D. Water Crisis in Urban India 2.1.E. Disconnected from our Food 2.1.F. Local Flora and Fauna 2.1. Aim 2.2. Objectives 2.3. Scope 2.4. Limitations

3.

Literature Review

3.1.

A Tale of two cities.

3.2. Contribution of space to the environment 3.2.A. Passive Architecture 3.2.B. Biomimicry Architecture 3.2.C. Rainwater Harvesting 3.2.D. Green Roofs / Terrace Garden 3.2.E. Vertically Integrated Greenhouse 3.2.F. Materiality 3.3. Urban Farming 3.3.A. Vertical Farming 3.3.B. Hydroponics 3.3.C. Terrace Farm 3.3.D. Aquaponics 3.4. Institute to educate Humans about Urban Farming 3.4.A. Mumbaikars innovating with space: 10 Urban Agriculture projects in Mumbai 3.4.B. How 16 initiatives are changing urban agriculture through tech and innovation 3.5. Commercialisation of the space 3.5.A. What is Urban Farming and is it profitable?

Table of Contents

4.

Case Studies

4.1.

4.2.

4.3.

4.4.

Eastgate Centre Wuhan Sponge City Programme Forwarding Dallas KMC Office

5.

Site Study and Site Analysis

6.

Design Program

7. Bibliography

Table of Contents

Introduction “A kid in Minecraft can build a world and inhabit it through play. We have the possibility to build the world that we want to inhabit.” - Bjarke Ingels

1

Introduction

Fig 1

By the year 2050, it is estimated that 68% of the world population will reside in an urban area. The current Urban world population is 55.7%, more than half of the world population currently resides in an urban establishment, most of the Urban settlements have been driven away from the nature. An urban establishment usually grows when a migration occurs, humans are social animal and hence the urge to settle together as a society is ingrained in us. When humans come together in large number, the need for infrastructure increases and there can be seen a rapid increase for it in an urban establishment, when a city grows there is an increase in asphalt roads, tar roofs giving rise to a concrete jungle over the receding natural ecosystem.

Eventually the Urban ecosystem takes over the Natural ecosystem. Making us move farther away from the nature. If the estimates turn out to be true about 68% of the Human population will be residing in a concrete jungle and deteriorate the connection between the natural and urban ecosystem.

It becomes really important for an urban city to have a healthy environment and it being a positive contributor to the ecology, and hence it is necessary for green areas or ecological pockets to be present in an urban settlement.

It is crucial for the Metropolitans to be aware of how necessary it is for them to know, from where does their food come from, how much energy do they consume, how much water do they use, how important it is for them to dwell with nature from time to time. These aspects are usually looked over in an urban context.

What if the natural ecosystem is brought together with the urban ecosystem?

What if there exist green structures that contribute to the environment positively, connect with the people and the society? What if, due to the space constraint situation of any urban establishment, the green structure grows vertically? An Urban Vertical Conservatory may be the answer.

Introduction

2

Background 3

Background

An urban establishment usually grows when a migration occurs, humans are social animal and hence the urge to settle together as a society is ingrained in us. When humans come together in large number, the need for infrastructure increases and there can be seen a rapid increase for it in an urban establishment, and when a city grows there is an increase in asphalt roads, tar roofs giving rise to a concrete jungle over the receding natural ecosystem.

Eventually the Urban ecosystem takes over the Natural ecosystem. Making us move farther away from the nature. If the estimates turn out to be true about 68% of the Human population will be residing in a concrete jungle and deteriorate the connection between the natural and urban ecosystem.

It becomes really important for an urban city to have a healthy environment and it being a positive contributor to the ecology, and hence it is necessary for green areas or ecological pockets to be present in an urban settlement

Fig 2

Background

4

1988

46.41%

1998

32.49%

2008

27.49%

2018

19.47%

5

Impacts of Urbanization

Fig 3

Impacts of Urbanization An Urban establishment usually grows when a migration occurs, humans are social animal and hence the urge to settle together as a society is ingrained in us.

When humans come together in large number, the need for infrastructure increases and there can be seen a rapid increase for it in an Urban establishment, and when a city grows there is an increase in asphalt roads, tar roofs giving rise to a concrete jungle over the receding natural ecosystem.

In 1950, the population of Mumbai was 3,088,811.

Mumbai has grown by 256,382 since 2015, which represents a 1.26% annual change.

The most recent census was conducted in India during 2011, which put Mumbai’s Urban Agglomeration at 20,748,395, while the city itself was recorded at 12,478,447.

Eventually the Urban ecosystem takes over the Natural ecosystem. Making us move farther away from the nature.

If the estimates turn out to be true about 68% of the Human population will be residing in a concrete jungle and deteriorate the connection between the natural and urban ecosystem.

It becomes really important for an Urban city to have a healthy environment and it being a positive contributor to the ecology, and hence it is necessary for green areas or ecological pockets to be present in an Urban settlement.

Impacts of Urbanization

6

Fig 4

7

CO2 Emissions in India

CO2 Emissions in India

The CO2 emissions of India is 1.82 metric tonnes as of 2016. In the year 2020, India emitted 2.65 metric tonnes of CO2.

This is not at all a good figure, this denotes that though the pandemic struck us in the year 2019, the Carbon emissions did drop by 9.7% which is more than the average world CO2 emission drop, it still is higher than the 2016 figures.

Adding to this the flooding in of more and more people by the year 2050 in an urban establishment is only going to increase more and more problems pertaining to the fact that when more people migrate into an Urban establishment, the Urban city can experience a wide growth in terms of infrastructure and manufacturing, which again negatively impacts the Nature.

The effects of Urbanization can not only be seen to negatively affect the Nature but also the Human physiology.

Air Pollution and Climate change can directly have adverse effects on Human health.

In 2016, the WHO (World Health Organization) study established that 14 of the 20 World’s most polluted cities belonged to India.

CO2 Emissions in India

8

Fig 5

9

Heat Island Effect

Heat Island Effect A recent study conducted by WRI (World Resource Institute) claimed that Dharavi located in Mumbai was 5 degrees hotter than its immediate neighbour Matunga.

The study looked at Mumbai’s average land surface temperatures in October, 2020 over the past three years.

The variance in temperature is broadly because of three factors: the building material (impervious concrete, asphalt and metal are known to have a higher surface temperature), access to open spaces, and green cover.

Areas which are compromised on all three factors are substantially warmer than their neighbouring areas. They become urban heat islands, whose effect demonstrates another facet of inequality in Mumbai, instances of extreme heat and lower heat within the same city. The graph present over here suggests that as the green cover gradually decreases when concrete built up structure increase, there is a drastic temperature rise in areas where there are a smaller number of open green spaces. The situation is so adverse that direct neighbouring zones have different temperatures.

