GROW & GATHER, Green Square / Belinda Jessica (Graduation Studio)
Key Concept, Selected Design Element & Reflection on Design Studio
The driven research question of my project is ‘how embracing food growing and food gathering improve the mental health of the community?’. It's a people democratic precinct meaning that this project is from, by, and for people. Each of our reality counts as each individual form the community and its character. As there are big developments and new residents in Green Square, the community identity is being shifted and modified to this date. With that condition on the background, creating a precinct for ‘ Old Resident + New Resident + Forcibly Displaced People’ which is combined and create the new identity of Green Square. Looking through the future development of Green Square Town Centre and the high density of new residency, it forecast the lack of green spaces for people to gather and socialise. More people, more waste produced, more food supply is needed, more green spaces to gather is needed. As it is human nature to seek the presence of nature and the increasing food demand in the area throw us back to the traditional way to grow food on the garden by using the waste that we produced daily. This will allow the presence of nature, producing food supply, and recycling waste at the same time.
The theory of ‘Biophilia’ establish by Wilson in 1984 argues that human being has a ‘tendency to possessed on life and lifelike processes’ and actively involved in the survival of human race (Gullone, 2000). Alternatively speaking, people feel the most comfortable in an environment where they are familiar with their life processes (Gullone, 2000). Positive ambience can be achieved with aesthetic landscape features, such as water, plants, animal, trees, and especially flowers. Flowers have a strong immediate positive sensual producer that has a long-term effect on human feelings, social behaviour, and mood regardless of human gender
It also helps people to manage the stress level of personal mentally challenging life situation by creating a space that is more harmonious, socially vibrant, and enjoyable (McCulloch, 2017). Although it can be concluded that regular involvement in horticultural therapy could generate social interaction and promote social inclusion among an excluded group of people, especially refugee, it will take a significant amount of time to see the practical result as it is an ambulatory process journey (Aldridge&Sempik et al.,2003).
Regular engagement in community food growing project or typical horticultural therapy has proven to improve mental health especially for a socially excluded group such as recent immigrants and refugee (Ulrich et al., 2014). This setup opens the opportunity to provide a productive hand-operated activity that would generate social interaction and improve cognitive ability (Pretty et al, 2011).
Food also is known for its ability to enable social interaction. In general, a human is social creatures that desire the company of others on a regular basis (Newby-Clark, 2010), it is argued that food is one of the social enablers. The history study that food has become a crucial part of our daily life over the centuries. Eating and drinking are natural survivor activity of human. Throughout history, the main task of surviving are hunting, gathering, growing, and producing food. Balanced nutritious meals are expected to be consumed each day in order to survive. Looking from a different perspective, food is not only part of the survival but also initiating social interactions. It is also argued that food as an experience and events opening the opportunity of social interactions (Fisker & Olsen, 2008).
Food-related activities can be enjoyed indoor and outdoor in the design of restaurant, cafes, market, barns, field, and street pavement along the city street under the sun. Entering the meal and food products in the cultural manner and performative experience potentially create additional emotional value in each consumer. In addition, it is also argued that food and meals could perceive a potential future urban regeneration as food has become the social generator creating a new meal experience in the city (Fisker & Olsen, 2008).
Some architectural strategy to realise this concept and allowing food to enable the conversation is by creating an open space dining looking out to the centralise garden which is actually producing food. Another build form strategy is by creating an amphitheatre-like garden and seating which inviting people to come to the precinct and easy access to the garden or any kind of presence of nature on each level. The terraced volume that stepping up and creating a rooftop garden or balcony in each level allows a substantial relationship to nature in a distinctive way. By letting nature be part of the architectural feature and embracing the natural work of plants, lights and as well as water in the precinct, it creates a great collaboration of nature and built environment that is open for everyone in any time.
