TOWARDSA NATURALARCHITECTURE

Greenpoint, Brooklynsite

Towards a ‘Natural’ Architecture. Humanity has gone through great lengths to create an

artificially built environment to inhabit. This necessary piece of our system, unfortunately

has adverse affects on the primary system we serve; that of Earth (i.e. ecology. biology) Earth

in itself is a system which completes itself through cycles, sensitively balanced throughout. Humankind’s course thus far has been ultimately

linear, and such is our way of producing and consuming. We must understand the biological systems sustaining mother nature, Earth itself.

Humans can apply the tenets of balance or ‘self-completing cycles’ of production and

consumption to the built world we so desire to live in. In this discovery however, sensitivity to

the primary system is most important. A method for moving forward in either complete cohesion

or total isolation must be designed. I propose the latter as the safer choice, to both the benefit of

the Earth and comfort of humans. A system separated both figuratively and literally,

by edges of worlds, built and organic fields, distinguised by mediating borders containing

systems supporting its inhabitants.

morgan ave

grand st

varick ave

ZONING MAP

WATER RISE IN THE YEAR 2050 CONCEPT DIAGRAM

FLOOD ZONES

CONCEPT DIAGRAM PROGRAM DIAGRAM

FLOOD ZONES DENSITY OF AIR POLLUTION

what was once 3.8 miles of wetlandOVERGOWN

ABANDONED

Newtown Creek

is now the industrial edge

Newtown Creek Maritime and Industrial Zone

1891 vs. 2012Clean marshland to polluted airway

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

continous dredging to remove 15ft of sludge170 acres of contaminated sediment

PAH+5.6

-1.3

o2 < 1 mg/L

21,000 ug/kg

58% of nyc waste transfer

58% of NyC Waste Transfer

A Brief Timeline of Newtown Creek History

- Early history. Native Americans called the creek, where they fished and swam, Mispat, which means “overflowing tidal stream” or “bad water place,” depending on which historian you believe. At that time, the creek was large enough that it had islands.

- Early 15th Century. The Dutch begin to settle Manhattan.

- 1613. Dutch survey Newtown Creek.

- 1638. The Dutch West India Company purchases the land around the creek for New Amsterdam.- 1630s on. Dutch and English settle the creek, andset up farms, as well as some early industry, alongboth banks.- Some historians claim this early activity makes the Creek the oldest industrial waterway in the United- Some historians claim this early activity makes the Creek the oldest industrial waterway in the United- Some historians claim this early activity makes the Creek the oldest industrial waterway in the UnitedStates.

- 18th century. More farming!

- 1850. Neziah Bliss (for whom Blissville is named) built the Blissville drawbridge to Greenpoint (later re- 1850. Neziah Bliss (for whom Blissville is named) built the Blissville drawbridge to Greenpoint (later re- 1850. Neziah Bliss (for whom Blissville is named) built the Blissville drawbridge to Greenpoint (later re-placed by Greenpoint Avenue Bridge). This would lead to the industrialization of Greenpoint, which would laced by Greenpoint Avenue Bridge). This would lead to the industrialization of Greenpoint, which would placed by Greenpoint Avenue Bridge). This would lead to the industrialization of Greenpoint, which wouldsoon house shipbuilding, printing, pottery, glassworks, and foundries.soon house shipbuilding, printing, pottery, glassworks, and foundries.

- 1866. The Laurel Hill Chemical Works is founded in Maspeth. The company would go on to develop numer- 1866. The Laurel Hill Chemical Works is founded in Maspeth. The company would go on to develop numer- 1866. The Laurel Hill Chemical Works is founded in Maspeth. The company would go on to develop numer-ous important innovations in chemical and copper manufacturing and contribute to the fortunes of bothous important innovations in chemical and copper manufacturing and contribute to the fortunes of bothous important innovations in chemical and copper manufacturing and contribute to the fortunes of bothAllied Chemical and the Phelps Dodge Corporation well into the 20th century.Allied Chemical and the Phelps Dodge Corporation well into the 20th century.

- 1867. First modern oil refinery in the US opens on the creek.