Heat island effect can be control if proper sustainable materials that do not absorb and hold heat are put into application. Proper building norms that make a compulsion of having green cover in a society are enforced.

Fig 6 Heat Island Effect

10

11

Water Crisis in Urban India

Fig 7

Water Crisis in Urban India Mumbai has Bollywood, it is a peninsula and it is the economical capital of India, but it still faces the water scarcity issue like 29 other cities in India. WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) – India has listed down 20 cities including Mumbai to be in a grave water risk by 2050, and the drastic increase in population is said to be one of the main factors.

48% of Urban India’s water supply comes from the ground water reserves, 10 out of 7 ground water reserves are starting to get depleted. Mumbai is one of the cities, facing this crisis. Though the BMC has restricted the use of ground water supply as it is not suitable for drinking purpose, it is still used for other supplementary actions other than domestic.

The gross water demand from 1991 to 2011 has spiked from 2521 MLD to 4525 MLD respectively. By 2041 it is expected that the water demand will go up 71%. It becomes necessary to harvest and store water, the BMC plans to do the same by constructing new dams, recycling and reusing water, setting up and at some spaces making rainwater harvesting a compulsion. Of all these aspects, rainwater harvesting provides a possible solution, comparing it with other solution it requires less energy and infrastructure being spent. Rainwater harvesting solution in an area is more viable than building a dam.

An alternative solution is that is being implemented by BMC, is to set aside 10% to 25% of the plot area for open grounds, 50% of which is to be an urban forest, this will in turn let rain water seep in naturally and increase the ground water reserves.

A space or a structure should be able to sustain itself on the rainwater it has harvested over the year. The excess water that goes over the storage capacity, can be either let to seep into the ground water reserves through the mandatory 10% to 25% open area, or stored in storage water tanks for further distribution into the locality.

Water Crisis in Urban India

12

13

Disconnected from our Food

Fig 8

Disconnected from our Food In an urban society, there are numerous unsustainability problems that occur due to urbanization. While we do try to acknowledge and solve may of these problems ranging from pollution, transportation, energy consumption, we at times overlook the trouble and the hard bumps that food takes for it to be on our plate.

Our food travels through cities, villages, leaving a trail of huge carbon footprint in its travels. The food might take hours or even days to reach its consumers, which at times is not fresh and nutritious as it was, furthermore rigorous amount of human and animal labour is spent to grow food in large quantities, which still is the traditionally accepted method throughout the world, it still makes me question is it really worth it to spend so much energy and resource to consume food that is not fresh, and laced with pesticides? Though it is not the case in every situation, people work really hard to try to get us fresh foods, but we cannot deny the fact that the energy and resource loss in making this possible is enormous on a large scale.

When I was younger, I noticed that people in Rural area gave a lot of attention to the quality of foods they produced. Food products ranging from ‘jowari’, ‘bajra’, mango, cashew, etc. were distributed, sold or used for their own household only after thorough checking. One would argue that the quality of foods brought from in an urban market are thoroughly checked too, by our guardians, but we are not aware of the fact from where has it arrived or how it was grown. Nowadays we usually buy packaged foods that we believe are an easy way out in terms of quality. A number of precautions might have been taken but can it compete with fresh food products at any stage?

For a food product to reach to our plate, it has to go through numerous steps in the ‘food loop’ to be on your plate. Food as we know of starts with a seed sowed in soil. For excess and fast outputs and protection from pests, seeds as soon as they turn into a sapling are laced with fertilizers. The soil under the sap is feed with manure which is a positive aspect as it provides necessary resources for the sap to grow and provide a good quality produce. Further the sapling that grows into a plant is processed, prepared, stored, transported and then finally consumed. The storage on one hand does not need any artificial system for the food conservation, but transportation on other hand leaves behind a long trail of carbon footprint.

This adding onto the demands of fresh produce being transported daily.

One would believe we are doomed, considering the drawbacks of the food produce from traditional farms. This is not the case, Urban farming is a thriving concept, which in theory will cut off the transportation cost and carbon emission and can even be applied in a Rural context. The only issue in here is it is not practiced on a large scale yet.

Disconnected from our Food

14

15

Local Flora and Fauna

Fig 9

Local Flora and Fauna Increase in urbanization gradually leads to the decline of local flora and fauna. As more built-up structures come up, the local flora, including trees, shrubs, plants start to decline. There is no more space for the local flora to flourish in a city.

There is a dire need for metaphorical bridge to build between the urban ecosystem and the natural local ecosystem.

We are all aware of the space constraint issue of Mumbai city. The BMC is making an effect by enforcing 10% to 25% of open green areas in every new structure built, but more than this I believe it is the metropolitans that need to be made aware of the local flora. The green cover of the city of Mumbai fell from 46.41% in 1988 to 19.47% in 2018. In Mumbai prior to the BMC’s decision of planting only local trees taken on 24th March, 2021, trees that were not native to Mumbai were planted too.

These trees naturally grow their roots in a horizontal direction and not vertically that the native Mumbai trees grow in.

Post-Cyclone Tauktae 813 trees were uprooted out of which 70% were not native to the local Mumbai flora. These trees are Gulmohar, Royal Palm and Rain tree, to name a few.

The BMC has prepared a list of total 41 native trees namely, Wad, Pimpal, Umber, Kanchan, Kadamba, Gunj, Palas, Nim, Mahogany, Moh, Bahawa, Sag, Arjun, Ain, Kinjal, Sita Ashok, Undal, Nagkeshar, Champa, Shivan, Shirish, Karanj, Bakul, Bell, Taman, Hirda, Behda, Coconut, Amla, Khair, Tetu, Mango, Putranjiva, Wild Almond, Bibba, Parijatak, Rita, Sandalwood, Phanas and Chafa.

As it is important for the conservation of Flora the responsibility of conserving the Fauna comes along with it. Prior to my teenage years, I used to notice a lot of sparrows and variety of birds in my locality, as years went by and I grew up, the number of the sparrows started diminishing to a point where these birds almost were lost into memories. It was only after I read an article on how sparrows are being extinct from the city itself and would be a distant memory, even after being a really important species of the ecosystem.

Issues ranging from cell phone radiation to absence of native trees have all contributed to diminishing numbers of sparrows. Though cell phone towers can be minimalised but not completely eradicated as cell phone is an important commodity of the modern world, human made nest boxes can be provided for sparrows around the native trees itself. Allowing sparrows to thrive in an urban ecosystem can provide us with drastic positive effects, sparrows are the bio-indicators of the urban environment and they need to be protected. The more sparrows we would see in the future, the more it would be an indication of a healthy nature friendly urban ecosystem.

