 |
| Harvest City — Render, Tangram 3DS, Republic of Haiti, © Tangram 3DS |
A set of solutions have been formulated such as:
- Redistribution of population
- Establish stable population zones
- Restructure agriculture/Fishing growth
- Generate new economic growth generation
 |
| Harvest City — Render, Tangram 3DS, Republic of Haiti, © Tangram 3DS |
Their proposal consists of building a floating agricultural and light industrial city off the shores of Haiti. Their Harvest City is envisioned as a vibrant fully functioning city of 30,000 residents which embrces three major concepts.
- The creation of an artificial, floating, productive and livable land desperately needed for Haiti
- A city designed based on the principle of Arcology (Architecture and Ecology) which embodies an ecologically sustainable and practical urban platform
- That harvest City should be established as a "Charter City". Charter City is a relatively new and advanced economic model specifically developed for struggling nations. In addition to accommodating city services, Harvest City has been designed with an integral program of economic capabilities. This mixture is two thirds agriculture and one third light industrial.
 |
| Harvest City — Render, Tangram 3DS, Republic of Haiti, © Tangram 3DS |
Tangram 3DS outlooks the master plan as following:
Harvest City is envisioned a 2 mile diameter complex of tethered floating modules. Four zones or communities will be interconnected by a linear canal system. The four major canals will focus built neighborhoods consisting of four story housing complexes. The outer perimeter of the design is predominately "one acre" crop circles with secondary feeder canals. The inner "harbor will house the city center with schools, administrative, community activities and general marketplace. The entire complex will float and be cable secured to the sea bed. Because of its low profile, low draft dead weight capacity and perimeter wave attenuators, hurricanes and typhoon will have little effect other than collection of much needed water harvesting. A breakwater will be constructed to add to the city's stability. (It should be noted, this proposal suggests using all the concrete rubble debris from the earthquake as the breakwater filler). Harvest City is seen as the first floating city for Haiti. The system of floating platforms allows for a master plan to grow and link to other future cities within the harbor.
 |
| Harvest City — Render, Tangram 3DS, Republic of Haiti, © Tangram 3DS |
Specifically, the design must be easily constructed and practical. As the firm follows, Harvest City design will be articulated onto nine points:
Concrete Hulls: Concrete is the ideal material and method of construction for this project. Concrete hulls have a long successful history of use, particularly in salt water. Life cycles range from 60 to 100 years. These hulls are easily manufactured in a staging area on land and then towed into place. The process and materials is very low tech, economical, and can assume many shapes. The manufacturing of concrete hulls is in itself a new industry for Haiti.
Crop Circles: The basic crop circle is one acre in size, (US). The "crop circles" can be imagined as floating "pie pans" filled with top soil (any shape is possible). The circle was chosen to deflect waves and for its use of rotation irrigation systems. Circle walls remain high to stop wave penetration. A series of wide floating walkways interconnect ones of crop circles allowing movement of crops. Crop circles are a generic term focused on cash crop production. However it should not rule out other uses including livestock, etc.
Residential Neighborhoods: Basic construction is simple "tilt wall", 4 stories, concrete wall and floor systems. These hurricane resistant materials also provide insulation. For estimating purposes we are assuming an average of 3 persons per unit. The typical unit size is 490 square feet and is an enlarged studio apartment. Though 90% of all units are studios, design provisions have been made for one or two bedrooms types with light and air shafts. There are 560 units per neighborhood averaging 1,500 residents per neighborhood. These are minimal units, providing a pre-fabricated kitchenette and two dividing walls. Roofs slope to water fill tanks and are supplemented by limited single unit portable desalination units. Window placement allows cross ventilation and air is further cooled by large passive bamboo shades. Initially, all bathrooms/ showers will be dormitory style. Four such areas (men and women) will be located on each floor. These locations will centralize sewage and waste water / gray water collection.
Color and color design pallets are initially proposed to suggest individuality and a vibrant vitality.
Processing Warehouses are simple Quonset hut structures, secured to concrete hulls. Long airport hanger doors allow air flow for use and protection from heavy winds. These Quonset structures are also ideal for light industrial and assembly types of usage.
Crops: In addition to the crop circle agriculture, all plantings are cash crops. This includes neighborhood plantings and all other designated vegetative areas.
Power Current electrical power for Haiti is sporadic and not totally dependable. Their best solution is to refurbish its existing land based hydro electric dam. Harvest City must look to a more sustainable energy source, in this case, a combination of solar collection roof panels, and proportioned perimeter wind turbine arrangement.
Water Floating aquifers have been proposed as water tanks, secured to concrete hulls with gravity fed piping to specific neighborhoods. These facilities will use covered tops to collect water and protect it. This proposal recommends that some water be piped from land to these aquifers to protect the land based aquifers to protect the land based aquifer supply. (Another earthquake could rupture the land aquifers and allow saltwater to contaminate them) As a supplement, compact desalination units could add additional water sources. These units would be solar panel electric sources.
Waste: There is no central sewerage treatment plant. In its place are a series of compact treatment plants requiring little energy consumption. In addition, central bathroom facilities would recycle all gray water and use newly developed compost toilets.
 |
| Harvest City — Render, Tangram 3DS, Republic of Haiti, © Tangram 3DS |
 |
| Harvest City — Render, Tangram 3DS, Republic of Haiti, © Tangram 3DS |
 |
| Harvest City — Render, Tangram 3DS, Republic of Haiti, © Tangram 3DS |
The Harvest City will be a model of sustained and functioning city with the aim of providing its inhabitants a best conditions of living.
 |
| Harvest City — Render, Tangram 3DS, Republic of Haiti, © Tangram 3DS |
As the architects conclude, "Harvest City attempts to bridge both short and long term objectives for Haiti's ongoing recovery." This proposal should be considered as "conceptual only and can easily accommodate whatever program is determined".
Innovation as the key element, should be a "tool which can solve problems and provide refocused hope on seemingly unsolvable situations."
Project Data:
Project: Harvest City
Design/Concept: Tangram 3DS in collaboration with E. Kevin Schopfer AIA, RIBA, Schopfer Associates LLC
3D Visualization/Animation: Tangram 3DS
Location: Republic of Haiti
Client: Republic of Haiti
Year: 2010
Status: Proposal
All renders courtesy © Tangram 3DS
Video courtesy © Tangram 3DS
No comments:
Post a Comment