Geometrical Description of the Shape
The geometrical shape of the building is fairly simple rectangular that is a series of tapping up volume and amphitheatre structure that goes from the ground to the second floor of the building. The amphitheatre includes different type of garden fruits and flowers in ever 1000mm steps. Garden strip and seating that are facing the drying green and the main site is intended as a welcoming gesture form the precinct to the surrounding site. The geometry of the building footprint and garden on the ground floor are simple rectangular that is design in a comprehensive grid that is form one harmony inside the precinct. The main structure of the building is a concrete framework that is mostly open on the ground floor and started to close with wall infill in between the column grid. The most private to the most public space have the same structure but the different treatment of the material. Common dining area and market are mostly an exposed concrete column that are open to public with no wall as a barrier while some less public open space are surrounding with translucent material such as glass and mullion framework while some more private space such as dining unit that can be rent for some dining or stay in the precinct would have the stone or concrete infill in between the structural column.
Proposed Scale, Material, Technique, Time Commitment, & Budget
Scale 1:200 Material 2mm Basswood, Terracotta Plaster /Clay, 3D printing
Technique 1. 3d Printing the existing historical building on site
2. Laser Cutting some walls thickness and length
3. Vacuum form these walls
4. Pour terracotta plaster/ clay to form the wall
5. Manually hand cut some basswood for some window detail
Time Commitment 1. 3D Printing existing building on site:18 - 20 hours
2. Prepare laser cut file and laser cutting: 2-3 hours
3. Vacuum form- 30 mins to 1 hour
4. Pour and Cast terracotta plaster into this plastic form - 1-2 days
5. Assembling all the walls 1- 2 days
6. Manually handout some window detail - 5-6 hours Total hours estimated about 126-130 hours (including an estimated margin of error in the model making) Budget 1. 3d Print: $54-60
2. Basswood 1mm: $6
3. Laser Cut + Material: $35
4. Plaster: $ 85 - 100
5. The margin of error & finishing: $20 Total Budget $205
Key Concept, Selected Design Element & Reflection on Design Studio
The driven research question of my project is ‘how embracing food growing and food gathering improve the mental health of the community?’. It's a people democratic precinct meaning that this project is from, by, and for people. Each of our reality counts as each individual form the community and its character. As there are big developments and new residents in Green Square, the community identity is being shifted and modified to this date. With that condition on the background, creating a precinct for ‘ Old Resident + New Resident + Forcibly Displaced People’ which is combined and create the new identity of Green Square. Looking through the future development of Green Square Town Centre and the high density of new residency, it forecast the lack of green spaces for people to gather and socialise. More people, more waste produced, more food supply is needed, more green spaces to gather is needed. As it is human nature to seek the presence of nature and the increasing food demand in the area throw us back to the traditional way to grow food on the garden by using the waste that we produced daily. This will allow the presence of nature, producing food supply, and recycling waste at the same time.
The theory of ‘Biophilia’ establish by Wilson in 1984 argues that human being has a ‘tendency to possessed on life and lifelike processes’ and actively involved in the survival of human race (Gullone, 2000). Alternatively speaking, people feel the most comfortable in an environment where they are familiar with their life processes (Gullone, 2000). Positive ambience can be achieved with aesthetic landscape features, such as water, plants, animal, trees, and especially flowers. Flowers have a strong immediate positive sensual producer that has a long-term effect on human feelings, social behaviour, and mood regardless of human gender
It also helps people to manage the stress level of personal mentally challenging life situation by creating a space that is more harmonious, socially vibrant, and enjoyable (McCulloch, 2017). Although it can be concluded that regular involvement in horticultural therapy could generate social interaction and promote social inclusion among an excluded group of people, especially refugee, it will take a significant amount of time to see the practical result as it is an ambulatory process journey (Aldridge&Sempik et al.,2003).
Regular engagement in community food growing project or typical horticultural therapy has proven to improve mental health especially for a socially excluded group such as recent immigrants and refugee (Ulrich et al., 2014). This setup opens the opportunity to provide a productive hand-operated activity that would generate social interaction and improve cognitive ability (Pretty et al, 2011).