Local Flora and Fauna

16

Aim Urban Vertical Conservatory, aims at being a conservatory in an urban ecosystem, where it contributes as a positive benefactor to the local urban ecosystem.

Urban Vertical Conservatory, conserves the local natural ecosystem that is diminishing and grows food products through urban farming techniques, to provide fresh produce as well as cut off the carbon emission that is caused due to transport of food produce grown through traditional farming techniques. It aims to provide an experience to the user and educate them about the local flora and urban farming techniques as well. A market area to commercialise the produce that is grown.

A space constraint city like Mumbai cannot afford to expand in terms of green areas within the city, hence it becomes necessary for the Urban Vertical Conservatory to be implemented vertically in any given open space.

Furthermore, this main space can further connect with other small conservatory pockets through roads that are ecologically friendly, thus creating a green network in an urban settlement which contributes socially, economically and ecologically.

Objectives Conservation of local Flora and Fauna.

Contribution of the space to the Environment.

Urban Farming.

Institute to educate Humans about Urban Farming.

Commercialisation of the space.

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Aim | Objectives | Scope | Limitations

Scope Conservation of the local flora and fauna, growing trees that provide an experience to the user in terms of visual, smell and edible. Local birds, mainly sparrows that are said to be the bio-indicators of an ecosystem would be helped to sustain and revive themselves in this urban settlement of Mumbai. The local birds help in removing excessive rodents in an ecosystem. Green walls and green roofs will automatically attract birds.

The space can act as a positive contributor to the ecology, artificial ventilation can be cut off and passive architecture can be practised, few of the Urban farming methods do not require an enclosed environment. Green walls and green roofs can be implemented as they can be vital in absorbing CO2 emissions.

The aspect of farming is to be focused on, reducing the reliability of the locals on the goods brought in through traditional farming and hence reducing the carbon footprint created by the travelling of the trucks.

These goods can be sold at the same space where it has been growing and hence no carbon footprint by travel is created.

Educating the locals and traditional farmers about the positives of Urban farming needs to be highlighted and an institute for it within this space is viable.

Rain water harvesting through sponge effect can satisfy the need for water used in the Vertical Farming technique of Hydroponics, as well as sufficient storage capacity and permeable membranes can act as water catchers and store water in excess to provide it to the locality.

Limitations Selection of the site becomes challenging, as the space needs to be constructed on an area which acts as a buffer zone between the Industrial and the Residential aspects of the city. The space should be accessible for the local people to buy products.

It should be near an existing cramped market area in-order for the easy relocation of the market to the conservatory. So, there is the monopoly of the same ‘thelas’ but at a different nearby location.

The space needs to be connected to different sites through a network of ecological friendly roads and footpaths. The programs in these different sites should be similar and contribute to the environment similarly.

A wide spread of these conservatories connect through a network has to be achieved to make a positive affect on the locality.

Aim | Objectives | Scope | Limitations

18

Literature Review 19

Literature Review

Fig 10

Literature Review

20

A Tale of two cities A Tale of two cities Mumbai and Singapore both of these cities are island cities, though Singapore is a country in itself, it is a global hub for economics and culture. Mumbai on the other hand is the financial capital of India and is famous for its cinema industry that is the Bollywood. Both of these cities offer remarkable educational opportunities and entertainment to the globe. Mumbai and Singapore though apart from each other share a simple connection of being peninsulas. Both of these cities are inclusive of people, culture and different foods, if we were to talk about the similarities between both of these cities a decade would pass.

Though I would like to speculate these cities being sister cities in a lot many aspects, yet being different in terms of infrastructure. On one hand Singapore seems like utopian peninsula where natural ecosystem and urban ecosystem coincide and harmonise together in a tune. Mumbai on the other hand is still in its developing stage. Though Mumbai has a ton of potential we still have not reached there yet, so what does Singaporeans do different that we Mumbaikars do not?

Mumbai - An island city

Singapore - An island nation

Fig 11

21

Literature Review

Fig 12

Singapore: The Eco-Friendliest Country in Asia – by Ryan Kh Summary Former Prime Minister Lee Kuan believes that Singapore would one day be known as the Garden City. While in power, his devotion to enacting environmentally friendly initiatives had a significant impact on Singapore, moving it to a position as a global leader in environmental sustainability. The government of Singapore and its people tirelessly committed themselves to conserving the environment and adopting green technology, and this ambition became a reality.

Reducing Energy Consumption : Great environmental concerns must be faced as a result of an extraordinary rate of urbanization. Water and air pollution from greenhouse gases, toxic wastes, and traffic congestion are just a few of the issues that may arise as a result of urbanization.

The Singapore government has set a goal to limit the amount of energy consumed in both residential and commercial units in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure that urbanization does not harm the environment.

Green Mark Guidelines : The mandatory development of green buildings is one of the approaches to reduce power usage. Because Singapore is such a densely populated country, it is critical to have appropriate housing. Despite being one of the world’s most densely inhabited countries, Singapore ranks first among the world’s most environmentally friendly countries.

Singapore implemented the Green Mark scheme in 2005, which is an evaluation system that grades buildings based on their performance and environmental impact The Green Mark Guideline system is primarily concerned with reducing water and energy use in both commercial and residential buildings. According to studies of Singapore’s green initiatives, a workplace designed according to the Green Mark Guideline requirements saw an 11% reduction in total operating expenses, owing to lower energy and water consumption.

Modern Eco-Friendly Structures : One cannot help but notice the various modern towers that provide office and residential space while strolling through Singapore.

The undulating ceiling of Canopy Park, however, is what really stands out. Despite its beautiful design, the canopy’s primary role is to provide protection from Singapore’s unpredictable tropical weather.

In addition to providing shelter, the canopy is designed to help protect the environment. It has solar panels for power as well as other renewable energy sources. It also collects rainfall thanks to the succulent green plants that surround it, making it greener.

Literature Review

22

This goes well beyond the mandatory green building guidelines for new construction. For travellers coming and exiting the country via Changi Airport, the canopy provides an interesting tourism attraction. This depicts environmental sustainability in a form that is understandable to country leaders.

Four Pillars of Environmental Sustainability : In a recent talk to the delegates of Ecosperity 2017, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security underlined four essential concepts of environmental sustainability: Sustainable Economy Sustainable Living Environment Sustainable Development of Our People International Collaboration These four pillars encapsulate Singapore’s achievement in balancing the demands of the planet, its people, and the economy that sustains them. An excerpt from the speech can be found here.

