Micro-Urbanism

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Urbanism has been strongly dictated by top down master planning strategies.

The urban network has been misrepresented when viewed from above; the

aerial map has suppressed social relations, and burdened cities with rules based

on poor site logic and lack of ecologic al understanding. A new strategy of data

reading calls for a new method for data making. When examining the eects

of the earthquake in Christchurch, the conventional organisational strategies

impose a process of urban inll where the processed solution becomes a band

aid over a larger urban issue. In top down planning the architect does not direct

the building process but rather participates in it.

The implementation of the internet and digitalization of information has

meant the collection of vast amounts of data, which is stored and distrusted

faster and more eectively than ever before. This shift in media has allowed

us to amalgamate data sets and shape them into an accessible whole. Access

to information encourages novel methods of observation, interpretation

and implementation. However, simply overlaying data will not produce new

understanding greater than the obvious conclusions. Emergence cannot be

seen by the eye alone, the observers perceptions dramatize the results to an

illusionary extent. Unapparent alignments between data are still submerged

behind a veil, which might only be uncovered through rigorous examination of

data relationships. With such access to information, designer (planners) are able

to engage and shape the built and wider ecological environments, encouraging

shifts in the conventional strategies that govern architecture and urbanism alike.

We have used data sets to establish explicit connections between built

fabrics and external inputs, in order to reveal the increasing complexity of the

constructed environment and its capacity for adaptation. Data exhibits a state of

consciousness fuelled by the tiny decisions and considerations which in uence

its condition. Whether these considerations are material or electronic, physical

or virtual, the inherent ability to observe collected data sets allows us to visualize

connections and explore their potential.

Emergent phenomena are changing the quality and nature of designs. Dierent

kinds of design sensibilities are emerging with many possible applications.

The study of emergence, where individual agents are assigned attributes

related to their host environment and work in collaboration with other simpleagents towards higher order complexity, is l eading new kinds of structural,

organisational, spatial and aesthetic architecture. Discreet agents are interlinked

by micro-transactions taking place over a vast territory while dealing with the

emergent elds within ecological patterns and sub- programming.

The system is based on self-regulatory patterns already found in natural

ecosystems, through the introduction of agents and their ability to self-organize

urban matter and secondly encoding intelligence into urban elements and

topologies, natural ecologies can be understood and integrated into the

development of an urban strategy. Agents have the ability to react to data given

a performative connection which can be traced and simulated. The urban fabric

is then generated through individual transactions, and thus acknowledges the

constant nature of change. This ability to be an accumulation of individual actions is

the foundation of the bottom up approach.

Emergent behavioural systems operate based on a collection of inclinations, this

challenges the established notions of urban mas ter planning. When one increases

the material resolution and manages dierent sets of information through a

coding of material, structural, and organisational behaviours, then one increases

the ability for designed systems to respond, feedback, and learn to adapt to a

host condition. Such an approach is narrowing the gap between the power of

abstraction (computation) and materialization. Increased resolution allows for the

programming of molecular transactions rather than conventional deterministic

(totalitarian) design and planning approaches. Design decisions are broken into

small packages that are locally implemented, allowing a ner grain of change

without a disproportionate amount of time spent. Segmenting the decision making

process frees the static outputs, and allows a greater involvement of conditions

to assist change. The decentralized multi- agent, system changes the nature of

hierarchy in urbanism.

Agents are programmed from the bottom-up through simple interactions of

alignment, cohesion and separation. Self-organizing populations of agents are

interlaced through dierent relationships and their interactions are run through a

simulation to observe and understand tendencies within the system. Ea ch agent

can be programmed to meet requirements of a city and interact as informed

modules which negotiate through multiple ecological elds to generate an urban

argument. Such elds may include site condition relationships such as the balance

between wind ows and airborne pollution levels, or between soil acidity levels and

plant aggregation.

