VEGETATION | PLANT SCIENCE PARK

Woo-Min Lee
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Christchurch city development blueprint release marks not only the start of a framework but another set of questions: how does it measure up not only against international standards but for the reality of the everyday citizens? Is it enough to secure a city voyaging into the 21st century? How exactly will the major parts of the planned precincts turn out architecturally for people to experience? This project starts to address these questions by designing part of the designated Green Frame of the blueprint. Situated next to Latimer Square, the proposal calls for a plant science research facility. Advancing on the proposed idea of the Green Frame giving to public use, the research facility attempts to closely tie together two user groups of scientist-researchers along with the general public. In this way, the research facility is a park and the park is the research facility - a both and situation allowing for mutual benefit. The concept driver is derived from a close study of roots and how it plays these multi-functional roles. When a root sets itself to a soil, it changes the ground condition with its interaction; that is, it makes a soil devoid of life capable of sustaining a system of life around it. This idea along with the geometry of the multi-axis root system became the strategy for the design: the building would be fragmented into smaller laboratories which were interconnected to each other by the paths just like the roots. Circulation, therefore, defines the building form: this allows for a closer interaction for the forms and the journeying along the site. Exchanges and chance encounters between the scientist-researchers, along with the public, are intended to improve innovation and collaboration. That is, the design is a network of buildings embedded into the garden of plants showcasing the research and plants of Canterbury and the agricultural plants for both the public and scientists. Thus the design offers a new opportunity for the Green Frame closely relating to the economic activities around Christchurch and with long-term plan in which a deeper understanding of plants can be enjoyed by both public and scientists, furthering a more coinhabitance between plants and the built environment.
PLANT SCIENCE PARK VIEw INSIDE THE SCIENCE PARK NEXT TO THE LABS

fUTURE CHRISTCHURCH
COURSE THE UNIVERSITy Of AUCKLAND ADVISORS

V2

2nd Semester 2012 Design 6 School of Architecture and Planning Camia Young & Jordon Saunders

DESIGN CONCEPT
Accomodation & Housing
Manchester St Gloucester St Latimer Sq Manchester St

Accomodation & Housing

Manchester St

Accomodation & Housing Building Zones Green Frame Planned Precincts Chosen Site Park Area
Latimer Sq Latimer Sq

Green Space & Public Space Parking Spaces Retail, Business and Offices Cultural and Social Spaces Institutional Spaces Latimer Sq

Building Zones Green Frame Planned Precincts Chosen Site Park Area

Gloucester St

Gloucester St

Religious Spaces
Worcester St

Cathedral Sq

Educational Spaces Chosen Ste

Cathedral Sq

Worcester St

Cathedral Sq

Worcester St

4. 3. 3. 5. 4.

2. 1. 2. 16. 18.

15.

17.

16.

1. Meeting/Rest Area 2. Computer/Write Up Area 3. Dry Lab 4. Wet Lab 5. Storage 6. Greenhouse 7. Auditorium 8. Projector Room 9. Reception 10. Meeting Office 11. Office 12. Bathrooms 13. Cafe 14. Kitchen 15. Visitors Centre 16. Library 17. Help Desk 18. Public Computer Access Point

PRE-EARTHQUAKE SITE

Madras St

Madras St

Madras St

CHRISTCHURCH CITy DEVELOPmENT BLUEPRINT

Latimer Sq

Latimer Sq

PROPOSED GREEN fRAmE PLANT SCIENCE PARK

A
16. 2. 1. 3. 2. 3. 5. 4. 4. 12. 5. 3. 10. 11. 9.

14.

12.

13.

CONNECTIONS fROm SITE TO ATTRACTIONS

GRIDED NATURE Of CHRISTCHURCH

LAyING POINTS BETwEEN URBAN CONNECTIONS

DISTORTION Of GRID DUE TO POINTS

PATHS ESTABLISHED

VOLUmES fORmED BETwEEN PATHS

SLICING BASED ON VIEwS fROm PATH

PROGRAmS ON SITE IN RELATIVE AREAS NATIVE PLANTS RESEARCH LABS AGRICULTURAL/PASTORAL SEEDS RESEARCH LABS SEEDS STORAGE AND RESEARCH LABS AUDITORIUM

4. 3. 4. 3. 1. 3. 5. 2. 1. 2. 5. 4. 3. 6.

OFFICES + MEETING ROOMS (COMPANY ADMINISTRATION) LIBRARY + VISITORS CENTRE

Researcher Public

2.
NETwORK Of BUILDINGS APPLyING THE ROOT SySTEm

4. 1. 5. 4.

4. 3. 3. 7. 6. 5.

1.

CAFE + RESTAURANT GARDEN SPACE

Different programs are enclosed in one building and public circulation is limited to the peripheral area

ONE BUILDING

Fragmenting programs across the site allows for spaces in between for the public to interact with programs

Not only are the programs fragmented, but the paths start to take the role of shaping the forms/volumes for greater interaction between public and researchers. It additionally retains the park-like quality.

2.

2.

3. 5. 2. 1. 3. 3. 4.

DESIGN INVESTIGATION
Water + Nutrients

ROOT SySTEm SUmmARy

8.

Rhizosphere

Life system established where plant sets its roots (rhizosphere)

Bulk soil which has all the chemical nutrients but no life

ROOT fUNCTIONS:
To absorb water and mineral salts from the soil To store food from the shoot system To form a passage way for water and dissolved substances from the root into the stem To structurally hold the plant in place from uprooting and overturning

Roots are vascular meaning that they contain two tubular pathways allowing for transporting to and fro heat, water, mineral and food for the plant to function. Roots have different functions from the shoots: shoots are the top part of the plant (above the ground) which photosynthesize and transpire and are the site of sexual reproduction. However, roots and shoots do have relationships as both are required for a plant to grow. That is, roots and shoots respond to each others effectiveness in obtaining resources from their respective environments.