Singapore is an inspiring example of what business leaders, environmentalists, and governments can do when they work together.

Inference This is what Singaporeans do it differently than Mumbaikars, Mumbai under the guidance of BMC, through some establish open area norms is on its way to become a more eco friendly city, it still has a long way to go.

Similar to the Green Mark Guideline we do have the IGBC all over the country which differentiates according to the climate. Mumbai has a lot of potential and a long way to go.

Urban Vertical Conservatory can be where these norms can be applied upon, this structure can act as a green building example for Mumbai.

23

Literature Review

Conserving the local Flora and Fauna Conserving the local Flora Maharashtra’s feast in the forest – by Sanjiv Valson

Summary Vanvadi is a forest community-style settlement situated on a 64-acre patch of land in the Western Ghats. It is the only human settlement in the area. There is no electricity, piped water, and mobile reception. Over two decades ago, a group of individuals, including Bharat, pooled their resources to purchase a large tract of land and turn it into a community forest space.

The Mahua (Indian butter tree) was in full bloom at the time. Its fruit is incredibly nutritious, and its sweet blooms are used to create jaggery and oatmeal, as well as fermented to make liquor. The seeds produce high-quality culinary oil, and the leftover residue can be used as manure or burned as a mosquito repellent following extraction. Many tribes regard mahua trees as sacred and never chop them down; nonetheless, when one dies, its high-grade timber is harvested.

Unfortunately for the tribals, during colonial times, the British began to tax and prohibit the usage of these trees in a market where factory-made liquor brought in significant tax revenues and mahua brew, a free beverage, was too competitive.

When you enter Aarey from one of the main roads, you quickly transit from a bustling metropolis to a parallel universe of tribal hamlets. Illegal constructions and developmental projects, however, threaten to take down thousands of trees and harm this unique urban jungle, as well as the Warli tribe’s access to forestland and wild edibles.

Bua’s tribal wisdom has proven to be a hit at Vanvadi’s immensely popular Forest Food Foraging Walk activities. The format is simple, enjoyable, and effective: a group of city dwellers hunting for food with Bua and his family on a cheerful nature walk.

Wild food is clearly more than simple cuisine; it is a complete ecosystem of intertwined, different, yet interconnected locations. Sustainable development, herbal medicine, forest conservation, hunger control, climate change, water resource management, tribal art, culture, and music, nature worship, cultural identity, and a sense of community are all discussed.

It’s about learning from both old knowledge and the underlying wisdom of the forest people, it is about opening our eyes to the existence of an ecosystem of which we are already a part.

Literature Review

24

Inference An urban forest park similar to the Vanvadi, but in an urban context with local Mumbai trees, providing a visual, an aromatic and an edible experience to the user is to be achieved. Local Mumbai trees that are acknowledge by the BMC namely, Wad, Pimpal, Umber, Kanchan, Kadamba, Gunj, Palas, Nim, Mahogany, Moh, Bahawa, Sag, Arjun, Ain, Kinjal, Sita Ashok, Undal, Nagkeshar, Champa, Shivan, Shirish, Karanj, Bakul, Bell, Taman, Hirda, Behda, Coconut, Amla, Khair, Tetu, Mango, Putranjiva, Wild Almond, Bibba, Parijatak, Rita, Sandalwood, Phanas and Chafa, are exceptional to provide a user with visual, aromatic and edible experience.

Edible, aromatic and visual Urban forest.

Fig 13

Conserving the local Fauna Habitat use of Urban Tree Sparrows in the process of urbanization: Beijing as a case study – by Shuping Zang, Guangmei Zhang and Jiliang Xu

Summary In urban bird communities, the Tree Sparrow is a dominating species. The habitats and food sources for Tree Sparrows are diminishing as urbanization progresses.

Is it possible for the urban Tree Sparrow to adapt to changes in its environment?

We investigated the habitat utilisation of Tree Sparrows in eight different types of urban environments in Beijing to find an answer to this topic. The findings reveal that as urbanisation increased, the number of breeding and wintering Tree Sparrows fell. The amount of brick bungalows, coniferous and broad-leaved trees, and air conditioners were all positively connected with Tree Sparrow habitat utilisation, according to stepwise discriminant analysis.

Inference This piece of article infers that, tree sparrows can be given shelter in various urban small pockets or spaces that are usually negative spaces. Urban Vertical Conservatory can work on the same principle by providing shelter to the birds throughout the entire structure and even have a feeding station for them at the Urban Forest Park. This would provide a good interaction between the Humans and this beautiful humble bird.

25

Literature Review

Contribution of space to Environment Passive Architecture Back to Basics: Natural Ventilation and its Use in Different Contexts – by Dima Stouhi

Summary The Human dependency on automatic services has increased drastically. We depend on everything to be handed over to us easily. From our homes, offices, schools to every miniscule aspect of our lives we hope it. While automation seems necessary as it saves time, it definitely spends a lot more energy. Automated air in the form of HVAC is not at all energy efficient, though there are measures taken to save energy from what it spends.

But nothing compares to the natural air breeze of air which is a renewable natural resource available to us in abundance. Every single one of us would prefer a natural air breeze rather than the artificial HVAC in situations where it can be avoided. Though air in its natural form is available to all, it still is affected by different aspects in different geographical conditions.

The air movement is created by rising of warm air to the upper layers of the atmosphere while cold air takes its place directly above the ground level.

Architecture provides scope for the air to enter into a space and get distributed throughout it, this is ventilation. There are four major types of ventilation, namely, Single-Sided ventilation, Cross Ventilation, Stack Ventilation and Chimney effect.

Inference Passive architecture does not only ease the functioning of the building but also puts up less energy consumption load on the environment. Artificially created cool air is incomparable to the natural cool breeze. Passive architecture is versatile as if thought of properly the temperature within can always be lower than the temperature outside. Mumbai being a hot and humid climatic region, passive architecture will be viable for cooling the interior of the structure.

Cross Ventilation, Stack Ventilation and Chimney effect can be applied together at different spaces which will in turn maximise the effect of passive architecture throughout the structure.

Single Opening

Fig 14

Two Opening Opposite Walls

Two Opening Same Wall

Two Opening Adjacent Wall

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Biomimicry Architecture These self – cooled buildings were inspired by termites and frogs - by Jane C. Hu

Summary When we are faced by extreme heat conditions by nature, and the solutions cannot be relied upon the artificial ventilation systems where a lot of energy is spent.

So why not take inspiration from the nature itself, on how do other species than humans show resilience to nature’s heat through geometry.