Food also is known for its ability to enable social interaction. In general, a human is social creatures that desire the company of others on a regular basis (Newby-Clark, 2010), it is argued that food is one of the social enablers. The history study that food has become a crucial part of our daily life over the centuries. Eating and drinking are natural survivor activity of human. Throughout history, the main task of surviving are hunting, gathering, growing, and producing food. Balanced nutritious meals are expected to be consumed each day in order to survive. Looking from a different perspective, food is not only part of the survival but also initiating social interactions. It is also argued that food as an experience and events opening the opportunity of social interactions (Fisker & Olsen, 2008).
Food-related activities can be enjoyed indoor and outdoor in the design of restaurant, cafes, market, barns, field, and street pavement along the city street under the sun. Entering the meal and food products in the cultural manner and performative experience potentially create additional emotional value in each consumer. In addition, it is also argued that food and meals could perceive a potential future urban regeneration as food has become the social generator creating a new meal experience in the city (Fisker & Olsen, 2008).
Some architectural strategy to realise this concept and allowing food to enable the conversation is by creating an open space dining looking out to the centralise garden which is actually producing food. Another build form strategy is by creating an amphitheatre-like garden and seating which inviting people to come to the precinct and easy access to the garden or any kind of presence of nature on each level. The terraced volume that stepping up and creating a rooftop garden or balcony in each level allows a substantial relationship to nature in a distinctive way. By letting nature be part of the architectural feature and embracing the natural work of plants, lights and as well as water in the precinct, it creates a great collaboration of nature and built environment that is open for everyone in any time.
Geometrical Description of the Shape
The geometrical shape of the building is fairly simple rectangular that is a series of tapping up volume and amphitheatre structure that goes from the ground to the second floor of the building. The amphitheatre includes different type of garden fruits and flowers in ever 1000mm steps. Garden strip and seating that are facing the drying green and the main site is intended as a welcoming gesture form the precinct to the surrounding site. The geometry of the building footprint and garden on the ground floor are simple rectangular that is design in a comprehensive grid that is form one harmony inside the precinct. The main structure of the building is a concrete framework that is mostly open on the ground floor and started to close with wall infill in between the column grid. The most private to the most public space have the same structure but the different treatment of the material. Common dining area and market are mostly an exposed concrete column that are open to public with no wall as a barrier while some less public open space are surrounding with translucent material such as glass and mullion framework while some more private space such as dining unit that can be rent for some dining or stay in the precinct would have the stone or concrete infill in between the structural column.
2. Laser Cutting some walls thickness and length
3. Vacuum form these walls
4. Pour terracotta plaster/ clay to form the wall
5. Manually hand cut some basswood for some window detail
2. Prepare laser cut file and laser cutting: 2-3 hours
3. Vacuum form- 30 mins to 1 hour
4. Pour and Cast terracotta plaster into this plastic form - 1-2 days
5. Assembling all the walls 1- 2 days
6. Manually handout some window detail - 5-6 hours
2. Basswood 1mm: $6
3. Laser Cut + Material: $35
4. Plaster: $ 85 - 100
5. The margin of error & finishing: $20
SUITES AVENUE, Barcelona / Toyo Ito
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| Image Courtesy by MIMOA |
Key Concept
Toyo Ito’s approach on Suites Avenue facade strongly reflects the biophilia concept which refers to a concept that humanity is naturally attracted to another cycle of life which occur in plants and natural ecosystem (Ryan, C.,2014). There are 3 elements of nature that can be interpreted to the built environment such as water, plants, and sunlight. The shape of openings, rigid material, straight line, curve line, organic shape, wave surface, are some design exercise that can be implement building elements such as ceiling, wall, floor, and roof. Toyo Ito facade design creates a dynamic atmosphere by capturing hues of sunlight through organic shape openings. Because of its facade, these new luxury accommodations become remarkably attractive as it is located directly opposite Gaudi’s La Pedrera which is known by its organic and dynamic curvy lines all over the building. (Archilovers, 2009)
In relation to nature, the interior of Suites Avenue is organised with a great collaboration of natural material such as translucent laminar glass, red travertine marble, walnut wood, quartzite stone, ebony hallways and also natural slate in the bathrooms. Ito’s not only designed the facade but also the interior arrangement that is mainly constructed with a classical patio made out of quartzite stone and laminar glass. The rest of this project will then be completed by a collaboration work of Carlos Basso and Toni Olaya. (Archilovers, 2009)
Selected Design Element
Suites Avenue has only one front facade as it is located in a street with terracing layout with no setback distance. This project boundary is joint closely with the neighbourhood boutique shops. Most importantly as it is the only facade of the building that is directly facing the noble work of Gaudi’s La Pedrera that have a strong organic and dramatic character in collaborating art and architecture.