An application of self-organizing logic to urbanism enables a shift from notionsof master-planning to that of master-algorithm as an urban design tool. Rather

than designing an urban plan that meets a set of criteria, urban imperatives are

programmed into a set of agents which are able to self-organize. Consequently

this conception of urbanism generates systems that are exible and respond to the

constantly changing political, economic and social pressures of urban development.

Micro-Urbanism | Introduction


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Sample Grid 192 Units by 150 Units = 17km x 13km = 221sqkm

1.0 COMPOSITION

Composition refers to built and

main categories are built area,

are further broken down into su

directly compared .

2D Mapping (Scalar Shift)

Micro-Urbanism | Analysis

Mapping Compositional Data

Isola te Pixe late Genera te 2D Map Generate 3D Map

Isolated Component (Scal


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1.11 SUPERMARKET

The supermarket provides fres

dairy, baked goods, and other

supermarket occupies a large a

is usually situated at nodal poi

1.1 BUILT ENVIRONMENT

The built environment refers to human made surroundings which range from personal shelter and

buildings to neighbourhoods and cities. The built environment is a material, spatial and cultural product

of humans that combines physical elements and energy in forms necessary for living, working and

playing. These artificial surroundings are extensive organisms that consume resources, dispose waste,

and facilitate the production of enterprise. For the purpose of this analysis we developed ecological data

sets for: supermarkets, industrial zones, residential zones, and cemeteries.

1.2 IMPERVIOUS SURFACE

Impervious surfaces are identified as artificial surface conditions; it includes pavements for roads,

sidewalks, carparks, and driveways, which are covered by impenetrable materials such as asphalt,

concrete, brick and stone. Soils compacted by urban development are also highly impervious. The

sealed surfaces eliminate ground water infiltration and natural ground water recharge. The darker

toned surfaces collect solar heat, which then raises the air temperature when the heat is released. This

produces what is called the urban heat island effect, which results in increased energy consumption

in buildings due to cooling. The warm runoff from impervious surfaces reduces oxygenation in stream

water, and consequently reduces the habitability for aquatic ecosystems. Impervious pavements deprive

tree roots of aeration, eliminating the conditions that would otherwise moderate urban climate. The

displacement of living vegetation reduces ecological productivity, and impacts the vital atmospheric

car bon cycles .

1.21 FOOTPATH

A footpath is a path along the s

or pathway intended for pedes

accommodate moderate change

and may be separated from the

by a curb. There may be vegeta

grass, bush between the pedes

vehicular section.



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1.3 PERMEABLE SURFACE

Permeable surfaces allow fluid to pass through. The porosity and composition, along with water mass

affects the permeability of a surface. Permeability is related to Darcys law which relates flow rate and

viscosity to a pressure gradient. The porosity of a soils surface decreases as particle sizes increase. The

aggregation of soil results in higher resistance to compaction, which allows less water through. In non-

urban landscapes, rainwater falls onto permeable surfaces and slowly makes its way into groundwater

reservoirs and aquifers which hold the citys drinking water. In urban conditions, the impermeable

surfaces create large quantities of runoff which can overwhelm natural drainages, over-saturate the

areas where water collects, and divert water away from groundwater reservoirs. For this analysis,

permeable surfaces include: agricultural land, water basins, sand and grass.

1.31 AGRICULTURAL LAND

Agricultural land is land suitab

either livestock and crops. Agri

divided into irrigated and non-

Agricultural land includes orch

meadows, pastures, and arable

1.41 SHELTERBELTS

A shelterbelt is identified as a r

strategically located to provide

and protect soil from erosion. T

function to: keep snow from dr

provide screens from traffic; m

traffic; provide a safe barrier b

and roads; and can also be harvShelterbelts properly planted a

provide energy savings by redu

artificial heating and cooling.

1 .4 PLANT E D/ VE GE T ATI ON

Vegetation refers to natural and artificial ground covering plants, for the sake of this analysis we

selected four categorie s to map: shelterbelts, exotic forests, orchards, and shrubs. This is not a

comprehensive selection, but rather an example of the possible vegetation data sets. Vegetation

dynamism is defined as a change in a species composition and vegetation structure. Abrupt changes can

be caused by wildfires,high winds, landslides, floods and avalanches. Temporal changes comprise the

field of ecological succession. Vegetation self modifies over time based on availability of light, water,

nutrient levels, and soil pH levels. Plant development stages are different across large regions due to

different local histories, in particular the last major disturbance.