That is exactly what Ar. Mick Pearce, a Zimbabwean architect whose design works on the methodology of a termite mounds. The Eastgate Centre, a retail and office building in Harare, Zimbabwe, designed by Ar. Mick Pearce is one of the finest examples of Biomimicry architecture. The methodology of the termite mounds evolves around the chimney that allows the hot air from the bottom of the mound to rise and exit allowing cool air to stay at the bottom.

Another example of Biomimicry architecture mentioned in the article is by Pravin Bhiwapurkar, a professor of architecture at the University of Cincinnati, took inspiration from two heat and humidity resilient creatures, the African reed frog and Hercules beetle, species that are able to modulate their skin layers in response to temperature or humidity changes. His Melbourne building was designed to save 85 percent of the energy used in a typical office, but it actually saves more like 65 percent, he says, because it is managed in the most efficient way.

Inference Nature’s geometry answers a lot of questions we as Humans possess. The golden ration is the mathematical ratio that implies that nature’s geometry is just not random and is definitely a great design in response to the environment. Nature’s geometry can be taken inspiration from and be implemented for a positive effect on the structure and the environment, similar to the example cited in the article above.

A number of aspects can be achieved through biomimicry, ranging from a form inspired from the anthill to create a network of hierarchical spaces for ease of circulation to the methodology of a termite mound for cool air stability inside the structure to the biological aspect of African reed frog and Hercules beetle, that modulate skin layers in response to environmental changes.

Any form and function from the nature can be taken inspiration from and applied into human structures for their betterment, because nature is the perfect design flowing parallel to the environment it creates itself, just the thing we as humans

Fig 15 27

Literature Review

Fig 16

Rainwater Harvesting Blue-Green Infrastructure: An Opportunity for Indian Cities – by Sayli UdasMankikar

Summary Mumbai being a heavy rainfall region, approx. 2200mm every year, Rain water becomes an important natural resource to harvest in an urban area. This paves way for a large amount of area to be covered in different locations, the connectivity that are the footpaths can be used as permeable membranes to let water sip in and harvested.

The Sponge city programme of Wuhan, China. As part of the programme, Wuhan set technical targets related to annual rainwater absorption, building capacity to withstand a 50-year storm, and pre-zoning sponge regions. This implied that up to 170 sq.km. area had to be infused with sponge features, such as rain gardens, green roofs, grass swales, bioretention basins and permeable pavements.

Wuhan undertook 389 sponge projects covering 22 percent of the 2020 total area requirement.

Inference Considering the water crisis in urban India, rainwater becomes a really important resource that needs to be harvested, stored, used and distributed. The Wuhan city programme is from where inspiration is to be taken from, 170 sq.km. of area in Wuhan acts as rainwater catcher, this would be really difficult to be achieved in Mumbai, but the results would be phenomenal. But the Urban Vertical Conservatory and its network can act as a set precinct for other structures to take inspiration from and implement, further increasing its reach.

Rainwater harvesting through sponge effect.

Fig 17 Literature Review

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Green Roofs / Terrace Garden Green Roof concept for Eco-Sustainability in the context of Urban Dhaka – by Dr. Qazi Mowla Summary In the article the highlighted fact is that there are two types of Eco Roofs, Green Roofs or Terrace Garden, namely extensive green roofs and intensive green roofs.

Extensive green roofs are lightweight, have less versatility in terms of types of plants and need low maintenance. Extensive green roofs need a soil depth of 50 mm to 150 mm with a weight increase of 70 kg/sq.ft. to 170 kg/sq.ft. These types of roofs are viable to create a cool environment as it mostly consists of mosses and herbs. Extensive green roofs are green roofs and not viable for Terrace Farming and cannot be accessed by Humans usually.

Intensive green roof on the other hand, have deep soil depths of 200 mm to 600 mm and a wide variety of plants could be grown on these types of roofs.

Their saturated weight increases by 290 kg/sq.ft. to 970 kg/sq.ft. These roofs are accessible and viable for Terrace Farming, though they are high in maintenance and need an irrigation and drainage system.

Green roofs further prolong the service life of the roofing material, as it shades the roofing membranes from extreme temperature fluctuations. They extend the life of the existing roof fabric by 70% of their original lifespan.

Green roofs make it possible in controlling irrigation and storm water runoff.

The greens of the roofs hold rainwater, the water further through evaporation and evapotranspiration is released into the atmosphere. During summer, a green roof can retain up to 70% to 90% of precipitation, and 25% to 40% in winter. A green roof of 40 mm to 200 mm layer can hold up to 15 cm of water. Green roofs reduce the storm water runoff flow by retaining up to 50% - 90% of it on site.

Green roofs during harsh heat of summer reduce the energy consumption cost of cooling by 50%, as it cools down the temperature of the building by the process of evapotranspiration.

Green roofs on a city level improve the water quality, air quality, help in conservation of the plant species, attract birds, curbs heat island effect by 40 degrees Celsius, reduces greenhouse gas emission by absorbing solar energy and cool the air through evaporation and evapotranspiration.

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Green roofs in application are limited by few factors, there are structural standards that a green roof needs to be fulfilled where it becomes difficult for it to be retrofitted on to an existing building.

The maintenance can vary depending on the type of the green roof.

To avoid the roots of the plats from penetrating the waterproof membrane, root barriers and waterproofing systems will increase the cost.

Inference The extensive green roof won’t be put into application in the Conservatory, as Terrace farming is one the aspect that would be used. Intensive green roof on the other, though they put up a structural load are viable for terrace farming.

Intensive green roof would help the Urban Vertical Conservatory to soil farm on the terrace, this would be the only space where soil farming in the form of terrace farming would take place.

Fig 18

Intensive Green Roof (200mm – 600mm Depth)

Fig 19

Extensive Green Roof (40mm – 200mm Depth)

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Vertically Integrated Greenhouse Vertically Integrated Greenhouse – by Michael Levenston

Summary Vertically Integrated Greenhouse is a double skin building façade with a hydroponic greenhouse. Vertically Integrated Greenhouse is a highly effective, modular, climate responsive way of growing plants and providing a green cover at the same time to the structure.

Hydroponics is the method of growing plants with the help of nutrient rich water.

These water trays are stacked vertically and act as green walls. The DSF (Double Skin Façade) can reduce the energy used by modern high rises by 30%. This makes it energy efficient.

Vertically Integrated Greenhouse not only produce food, but cut off transportation and carbon footprint trail by having instant access to the produce, prolong the life of the building by shading it from direct sunlight, keep the environment cool by the process of evapotranspiration.

Inference Vertically Integrated Greenhouse can be implemented along side the green walls, but the application of DSF (Double Skin Façade) contradicts the aspect of passive architecture, though they can be intermingled and a way out can be thought of, as hydroponics do not need closed environments to grow in, passive architecture and double skin façade to implement vertical cross ventilation can be done.

