Sonntag, 2. August 2009
Freitag, 10. Juli 2009
Waste Water Treatment
Here some links to a wastewater pyramid planed and built in the early 90s in Kolding, Denmark. Waste water is collected from the whole district (11000 m3 of sewage per year) and cleaned through a system of light, algae, and reed beds, before being released to feed a stream
English links:
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/archi/programmes/cost8/case/watersewerage/kolding.html
German Links:
http://www.bilder-wie-worte.de/artikel_kolding.pdf
English links:
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/archi/programmes/cost8/case/watersewerage/kolding.html
German Links:
http://www.bilder-wie-worte.de/artikel_kolding.pdf
Mittwoch, 8. Juli 2009
Essay
Tirana Development
Tirana is a City which, after the fall of Enver Hoxha's regime in the early 90s, has experienced huge flows of immigrants from the poorer parts of the country into the city. As a result Tiranas population has tripled in only 18 Years. The administrative zone of Tirana, however, is bound to the boundaries of the early 90s, and all newer developments (summarizing more than half of the total land area) are outside this administrative zone, making plannings for the complete city politically challenging.
If one analyses the population density of Tirana, it can be seen that further densification of the town center is not viable, and therefore, the city needs space to grow, and a series of satalite centers need to be developed. If we then analyse the topography of the Tirana region we can see that the area to which Tirana can expand is very limited as it lies in a river basin, and the authorities to not want to build on the hillsides, as this would mar the face of the city, and might introduce climatic problems.
Thus the only way for Tirana to expand would be along the river axis, leading from Tirana to the sea. To prevent a blanket coverage of the whole river area we propose a system of stripes to array the various uses along the river, and order the development along this axis.
District Identities
A series of centers along the River presently already exist, however the uncontroled development in Paskuqan, Bathore, and Kamza has created many problems for these areas. One is the massive lack of infrastructure, and social institutions. Kamza, with a population of 100,000 has only a hand full of schools, a recent health center, no sports facilities, no public spaces, and no community facilities. It is completely dependent on the Tirana city center for most services.
The whole area is several kilometres long, swamped with detached houses, not showing any significant structural changes whilst travelling through the area. Thus a certain disorientation results, as one part of the city cannot be distinguished from the next.
Stripe Concept
Thus we propose a system of layering the river with perpendicular stripes of varying uses. By dissecting the recent developments along the river from paskuqan to the airport into a system of stripes, a zoning of the various districts is achieved and certain points of orientation created.
By analysing the typical characteristics of certain zones (however small these may be) such as street patterns, density, frequency of public phone boxes, and other public amenities, size of private gardens etc. and amplifying these features in their respective areas, a new sense of orientation can be achieved as each district becomes its own unique Identity.
River transport
To emphasise the importance of the river as an axis for fu´ture development connecting the various districts, and to take up the theme of rivers being the traditional modes of transport connecting various towns, a system of public transport is to be arrayed along the river, connecting tirana with the various districts and the airport. With small interventions, and by planing places along the riverside, we hope to achieve catalizers which will initiate further develop in the respective districts.
Green Corridors
Areas of low density and large open places are to be developed as a system of regular green corridors segmenting the city, thus creating borders between the various districts and creating points of orientation.
These stripes can be developed as CPUL's (continious productive urban landscapes). A series of layers are imposed over the open areas representing different usages; such as recreational, agricultural (community and privat gardens), playgrounds, sport fields, and public parks. There will be a strand, a green footpath, connecting the different usages and features, allowing for the various widths, shapes and forms that the green stripes presently have. The connecting element between the various green corridors will be the river, and the axis of public transport alongside it. Old industrial complexes can be reused for recreational or sports purposes.
Ecological aspects include providing clean air corridors letting the cold night air flow down from the hillsides into the city centres, minimizing the amount of sealed ground, thus preventing the occurance of floods along the river, and providing various spaces/habitats throughout the city.
Conclusion.
Hereby steps can be taken to ensure that further development along the river will be orientated, and integrate ecological and energetic aspects at an early stage. We see this as a method of relieving the pressures of city growth on the Tirana center, and reorganising the present unplanned developments along the River.
We also see a large potential in the river and the river valley to be developed into a funktional new series of towns, which will alleviate pressure, whilst improving living conditions for immigrants.