The biophilic shape and pattern of Suites Avenue’s facade that are figuratively adopted from Gaudi’s artwork remark the building to be stand out from the surrounding avant-garde building. The organic line and shape of the facade frame a remarkable view from inside of the building which also creates a distinctive natural illumination to space. This stainless steel facade with nacre colour grasps different tones of the sunlight and the facade colour changes following the light movement. The skin of building has featured as one of the attractions in the city by using a contemporary material such as stainless steel metal which is distinct to the surrounding brick and stone building. The facade shows a futuristic version of Gaudi’s work with metal as the main facade material performing a new technique in treating the material. It also communicates that natural elements can look modern and doesn’t have to look old and traditional as many users perceptions.
Reflection on Design Studio
In reflection to my project which emphasizes in food production to improve mental health, the main experiment is to ‘soften’ the rectangular built form with an organic shape that can be enforced on the skin of the building as well as interior walls. As per Ito’s facade treatment that the undulating iron surface covering the rectangular shape of the building which presents a completely different vibrant to the surroundings. The building programme includes a series of terraced gardens and community space which celebrate an intimate human-nature relationship by growing and gathering food or products. The main building will have a series of balcony garden and large openings and also open space looking out to the garden. Continuing the strong relationship of nature by using the organic pattern and undulating wall surface could shape the large openings to be more dynamic. This experimentation will be one of the trials of the facade study which means this technique might not work at some point but it is part of the learning process to find the right language of the skin of the building. In other words, the end result could also be not treating the building with another layer of skin but exposing the skeleton of the building with natural material and let the plantation do the ‘softening’. Besides the facade design, the interior material combination using natural material and finish is also one of the representations in implementing biophilia concept into the building material.
Geometrical Description of the Shape.
Looking closely to the pattern of the curve line it represents the natural pattern of water as it waves in and out impacting the space to be open and close. The pattern of this dynamic form is not entirely random, there are few repetitive lines every second level and the distance of every line creating this leaf-like shape in between are about the height of a balcony balustrade which is about 1100mm. The estimated height of one level is about 3000mm with the estimated spacing in between the curvy line is about 800mm with a thickness about 300mm that continues from the ground to the top of the building facade. A big gap in between this curve lines creates an organic shape frame in all building openings.