Fig 20 Fig 21

Section.

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Hydroponics on Vertical Integrated Greenhouse.

Literature Review

Materiality Sustainable building technologies – by B. V. Venkatarama Reddy

Summary The article states how materials achieved through modern day traditional methods of construction are not at all energy efficient and the amount of damage their carbon footprint does to the environment.

The article states various other alternatives against the traditional concrete.

These materials are Stabilized Mud Blocks, Fine concrete blocks, Steam cured blocks, Composite beam and panel roofs, Filler slab roofs, vaulted roofs and limepozzolana cement.

Furthermore, the study in the article suggests how using alternative construction materials and technology positively impacts the environment.

Inference Material becomes an important factor as it directly affects the building temperature as well as the local temperature. The heat island effect is cause by concrete’s exothermic reaction which leads to the area of structure being heated up. Lack of green cover around the structure is also one of the reasons. To avoid this, it becomes necessary to use sustainable material that serve as good alternatives to concrete. We have already covered the aspect of green cover and hence materiality is the factor that needs to be focused on thoroughly, because it will decide the identity of the Urban Vertical Conservatory.

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Urban Farming Vertical Farming Vertical Farming involves growing crops, that are layered and vertically stacked.

These farms can be put up in any structure, such as basements, inside of a building, etc Vertical farming can make a square foot of space orders of magnitude more efficient at producing food, since many plants don’t need a lot of vertical space to grow.

The output of the produce that can be harvested in an area is increased as the number of shelves increase. Hence less space and more output are the result.

The vertical farms produce 516 times more as many tons of produce per 10000 sq.m.

Vertical farming reduces water consumption by 70% - 90% than traditional farming.

Fig 22

More area is utilised.

Less space is utilised.

80% soil utilised.

0% soil utilised

80% fresh water utilised.

5% nutrition rich water utilised.

Large scale pesticide usage.

Average 2400-4000 KM transport.

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No pesticides usage.

Reduces long distance transport.

Hydroponics Hydroponics means growing plants only with nutrition rich water. It does not include using soil as a median for a plant’s growth.

The nutrient rich water can be attained by mixing wet waste and jaggery rich water, the produce that is formed by this process can be used to grow plants.

Gravel, Net Pots can be provided for the physical support of the plant.

The water that enriches the plants can be enforced by fertilizers or manure.

A conventional farm requires about 400 litres of water to grow a kilogram of tomatoes, while a hydroponic system can grow the same amount using only 70 litres of water.

80% less water used than regular farming.

Minimum 20 per cent faster plant growth.

Allows indoor, terrace, roof and farming in small spaces.

Better space optimization.

The plant is protected from all the contamination and toxins that can enter in it through the soil.

Hydroponics can produce up to 12 kg of produce in a 300 mm by 300 mm space.

Traditional farms are able to plant 16 plants in a 1.5 sq.m. area, while Hydroponics in a 5-row stack of 1.5 sq.m. can grow up to 80 plants which is 5 times more than traditional farms.

Fig 23

Deep Water System

Fig 24

NFT System

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Terrace Farm Raised beds, and even greenhouses can be put at the rooftop of a building. In, here the traditional farming method can be replicated on the roof tops, using soil as a median.

The only limitation to this is that the soil above the rooftop will put up a lot of loads onto the slab, and hence necessary steps needs to be taken.

Intensive Terrace Farming

Fig 25

Extensive Terrace Farming

Fig 26

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Literature Review

Aquaponics Aquaponics is a type of cooperative farming where plants and fish are grown in a closed environment.

Aquaponic systems are used for various applications such as indoor and commercial use. They can be made up of either freshwater or saltwater.

Aquaponics combines the nutrients of fish with the hydroponics production system. This system eliminates the toxic chemicals found in plants and aquatic life. The water and the decaying plant matter from a fish tank then enter a biofilter.

The bacteria then break down the nutrients in the bio digestible food to make them grow. In an aquaponics system, the primary components are the fish, the bacteria, and the plants. Without these components, the plants would not have usable nutrients and the fish would die.

Aquaponics and Hydroponics can be combined, the ammonia rich water created by the fish tank can be used as nutrient rich water in hydroponics.

Fig 27

Aquaponics

Aquaponics technique

Literature Review

Fig 28 36

Institute for Learning Urban Farming Mumbaikars innovating with space: 10 Urban Agriculture projects in Mumbai Summary The city of Mumbai is both space constraint and longs for fresh produce. Though Mumbai has a lot fewer open areas compared to its size, how are Mumbaikar supposed to grow in a city with so much of little open space?

There are these 10 organizations cited in this article that have achieved Urban farming techniques in the context of Mumbai.

City Farming; is an organization that educates students, families and corporations to grow their own food in Mumbai, on terraces and balconies. They host weekly workshops, where City farming techniques are taught by Dr. R. T. Doshi. How a little sugarcane waste, used polyethylene bags, soil and seeds, the artificial fertilizers that harm the environment is avoided.

Earthoholics hosts urban farming show, nature bazaars and workshops to educate people for the same. Founder Smita D. Shirodkar teaches Mumbaikars that going green does not mean buying expensive organic products, rather the courage to changing our lifestyle, stepping out and getting out hands dirty for the good of the environment.

Fresh and Local collaborates with various Mumbai based establishments to use urban farming techniques.

These are few of the initiatives mentioned in the article that are helping the city of Mumbai in the field of Urban farming.

Urban Farming

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Literature Review

Fig 29

How 16 initiatives are changing urban agriculture through tech and innovation – by Andrea Oyuela Summary The UN (United Nations) estimates that nearly 10 billion people will be living in the cities by 2050. The study also says urban eaters consume food rich in salt, sugar and fats.

But in many parts of the urban areas, particularly in the low-income areas, there is limited access to nutrient rich food.

This being an issue, there are countless way in which cities can take care of their own food produce and create a linkage between the rural and urban food systems.

Not only this, but there are countless ways nature can be preserved in an urban context. The article cites the example of an edible forest with 45 tree varieties, a seed bank and plots for biointensive gardening in Mexico City. Similarly, City growers uses New York City’s urban farms as a learning station for children to reconnect them with nature.

“Agriculture and forestry in the city… answer to a variety of urban development goals beyond the provision of green infrastructure and food, such as social inclusion, adaptation to climate change, poverty alleviation, urban water management and opportunities for the productive reuse of urban waste,” says Henk de Zeeuw, senior adviser at the RUAF Foundation.