Laboratory

Cafe

Auditorium

Office

Green House

Laboratory

Laboratory

1m 0

10m

CHRISTCHURCH TREE ROOTS STUDy

Single axis and first order laterals

Single axis and three order laterals

Multi-axis and first order lateral

No dominant axis with many branching

Totara Tree

Kahikatea Tree

Ake ake Tree

Timber Rain Screen

Steel Portal Frames

Timber Rainscreen Rigid Insulation I-Beam Column Dek Cradle Floor System I-Beam with service Timber Floor Joists

Timber Rain Screen

Plywood Lining

Concrete Rafter 800x400 Sand

ROOT STRUCTURES REACTING TO THE AVAILABILITy Of RESOURCES

Totara tree roots are essentially tap roots with many branches creating inter-connected networks. There are also lateral branches which are as thick as the main root tap root along with many secondary roots. Kahikatea tree roots are extremely linear in that there is a very long tap root with lesser amounts of branching in the root system. This is probably to stabilise the tree from overturning and to explore water deeper in the soil system. Ake ake tree roots are fibrous with main strands spreading out radially with about equal thickness. This makes the root system connect to one central point and eventually spreads out to smaller/thinner points. Additionally, the fibrous system has greater surface area and therefore able to draw more water in and also be able to compact the surrounding soils more.

Plant roots are contextually aware of the surroundings: essentially roots seek out nutrients in the soil. This shows that they are attracted to various forces that determine their shape and form.

Fume Hoods (Wet Lab) Meeting/Rest Area Storage

fLOOR fOUNDATION JUNCTION DETAIL (1:10 SCALE)

USING DEK CRADLE SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWS FOR A MORE COMFORTABLE FLOOR TO STAND ON AS WELL AS PROVIDING A FLExIBLE SERVICE AREA UNDERNEATH.

RESEARCH

Dry Lab

Being the Garden City Christchurchs wealth of vegetation is the main starting point of this research. First, a study into the historical changes from pre-European settlement to the pre-earthquake Christchurch city analysis. It showed that there were dwindling amounts of native vegetation left in the area due to human intervention; even with Christchurchs identity as the Garden City. Research into existing ecosystems based on regional environmental analysis was done.

CHRISTCHURCH ECOSySTEmS
Dek Cradle Timber Joist

coastal plains EXPLODED AXO Of ONE LAB dry plains

wet plains

port hills

DRy PLAINS
The dry plains are part of the alluvial floodplain built up by braided rivers of Canterbury. Prior to European settlement the plains were covered with silver tussock grassland with localized woodland areas of Kowhai, Cabbage trees and Kanuka. Very few of these areas remain within the citys boundaries, with only a few shrubs, patches of kowhai and areas of grassland surviving. The grassland areas are cable of supporting an extensive number of indigenous plant, bird and insect species.

wET PLAINS
The Wet plains have changed drastically since human occupation and the effects of human activity has seen a severe loss of original plant and animal species. The Wet Plains historically supported expansive podocarp (Kahikatea), wetland and swamp forest. Riccarton bush is the only significant podocarp wetland forest currently remaining. The honey eaters, tui and bellbird were important species for pollination and were all abundant in Canterbury in the past.

COASTAL PLAINS
Coastal plains are divided into two broad ecosystems: the estuarine and the dunes. Estuaries contain complex ecological conditions due it being the point where freshwater meets the sea. Cycles of tides and freshwater inflow produce much variations of water levels and salinities which the vegetation must tolerate in order to survive. Dune vegetation similarly are exposed to varying salinities and water levels, but also to extended durations of drought of which Pingao has especially adapted to.

houhere ti kouka tussock kowhai

totara kahikatea te kakahi pukio

akeake pingao oioi

1856 MAP OF VEGETATION IN CHRISTCHURCH

Map before European settlement showing Christchurch
SAND WITH FERN, FLAX & GRASS SWAMP & RAUPO GRASS ROCKS TREES FLAX FLAX & GRASS GRASS & FERN CHRISTCHURCH CBD CATHERDAL
Note: all plants are indigenous

Map showing what exists after settlement in by about year 2000

FERN FERN & FLAX RIVERS OR STREAMS REGIONAL PARK GARDEN AND CITY HERITAGE SPORTS PARK LOCAL PARK CEMETERY ORCHIDS OR VINEYARDS & PASTURE HORTICULTURAL CROPS & PASTURE EXOTIC FOREST

PRE-EARTHQUAKE MAP OF VEGETATION IN CHRISTCHURCH

CHRISTCHURCH CBD

IMPROVED PASTURE UNIMPROVED PASTURE REGIONAL PARK WATER URBAN AREA

Tussock, Green Skink, Ti Kouka, Kowhai, Pipit, Mikimiki, Young Plains Ecosystems, Ti Kouka, Kotare, Kanuka, Houhere, Piwakawaka, Kohuhu, Mid Age Plains Ecosystems

Kahikatea, Kereru, Manatu, Lush, Totara, Bellbird, Matai, Older Plains Ecosystems, Pukio, Pukeko, Karamu, Peat Plains Ecosystem

Akeake, Riroriro, Ngaio,Old Dune Ecosystem, Pingao, Kuaka, Tauhinu, Young Dune Ecosystem, Oioi, Tuturiwhatu, Marsh Ribbonwood, Estuarine Ecosystem

INTERIOR Of THE OffICE SPACE IN THE PLANT SCIENCE PARK

INTERIOR Of A LABORATORy