Proposed Scale, Material, Technique, Time Commitment & Budget
| Technique 1 | Technique 2 | |
| Scale | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Material | 2mm tinted grey acrylic | Metal Mate 0.5 x 300 x 900mm Plain Aluminium Sheet |
| Technique | Laser Cutting and Bending: b. Bend the acrylic to create the undulating surface c. Sand paper the acrylic to give more texture to the facade panel or apply some silver artwork paper at the back of the acrylic panel. | Metal Cutting and Bending: b. Roll and bend the strips as per necessary c. Use wire as a structure to stick all of this strips together. |
| Time Commitment | Preparing the file and laser cut: 1 hour Bending the Acrylic: 2-3 hours Sanding and finishing: 1-2 hours | Metal Cutting: 1-2 hours Metal Rolling and bending: 2 hours Curving some strips: 3 hours Welded wire as a structure and assembly: 5-6 hours |
| Total hours | 6 hours | 13 hours |
| Budget | $ 46 (Laser Cut and Material) $10-15 margin for finishing | $ 19.50 (Metal Mate 0.5 x 300 x 900mm Plain Aluminium Sheet) $ 10-15 margin for finishing |
| Total Budget | $56-61 | $30-35 |
SOZAWE, Netherlands / NL Architects
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| Image Courtesy by Arch Daily |
The stepping building volume of the Sozawe office by NL architects is to create an open and welcoming place that is strongly integrated with nature. This terracing situation naturally forms a series of rooftop and balcony garden and create a dynamic contour to the site. The gardens of each floor flow naturally to create a substantial relationship to nature. The transparent open public space at the bottom of these steps creates an inviting gesture to the street and draw people to gather in the space. NL architects have transformed the ‘left-over’ space of the stepping stairs that are usually dark and abandon into a place that is open and relieving which initiate a community to communicate and gather. The construction of the building is mainly a series of grid column and mullions with wall infill in between defining the structure. The materiality of the wall are varied depending on the main purpose of the space, for instance in open public space, glass wall and mullion are applied to create a space that is open and transparent to the surroundings. Meanwhile, some concrete block work is applied into more private office spaces with a series of uniform window openings. The simple rectangular grid of the building has successfully created a dramatic experience to space and the greens have accomplished a soft gesture to this basic robust structure that could be boring and dull on some occasions. (Cilento,K.,2009)
Selected Design Element
The fundamental structure of Sozawe office is a concrete frame structure which is a simple and basic construction method of which concrete slab and concrete column are stacked creating its fundamental framework. By creating this basic structure, it demonstrates liberality in choosing a different material for varied use of space. Each of the volume created from this basic framework structure could represent different vibrant and create diversity in the overall building. Sozawe office embraces the diversity of open and closed spaces with integrating nature in between. The rooftop garden that flows naturally stepping up following the building volume and structure has accomplished to alleviate the basic rectangular volume without using any organic lines or geometry. Each level has privileged access to the garden allowing the cross ventilation of the space as well as access to nature. NL architects biophilic approach is to have easy access to the garden for each level rather than using figurative geometry such as organic lines or shape. The implementation of biophilic architecture in this project is using the open space and terrace garden, maximising the building footprint to be utilised as a green space. Embracing the presence of nature in every corner of the building in order to create a human-nature relationship in the office. As it is proven that the presence of nature helps human to concentrate better in the workplace and also improve their mental health.
Reflection on Design Studio
In reflection to my project which is aim to improve mental health by creating a community-based food production, the building programme consists of a course of the vegetable garden, potato field, fruits, and flower gardens with community kitchen, community dining, commercial restaurant, organic supermarket and accommodation stay. The arrangement of this program is organised into the several volume spaces that are stacked up stepping stairs or amphitheatre structure which allowing conversation to initiate within the community. Similar to the planning strategy of Sozawe office, each level of the building in this precinct have access to an open garden or balcony in order to implement a substantial presence of nature to each of the spaces. The precinct is consist of 3 terraced building that serves different needs of for the community such as market building, dining building, and a combined community and accommodation building with a central garden in the middle of the precinct. Besides having an experiment in implementing biophilic architecture by implying curve and organic lines to the building, in this strategy, I would like to experiment in creating more open spaces using the building framework and simple materiality. As an intimate relationship between people, nature, and built environment can be achieved not only by direct geometry but also the quality of the spaces and embracing the nature itself as the architectural features in creating a dynamic atmosphere to space. Using different transparency of material and combination of natural material such as stone, wood, and also concrete, it has impacted the vibrancy and light movement of the space.