Tirana is a City which, after the fall of Enver Hoxha's regime in the early 90s, has experienced huge flows of immigrants from the poorer parts of the country into the city. As a result Tiranas population has tripled in only 18 Years. The administrative zone of Tirana, however, is bound to the boundaries of the early 90s, and all newer developments (summarizing more than half of the total land area) are outside this administrative zone, making plannings for the complete city politically challenging.
If one analyses the population density of Tirana, it can be seen that further densification of the town center is not viable, and therefore, the city needs space to grow, and a series of satalite centers need to be developed. If we then analyse the topography of the Tirana region we can see that the area to which Tirana can expand is very limited as it lies in a river basin, and the authorities to not want to build on the hillsides, as this would mar the face of the city, and might introduce climatic problems.
Thus the only way for Tirana to expand would be along the river axis, leading from Tirana to the sea. To prevent a blanket coverage of the whole river area we propose a system of stripes to array the various uses along the river, and order the development along this axis.
District Identities
A series of centers along the River presently already exist, however the uncontroled development in Paskuqan, Bathore, and Kamza has created many problems for these areas. One is the massive lack of infrastructure, and social institutions. Kamza, with a population of 100,000 has only a hand full of schools, a recent health center, no sports facilities, no public spaces, and no community facilities. It is completely dependent on the Tirana city center for most services.
The whole area is several kilometres long, swamped with detached houses, not showing any significant structural changes whilst travelling through the area. Thus a certain disorientation results, as one part of the city cannot be distinguished from the next.
Stripe Concept
Thus we propose a system of layering the river with perpendicular stripes of varying uses. By dissecting the recent developments along the river from paskuqan to the airport into a system of stripes, a zoning of the various districts is achieved and certain points of orientation created.
By analysing the typical characteristics of certain zones (however small these may be) such as street patterns, density, frequency of public phone boxes, and other public amenities, size of private gardens etc. and amplifying these features in their respective areas, a new sense of orientation can be achieved as each district becomes its own unique Identity.
River transport
To emphasise the importance of the river as an axis for fu´ture development connecting the various districts, and to take up the theme of rivers being the traditional modes of transport connecting various towns, a system of public transport is to be arrayed along the river, connecting tirana with the various districts and the airport. With small interventions, and by planing places along the riverside, we hope to achieve catalizers which will initiate further develop in the respective districts.
Green Corridors
Areas of low density and large open places are to be developed as a system of regular green corridors segmenting the city, thus creating borders between the various districts and creating points of orientation.
These stripes can be developed as CPUL's (continious productive urban landscapes). A series of layers are imposed over the open areas representing different usages; such as recreational, agricultural (community and privat gardens), playgrounds, sport fields, and public parks. There will be a strand, a green footpath, connecting the different usages and features, allowing for the various widths, shapes and forms that the green stripes presently have. The connecting element between the various green corridors will be the river, and the axis of public transport alongside it. Old industrial complexes can be reused for recreational or sports purposes.
Ecological aspects include providing clean air corridors letting the cold night air flow down from the hillsides into the city centres, minimizing the amount of sealed ground, thus preventing the occurance of floods along the river, and providing various spaces/habitats throughout the city.
Conclusion.
Hereby steps can be taken to ensure that further development along the river will be orientated, and integrate ecological and energetic aspects at an early stage. We see this as a method of relieving the pressures of city growth on the Tirana center, and reorganising the present unplanned developments along the River.
We also see a large potential in the river and the river valley to be developed into a funktional new series of towns, which will alleviate pressure, whilst improving living conditions for immigrants.
Mittwoch, 24. Juni 2009
corridors
A system of regular green corridors segmenting the city (or at least between paskuqan and the airport), thus creating points of orientation, and relieving the pressure on the current centers.
Ecological aspects include providing clean air corridors letting the cold night air flow down from the hillsides into the city centres, minimizing the amount of sealed ground, thus preventing the occurance of floods along the river, and providing various spaces/habitats throughout the city.
Current land use along the river: agriculture and disused industry.
Reference: CPUL Botanic Spine, Dublin.
series of green corridors conected by the river...
in relevance to the sorrounding buildings.