Fig 30

Hydroponics technique Literature Review

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Commercialisation of the space

What is Urban Farming and is it profitable? – by Samson Haileyesus Summary Though Urban farming involves community gardening, homesteading or subsistence farming, it majorly focuses on selling the produce grown.

Urban farming can support the well being of individuals and communities in many ways. As urban farming is a community enterprise, it helps in creating job opportunities, income generation and growth of small business. Urban farming makes good quality and fresh produce affordable.

As they are closer to various urban institutes like restaurants, commercial markets, they can provide a greater number of fresh produces in short span of time.

Commercialisation of the space can be achieved by renting out space for the ‘thelas’ to sell goods in the space where the produce is grown itself.

This makes it easy for the produce to be sold freshly and instantly after being produce.

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Fig 31

Literature Review

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Case Study 41

Case Study

Fig 32

Case Study

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Case Study

Eastgate Centre Location : Harare, Zimbabwe.

Architect : Ar. Mick Pearce.

Area : 9313 sq.m.

Project Completion Date : April, 1996.

Intent : To understand the working of passive cooling and bio mimicry style of architecture. This structure designed by Ar. Mick Pearce works on the principle of a termite mound. Studying this structure would help me to understand how passive cooling works and how taking an inspiration from the nature one can create wonders.

Eastgate Centre, Harare, Zimbabwe.

“Whether the building has begun to attain a life of its own since occupation is a matter of judgement. This was an attempt to design a building based on the metaphor of a living system more like a termitary. An ecosystem not a ‘machine for living in’.” – Ar. Mick Pearce Summary Eastgate is made up of two buildings that are connected by a glass roof. Steel bridges and lifts, suspended from steel lattice beams by cables, cross the atrium below. At level 2, the elevators connect to a suspended glass skywalk that traverses the length of the atrium. Escalators connect the skywalk’s centre to street level, and the roadway leads to the city’s web.

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There are 48 brick funnels atop internal stacks along the crest of the red tiled roof, which pull the exhaust air out of the seven floors of offices below. Behind the cross chevron screen, beneath the office levels, is a mezzanine plant room with 32 banks of low and high volume fans that take air from the atrium through filters. The air is forced up through the supply portion of vertical ducts in each office wing’s central spine core.

The image compares the inner temperature of building with the outside.

The air is routed from the duct through the hollow floors to low-level grilles beneath the windows. As it is warmed by human activity, it rises to the vaulted ceiling, where it is sucked out by a system of brick ducts to the exhaust portions of the central vertical stacks via the exhaust openings at the end of each vault. The concrete vaulted ceiling in the office space is used by uplighters to reflect light downwards and absorb heat. The green walls shield the building from receiving excessive heat from the sun, as the building is located in a high temperature region, it becomes necessary to protect the building façade from direct sun exposure.

The image shows how hot air exits the space through a vaulted ceiling and cold air is let in through the voided floor.

45 Case Study

Green walls, Vaulted Ceiling and Voided floor can be seen in these two images.

Inference The buildings performance has been equal to or slightly better than that originally predicted by Ove Arup the Engineers.

The data logger graph shows that in average conditions covering ten months of the year 3°C of cooling between outside and inside temperature is achieved. Optimum cooling is achieved when the external night temperature falls below 20°C. When 20°C is exceeded at night; mainly due to cloud cover (which prevents efficient heat radiation back to space), and when the following day is clear especially in October or November the office temperature remains fairly warm.

Eastgate Centre uses HVAC systems, but its passive cooling system makes the structure save 50% more energy than any other conventional structure of the same stature.

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Case Study

Wuhan Sponge City Programme Location : Wuhan, China.

Architect : Central Government for the National Sponge City program.

Area : 170 sq.km.

Project Completion Date : 2020 – 2030.

Intent : To understand and study how the Sponge City program was initiated and implemented and what it resulted to. Furthermore to use similar principles to achieve the same at a really small scale comparatively around the Urban Vertical Conservatory. The materiality and the principles are to be studied from this case study.

Wuhan, China.

“The Sponge City Programme takes inspiration from other global initiatives, such as the low impact development in the US, water sensitive urban design in Australia and sustainable drainage systems in the UK, and has made these concepts more localized and completed.” – Wenmei Dubbelar, Director of Water Management, China.

Summary Wuhan is one of the first 16 pilot cities selected by the Central Government for the National Sponge City programme, located at the junction of the Yangtze and Han rivers and home to 14 million people. Wuhan has put in a lot of effort to make the city more robust and livable.

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Arcadis has developed a global expert team with decades of experience on SuDS (Sustainable Drainage System) and LID as an advisor to Wuhan Water Authority in their 3-year Sponge City Program (Low Impact Development).

To solve the challenges of urban water issues, their experts collaborated with numerous local institutes involved in this massive endeavour. Throughout the city, their plan calls for the development of integrated systems of comprehensive management structures, green infrastructure, an enhanced urban drainage system, and water storage and purifying facilities. Many of these ideas are smallscale, but they may be repeated across the city to have a much large overall impact.

Inference These solutions not only ease the impacts of waterlogging, but they also benefit Wuhan and its residents. Water reuse will be enabled via permeable pavements and modest water storage facilities, reducing drought risk. Stormwater will be absorbed by new public green spaces, which will help make the city more attractive and habitable.

Overall, the Sponge City programme will reduce the economic and environmental harm caused by waterlogging and poor open water quality, while also improving the safety and quality of life for Wuhan residents.

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Case Study

Forwarding Dallas Location : Dallas, US. Architect : Atelier Data + MOOV. Area : 40000 sq.m.

Project Completion Date : Proposal for the Re:Vision Dallas Competition (2009).

Intent : To study the possibility of Urban vertical farms. This proposed project acts as a residential and a commercial hub, where vertical green walls are used to grow vegetables.

The design also is a good example of bio mimicry as it takes inspiration from hilltops, valleys and other diverse natural forms.

Forwarding Dallas, Dallas, US.

“Nature has been working forever, what challenges us now is finding how it will keep working forever. Intelligence has brought us to a point at which we have at hand an array of technical solutions that can either deprive or provide us with comfortable, culturally rich living conditions. The way we arrange such devices will ultimately make all the difference.” - the Architects.

Summary A mix of photovoltaic and wind power is used to generate energy. The southwest façade is made up of thick, high thermal mass straw bales that provide additional insulation and adjust according to the season to take advantage of solar gain.

The proposal’s final purpose was considered as a way to influence how a community may live a facility, rather of merely building a physical structure. An whole major-market city block will be renovated into a totally sustainable urban neighbourhood as part of the Re:Vision Dallas competition, creating a template that may be replicated in other cities across the United States.