Transpiration is the vaporization of water contained in plant tissue and the vapour removal to the air.

Vegetation influences slope stability by removing water through transpiration, however the rate of

stabilization is contingent on a greater mass of vegetation, such as trees.



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2.0 FIELDS

A field is a three-dimensional m

intensity, pollution, road use, r

shadow.

Fields can be either products o

relationships are mathematical

will have a consequence on on

The fields represented have a s

and can occupy an Euclidean sp

erosion, and soil pH. Each point

in the instance of pollution par

Mapping Field Data Sect ion Lines

Site - Chr is tchurch Base Grid Result - Field

Data Set



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2.1 WIND INTENSITY

Wind is caused by pressure differences to equalize the pressure

differential and the rotation of the planet. This differential is created

by unequal heating of the planets surface. When a difference in

pressure exists, the air is accelerated from the higher to lower

pressure. Wind pressure can be approximated by: pressure = x

(density of air) x (wind speed) 2 x (shape factor). Shape factor is the

drag coefficient and it depends on the shape of the wind pressure.

Winds are classified by their spatial scale, their speed, how long

they last, and their effect. In Christchurch, the main northwesterly

wind is a foehn type wind, hot and dry, it comes from the Southern

Alps and can raise the temperature by 10 to 15 degrees within an

h i hir c i n

warm

cold

wind

r ur

r un

in

hour. When wind is combined with cold temperature s, they have a

negative impact on livestock by affecting their food stores, as well

as natural hunting capabilities. Wind contributes to the spreading

of wildfires. Wind disperses seeds from plants, which enables

survival through propagation, as well as feeding flying insect

species. Wind is one of the causes of soil erosion through deflation,

which is the lifting and moving of small particles to another

region. These suspended particles cause erosion by abrasion when

they impact on other solid objects. Wind erosion occurs in regions

with little vegetation, often associated with low rainfall.

North-Easterlies at 100m

North-Westerlies at 100m

South-Wes terlies at 100m

Westerlies at 100m



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2.3 ROAD USE

Vehicle traffic on roads is either for the transportation of goods or the transportation of people;

licensing requirements and safety regulations ensure a separation between the two. The transportation

of goods depends on the degree of development of the local infrastructure, the distance the goods are

transported, the weight, the volume and the type of goods transported. Traffic is formally organized

with marked lanes, junctions, intersections, interchanges, traffic signals, or signs. Traffic is classified by

type: heavy motor vehicles, other vehicles, and pedestrians. Different classes may share speed limits and

easements, or may be segregated.

Traffic monitoring information is fundamental to the management of road networks. Different

hierarchies of roads are important in overall efficiency and safety on the road. The traffic volume

count for this study was sourced from City Council Traffic System Unit and NZ Transport Agency. Trafficcounts were taken from multiple points on each road, the values are a seven day average over a range of

different times in a year. Traffic monitoring equipment includes weigh-in-motion, telemetry and simple

portable tube traffic counters.

2.4 ROAD NOISE

Roadway noise is the collective

level could be generated from

the road and the road surface.

low speeds when the sound of

texture determines the genera

chipping or horizontally aligne

the propagation, diffraction, re

presence of buildings or walls

Noise has a detrimental effect

and they interfere with the useA noisy area harms and reduce

on humans, causing hypertensi

mitigate roadway noise: use of

limitation of heavy vehicles, us

Road Use - Sections



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2.5 WATER TABLE

The water table is the upper surface of a saturated

layer of an unconfined aquifer. The water table

separates the subsurface region of rocks where

pores are normally filled with air, to a zone where

rocks pores are saturated with water. These

regions are affected by porosity and permeability

of the soil substrate. The water table does not

exactly resemble the topography due to geological

variations in the subterranean structure. The water

table is closely related to groundwater, which

is naturally replenished by surface water from

precipitation, streams, and rivers.

watertable

ground

2.6 WATERSHED

A watershed refers to an area of land defined

by a drainage basin. Watersheds are affected by

wind intensity and land composition. On hilly

topography, the divide lies along peaks and ridges.