- 1870. John D. Rockefeller opens what will come to be known as Stan-1 870. John D. Rockefeller opens what will come to be known as Sta -dard Oil, on the Ne

wtown Creek.

- 1900. Rockefeller owns over 100 oil distilleries on both sides of the creek. Both sides of the creek are now lined with shipyards, foundries, industrial food processors, and fabric and paper mills.- Standard Oil’s distilleries were good for the economy, but they also spewed on average 30,000 gallons of industrial effluent each week, most of it directly into the creek. Environmental regulation did not exist until the 20th century.- 1920s – 1930s. The creek is a major shipping hub. Its banks are widened, deepened, and bulkheaded to accommodate bigger boats.

- 1950. The explosion of a reinforced concrete sewer in Greenpoint reveals a massive underground oil spill at Standard Oil.- 1967. Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant constructed.

- 1970. The US Environmental Protection Agency is formed. The era of handling industrial waste by dispos-ing of it in the creek is over

- 1978. The Coast Guard observes a plume of oil in Newtown Creek coming from the end of Meeker Avenue. Upon investigation, the full scale of the Standard Oil (now ExxonMobil, Chevron/Texaco, and BP)

- 1978. The Coast Guard observes a plume of oil in Newtown Creek coming from the end of Meeker Avenue. Upon investigation, the full scale of the Standard Oil (now ExxonMobil, Chevron/Texaco, and BP)

leak discovered in 1950 becomes apparent: 17 – 30 million gallons of oil has been released into Newtown Creek- 1980s. Areas of Greenpoint begin a slow process of conversion from industrial to residential uses. Sever-al sites in the Newtown Creek area are designated Federal or State Superfund sites. Industrial activity will clean up significantly over the next decades.

- 1992. Newtown Creek is designated a Significant Maritime Industrial Area (SMIA) by the City, mean to foster the continued growth of water-dependent industrial uses, which are increasingly difficult to site in NYC.

- 2005. Greenpoint/Williamsburg rezoning. Environmental impact statement anticipates additional popu-lation of 16,700 people and net loss of 1 million square feet of existing industrial capacity. Even so, East Williamsburg alone employs 15,000 workers.

- 2005. Meeker Avenue Plume is discovered. The decades old contami-nation is made up of several large plumes of toxic chemicals under East Williamsburg, which release volatile gases into the homes and businesses above. It is now a state Superfund site.- 2009. Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade and expansion completed. Nature Walk along creek is opened to the public.

-2010. The designation of Newtown Creek as Federal Superfund site by US Department of Environmental Protection.

continous dredging to remove 15ft of sludge170 acres of contaminated sediment

PAH+5.6

-1.3

o2 < 1 mg/L

21,000 ug/kg

58% of nyc waste transfer

58% of NyC Waste Transfer

BioMass Terrarium

Terrarium Housing

BioMass

5

3

2

1

4

Organic wastes from the farm stored beneath the hopper.Delivered over the footbridge from the terrarium

Mulchified wastes are sent to the gasifier.

Steam from the boiler powers the turbine for electricity

Combustion occurs at the Oxidizer

Biofuel is sent through the main pipe to the housing blocks

5

3

2

1

4

Organic wastes from the farm stored beneath the hopper.Delivered over the footbridge from the terrarium

Mulchified wastes are sent to the gasifier.

Steam from the boiler powers the turbine for electricity

Combustion occurs at the Oxidizer

Biofuel is sent through the main pipe to the housing blocks

Amount of Waste

classification scale/measure volumerecyclablesfoodwastemetalwood

Wattage of PlantAverage demand is 2kW/Home

2kW/Home32,000 kW/16,000 Homes

determined by allowable space130,000 c3 volume for biomatter

32 mW / 16,000

ideal size:

Service 12,500 Homes25 mW

@Average kW/Home 16,000 Homes

Calculating a BioMass Plant In Greenpoint

1 MW / 500 HOMES

Amount of Waste

classification scale/measure volumerecyclablesfoodwastemetalwood

Wattage of PlantAverage demand is 2kW/Home

2kW/Home32,000 kW/16,000 Homes

determined by allowable space130,000 c3 volume for biomatter

32 mW / 16,000

ideal size:

Service 12,500 Homes25 mW

@Average kW/Home 16,000 Homes

Calculating a BioMass Plant In Greenpoint

1 MW / 500 HOMES

1. Fuel In-FeedOrganic waste (inluding bark, mill residue, clena recycled construction material) is loaded into the fuel bin and conveyed to a metering in near the gasifier.