These stripes can then be developed as CPUL's (continious productive urban landscape).
A series of layers are imposed over the open areas representing different usages; such as recreational, agricultural (community gardens), public parks, and privat greens. Connecting these usages will be a green footpath. Old industrial buildings can be reused for recreational purposes.
Thus there will be a strand connecting the different usages and features, alowing for the various widths, shapes and forms that the green stripes presently have. The connecting element between the various green corridors will be the river, and the axis of public transport alongside it.
When analyzing the transport axis along the river, we see that the road transport comprises 2 levels, one being the "mainroad" which follows the shape of the river, being set back roughly 100-200m from it. the second level are the main roads, which are set back considerably from the river, and run straight do durres, and northern tirana respectivly.
The third layer which is to be created is an axis of public transport which will connect tirana, kamza, and the airport. As the only area still having an amount of free space is the river side it would mak sense to let this transport axis run along the river connecting the different river places. this would work complementary to the system of stipes, as the axis of the river, and thus the public transport will present the connection between the different uses.
Inverted Paskuqan - appliance
To apply the conzept of the "life cycle house" on a larger scale, we coul develop hubs servicing entire quarters, reusing, and recycling waste, and providing all neccessary infrastructure (Clean water, electricity, heating, wate water reuse and collection) to at least a part of this neighbourhood. This conzept could be taken one step further, to incorporate the cleaning of the river, and the disposal and reuse of the garbage along the river.
The abundance of disused industrial buildings along the river could provide an optimal location for these reuse-centers. They could become new hubs for their respective quarters providing electricity, clean water, and recycled building materials. The ("skellet?) structure left ovr in some industrial buildings could be used as the framework to build further flats using the recycled materials - thus continueing the Idea of the self feeding, self-growing building.
Dienstag, 23. Juni 2009
Mittwoch, 10. Juni 2009
09/06 Continuing...
Next step would be to look at the borders between the stripes...
Create rules for maximum, and minimum widths...
Create rules for the min and max Impact... So the minimum intervention needed to realize the idea, and the maximum possible should be determined.
Look at possible zones along the river to intervene at a detailed scale...
including the new centre for kamza and adjacent green belt...
suburban area of paskuqan
and exploring the possibilities of flood planes above the river.
If we look at the road system of the area we can see that there are 2 roads runing at a distance to the river, but following the river flow. These could be developed into the main roads for the ares, as is already the case in Paskuqan...
Creating a kind of back yard atmosphere along the river, with only pedestrian, and public traffic.
As most available space lies along the river, it would make sense to provide public transport along the river axis, be it rail, or water or a combination, linking Tirana, Pasquchan, the agricultural university, Kamza, and the airport.
Monorail, Wuppertal: As the town lies in a narrow valley the only space left to creat public transport was along the river.
Cable Ferry, Canada.
Donnerstag, 4. Juni 2009
Samstag, 30. Mai 2009
Mittwoch, 27. Mai 2009
Stand 26/05
As we were able to see in our city analysis, the city of Tirana has reached the physical Limits of its growth due to the nature of the surrounding terain.
However, the density of tirana has alreasy reached a state close to that of an indian Megacity. Thus the usefulness of further densification to recieve continued growth is questionable.
If we take a look at the cities, towns, and important infrastructural nodes of the region, we can see that these are arrayed along the River of Tirana.
If we look at the nature of the surrounding terrain we can quickly see the cause of this. All important devolopments so far have taken place in the river basin of the Tirana River. Especially the situation of Kamza comes to mind, where we have a population soon reaching 100,000 being per se the 5. largest city in Albania, but not having any own Infrastructure.
Since we want to avoid a blanket coverage of buildings across the whole river area.....
We propose to utilize the system of Stripes developed during the workshop in Tirana, to create a system for Tirana to grow, and to decentralize along the axis of the Tirana River.
If we leave off the stripes for a second we get a series of varying spaces along the river axis. These spaces will develope into green belts, housing areas, agricultural/industrial activities, and sub centres, decentralising the Tirana City Centre.
An early allocation of these spaces in necessary to ensure a sustainable development of the Metropolitan area. They can be "reserved" as agricultural usage, then recieving their allocated use when the necessity to grow arises.
Dienstag, 26. Mai 2009
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