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Total area used for Vertical Farming – 6133 sq.m

Total area used for Solar Energy generation – 1582 sq.m.

Water Conservation.

Inference This design serves as a good example for what an Urban Vertical Conservatory could strive for.

From vertical farming to water conservation and energy generation this design can be cited and referred to for further study.

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Case Study

KMC Corporate Office Location : Hyderabad, India.

Architect : RMA Architects.

Area : 5000 sq.m.

Project Completion Date : 2012.

Intent : To study how green buildings work, how different spaces act in a green environment. How the maintenance of such structure works.

KMC Corporate Office, Hyderabad, India.

Summary Located in Cybercity, Hyderabad, this corporate building employs the idea of a double skin as a visually dynamic façade, as well as a screen that humidifies the air entering the building – to create evaporative cooling for the interiors. The inner skin of the building is a reinforced concrete frame with standard aluminium windows.

The outer façade comprises of a custom cast aluminium trellis with hydroponic trays and drip irrigation, integrated for growing a variety of plant species. The trellis also has an integrated misting system in order to control and regulate the amount of water released to the plants and used when required – to cool the building or cleanse the façade of dust in the hot and windy summer months in Hyderabad. The principal of the facade is inspired by the idea of a double skin that allows a modulation of light and air through the building. This is in contrast to the business-as-usual idea of the ‘green-wall’, which is a simple application on a surface purely serving an aesthetic, not a performative function.

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In this project, the screen also takes on the aesthetic function of a dynamic façade where assorted species of climbing plants are organized in a way to create patterns, as well as bloom at various times of the year, bringing attention to different parts of the building façade through the changing seasons. The company employs 20 gardeners who tend to the façade and can access it though a system of catwalks on all five levels. The penetration of the building visually by two very disparate groups – both socially and economically, also softens the social threshold created by class differences, which are inevitable in corporate organizations in India. But most importantly, the building demonstrates the relevance of traditional cooling systems of humidified surfaces used through time in the hot and dry climates of South Asia.

Working of the Hydroponics creepers that cover the façade.

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Elevations

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Site Selection Source : http://www.orangelimengyun.com/

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Site Selection

Site Analysis Source : http://www.orangelimengyun.com/

This site analysis specifies what kind of spaces and activities occur in the Eastern Waterfront.

One can notice that majority of the spaces currently are of Industrial stature.

This makes it a perfect site for an Urban Vertical Conservatory.

In the future the Eastern Waterfront is going change face, and the Urban Vertical Conservatory needs to dwell in.

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Design Program

Design Program Urban forest A park where metropolitans could go and have a visual, aromatic and edible experience.

Environmental Conservation It has become important to conserve nature within the urban context.

Passive Architecture Biomimicry Architecture Rain Water Harvesting Green Roof / Terrace Farming Vertical Integrated Greenhouse Materiality

Urban Farm A space within the structures at multiple floors to grow produce.

Vertical Farming Hydroponics Rooftop Farms Aquaponics

Institute to educate Humans about Urban Farming Educational space would try to include traditional farmers and locals to promote Urban Farming, and involve them with the process of the same.

Commercialisation of the space Renting the space for the local ‘Thelas’ to put up their stalls and market the produced goods from the Urban farm.

Design Program

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Bibliography Information https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/case-studies/a4417-cii-sohrabji-godrejgreen-business-centre-by-karan-grover-and-associates-first-leed-platinumcertified-building-in-india/ https://www.orfonline.org/research/blue-green-infrastructure-an-opportunity-for-indian-cities/ https://www.worldgbc.org/news-media/godrej-boyce-certifies-first-net-zeroenergy-building-india-under-igbc-rating-system https://urbanbird.org/top-10-reasons-why-we-should-increase-attention-tourban-bird-conservation/ https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/follow-the-food/how-to-grow-food-in-aconcrete-jungle/ https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indias-percentage-co2-emissionsrose-faster-than-the-world-average/article33965283.ece http://ugffarms.com/ https://insteading.com/blog/vertical-farming/ https://www.archdaily.com/24813/forwarding-dallas-atelier-data-moov?ad_medium=widget&ad_name=recommendation http://www.atelierdata.com/pt-year.html?mainMenuItemToSlide=2 http://rmaarchitects.com/architecture/kmc-corporate-office/ http://www.orangelimengyun.com/?page_id=10658 https://www.mickpearce.com/Eastgate.html https://www.arcadis.com/en/projects/asia/china/wuhan-sponge-city https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11515-008-0042-x#citeas https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/65597/enjoy-afeast-in-the-forest-in-maharashtra

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Figures Fig 1 - by Author Fig 2 - by Author Fig 3 - by Author Fig 4 - by Author Fig 5 - by https://www.reddit.com/r/india/comments/jvuwkb/this_mumbai_map_ shows_the_distribution_of/ Fig 6 - by Author Fig 7 - by Author Fig 8 - by Author Fig 9 - by Author Fig 10 - by Author Fig 11 - by https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en Fig 12 - by https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en Fig 13 - by Author Fig 14 - by Author Fig 15 - by https://www.mickpearce.com/Eastgate.html Fig 16 - by https://www.mickpearce.com/Eastgate.html Fig 17 - by https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en Fig 18 - by https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en Fig 19 - by https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en Fig 20 - by http://www.oneprize.org/semifinalistspdf/1170a.pdf Fig 21 - by http://www.oneprize.org/semifinalistspdf/1170a.pdf Fig 22 - by Author Fig 23 - by https://www.hydroponic-urban-gardening.com/hydroponics-guide/ various-hydroponics-systems/ Fig 24 - by https://www.hydroponic-urban-gardening.com/hydroponics-guide/ various-hydroponics-systems/ Fig 25 - by https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en Fig 26 - by https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en Fig 27 - by https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en Fig 28 - by https://www.hydroponic-urban-gardening.com/hydroponics-guide/ various-hydroponics-systems/ Fig 29 - by https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en Fig 30 - by https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en Fig 31 - by Author Fig 32 - by Author Bibliography

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Case Study Eastgate Centre Images - https://www.mickpearce.com/Eastgate.html Wuhan Sponge City Programme Images - https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en Forwarding Dallas Images - https://www.archdaily.com/24813/forwarding-dallas-atelier-data-moov?ad_medium=gallery Images - http://www.atelierdata.com/ KMC Corporate Office Images - http://rmaarchitects.com/architecture/kmc-corporate-office/

Site Selection Image - http://www.orangelimengyun.com/

Site Analysis Information - Image - http://www.orangelimengyun.com/ Image - http://www.orangelimengyun.com/

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