2

1

3

4

5

2. GasifierFuel is processed in stages including drying, pyrolysis and gasification. The wood is converted into “syngas” that can be used to displace energy produced by natural gas.

3. OxidizerThe syngas is conveyed into the oxidizer where it is combusted with the resulting flue gas directed through a boiler.

4. BoilerThe boiler produces hot steam to send to the back pressure turbine for electricity.

5. ESPAfter exiting the boiler the flue gas is cleaned in an electrostatic precipitator to remove up to 98% of particulate.

Stack

Electric Turbine

BioMass

SEDIMENTATIONALGAEWATER

VAPOR

ALGAEGROWTHSYSTEM

MAKE-UPWATERSOIL CONDITIONER (CROPS)

DIGESTED SOLIDS

ANAEROBICFERMENTATION

SUPERNATANT

RAIN

DRINKWASH

DISTILLEDWATER

DISTILLED WATER

STORAGE

FOODPREPARATION

DRINKING

HUMANS(4)

RICE, CEREAL, VEGETABLES & SPICES (PURCHASED)

MILK AND EGGS

URINE & FECES

SURPLUSSOLD

HANDPUMP

WATERCLOSET

COOKING SYSTEM

REFRIGERATION

ILLUMINATION

FLUSH WATER

GASSTORAGE

MILK AND EGGS

STOCKWATER

EXCESSSOLIDS

TOSANDBEDS

DRYALGAE

EXCESSSOLD

FEED

CARBOHYDRATEAND OTHER

ANIMAL FEEDS

COW (1)URINE &MANURE

CHICKENS (50)MANURE

URINE &MANURE

WASTEDFOOD

EXCESS RAIN OVERFLOW

SOLAR STILL

1. Fuel In-FeedOrganic waste (inluding bark, mill residue, clena recycled construction material) is loaded into the fuel bin and conveyed to a metering in near the gasifier.

2

1

3

4

5

2. GasifierFuel is processed in stages including drying, pyrolysis and gasification. The wood is converted into “syngas” that can be used to displace energy produced by natural gas.

3. OxidizerThe syngas is conveyed into the oxidizer where it is combusted with the resulting flue gas directed through a boiler.

4. BoilerThe boiler produces hot steam to send to the back pressure turbine for electricity.

5. ESPAfter exiting the boiler the flue gas is cleaned in an electrostatic precipitator to remove up to 98% of particulate.

Stack

Electric Turbine

Returning the site to a wetland

REMEDIATION

CAPPING LAYER OF THIN WATERPROOF CLAY

CAPPED WITH 3’ CONCRETE POURED

INFILL SOIL FOR WETLAND

sourghum

wheat

herbs

Crops collected are used on site. Wastes are stored in the biomass plant.

Terrarium

sourghum

wheat

herbs

Crops collected are used on site. Wastes are stored in the biomass plant.

Sourghum, Wheat, and Herb farming

Public Terrarium and park, for the preservation of nature

HousingAllowable square footage of one structural bay:3-4 floors with 12 units each

Total square footage:

9600ft2 2013 Average $1500/sqft.Average return for one structural bay outfitted with housing

28,800ft2 $43,200,000

Housing Incentives Projected Income

Allowable square footage of one structural bay:3-4 floors with 12 units each

Total square footage:

9600ft2 2013 Average $1500/sqft.Average return for one structural bay outfitted with housing

28,800ft2 $43,200,000

Housing Incentives Projected Income

A system under the guise of natureComponents

-Sedges

-Hornbeam

-Redtwig Dogwood

-Cattail

-Rushes

-Maiden Hair Furns

-Water Hyaconth