Geometrical Description of the Shape
 |
| image courtesy by Arch Daily |
The geometrical form of the building is mainly rectangular volume that is set up in a rectangular grid of the concrete column as its structure. The fundamental structure is made out of the simple concrete framework which then treated with different material of the wall. The overall shape of the building mimics the stepping stairs which is a series of rectangular volume that is stepping up higher and higher from one street frontage to another. The high ceiling glass wall is formed at the bottom of the building to create an inviting gesture from the other street front. The stepping ceiling on this space is formed by the stepping office spaces on the top complimented with the roof garden facing the other side of the street. The geometrical shape of the openings such as windows and doors are fairly standard with an opening that is layout in a simple rectangular grid, creating a similar opening in every side of the building which is a long rectangular window for the office space. The form of the glass wall and mullion are also a fairly simple but elegant rectangular grid which shows the internal connection of the building with the nature that is visible from the street. In other words, the arrangement of plantations itself has become the architecture language of the building. The collaboration of natural material of the building combined with easy access to the garden for each level creates a strong biophilic architecture approach.
Proposed Scale, Material, Technique, Time Commitment, & Budget
Scale
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1:200
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Material
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2mm Plywood or white acrylic and
2mm Clear Acrylic
|
Technique
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Waffling technique with grasshopper and rhino
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Time Commitment
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1. Form and waffling laser cut file: 10 hours
2. Laser Cutting: 1 hour
3. Assembling and finishing: 2 hours
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Total hours
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13 hours
|
Budget
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$ 50-60 (Material)
$ 30 (Laser Cut)
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Total Budget
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$80-90
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References
Archilover. (2009). “Suites Avenue, Toyo Ito & Associates Architects” from https://www.archilovers.com/projects/17781/suites-avenue.html#info
Cilento,K. (2009). “Sozawe/ NL Architects” https://www.archdaily.com/41538/sozawe-nl-architects
Gullone, E. (2000) The Biophilia Hypothesis and Life in the 21st Century: Increasing Mental Health or Increasing Pathology? Journal of Hapiness Studies, 1(3), 293-322
Hakkarainen,R., Partonen,T., Haukka,J., Virtamo,J., Albanes,D., and Lonngvist,J. (2004) Food and Nutrient Intake in Relation to Mental Wellbeing, Nutrition Journal 20043:14
Kellert, S. & Calabrese,EF (2015) The Practice of Biophilic Design.
McCulloch, A.(2017) Feeding Minds, The Impact of food on Mental Health, Mental Health Foundation. London
Newby- Clark,I. (2019). We Are Social Creatures: The Power of Others to Support Our Habits. Psychology Today [online] Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/ blog/creatures-habit/201003/we-are-social-creatures-the-power-others-support-ourhabits [Accessed 31 Mar. 2019].
Ryan, C., Clancy, J., Browning, W. (2014) 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design Improving health and well-being in the built environment. Terrapin Bright Green.
Pretty, J., J. Peacock, R. Hine, M. Sellens, N. South and M. Griffin (2007) Green Exercise in the UK Countryside: Effects on Health and Psychological Wellbeing, and Implications for Policy and Planning. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Vol. 50, No. 2, 211-231
Sempik, J., Aldridge J. and Becker S. (2003) Social and Therapeutic Horticulture: evidence and messages from research. Thrive, in association with the Centre for Child and Family Research, Loughborough University
Schmutz, Ulrich & Lennartsson, Margi & Williams, Sarah & Devereaux, Maria & Davies, Gareth. (2014). The benefits of gardening and food growing for health and wellbeing.
Thompson, CW. (2002) Urban Open Space in the 21st Century , Landscape and Urban Planning, Herriot-Watt University, 60, Issue 2, 59-72.
Ulrich, R. (2008). Biophilic theory and research for healthcare design. In Kellert et al, Biophilic Design.
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