On flatter topography, the divide is more subtle,

it is determined by the direction a raindrop will

fall when it is on the ground surface. Drainage

divides are either: a continental divide in which

water flows to different oceans; a major drainage

divide in which water never meets again but flows

into the same ocean; or minor drainage divide in

which water separates but eventually joins again

at a river confluence. The drainage basin is where

in

in

in

r ur

r l

r un

Water table levels are important for vegetation

growth and animal habitation. When the water

table collects below the ground surface, this is

termed an aquifer. An aquifer allows water to flow

directly between the porous saturated ground

and the ground surface. The water table has less

pressure than deeper in the saturated ground,

because gravity causes water to flow downwards.

The amount of water it takes to produce 1 ton of

grain is 1000 tons of water. 70% of the worlds

water is used for irrigation, 20% is used for

industry, and 10% is used for residential.

(Source: Outgrowing the Earth: the food security Challenge

in an age of Falling Water Lester Russel B rown)

surface water and melting snow or ice converge

before it exits to another body of water, such as a

river, lake, sea, or ocean. The catchment depends

on the topography, soil type and land use (paved

or roofed areas). The topography determines the

speed at which water flows while the catchment

size and porosity determine the amount of water

that reaches the basin. Land use contributes to the

volume of water reaching a basin.



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2.8 EROSION

Soil erosion is the process in which sediment, soil,

rock and other particles are relocated from an area

due to weathering and deposited elsewhere. It can

occur due to transportation by wind, or ice, the

downward slope creep of soil due to gravity, or by

living organisms (bio erosion), such as burrowing

animals. The rate of erosion depends on the

amount and intensity of precipitation, average

temperature, temperature range, seasonality, wind

speed and storm frequency.

i

wind

i

l

wind

wind

depth

2.9 POTENTIAL ROOTING DEPTH

The potential rooting depth refers to the

potential for a plants roots to distribute into

the ground; it depends on the plant form, the

spatial availability of water and nutrients, and

physical properties of the soil.

The geological factors are the sediment or rock

type, its porosity and permeability, the slope of

the land, and the physical positions of the rocks.

Biological factors are type of ground cover, the types

of organisms living in that area and land use. High

levels of precipitation and more wind are expected

to have more erosion. Sediments with loose porosity

like sand and silt and areas with steep slopes erode

more easily. Porosity and permeability determines

how easily water can percolate into the ground. The

water could move underground, which generates less

runoff, and reduces the amount of surface erosion.

Sediments with high clay contents tend to erode

less. Roads increase the rate of erosion due to the

reduction of natural ground cover and increasing

drainage runoff.

The functions of the plant roots are to absorb

water and nutrients, anchor the plant body

to the ground, store food and nutrients,

and prevent soil erosion. The majority of a

plants roots are relatively close to the surface

where nutrient availability and aeration are

more favourable for growth. Rooting depth

will be physically restricted by impermeable

substrate or compacted soil, or by anaerobic

soil conditions. The pattern of development of

a root system is termed rooting architecture.

The rooting architecture varies between fine

and coarse roots, depending on the topology

and distribution of biomass within and

between the roots. A plant with fine roots can

extr act nutr ients fr om soi l eff iciently; whi le

coarse roots and evenly distributed roots

provide support. Roots on one side of the tree

normally provide nutrients for the foliage on

the same side of the tree.



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existing field

existing field reorganisation

simulated field

simulated field

field shift

field shift

composition

composition

reorganisation

Urban Strategy

Feedback Loop

Responsive Systems

Micro-Urbanism | Design Introduction

URBAN STRATEGY

Using environmental data sets, we developed an experimental approach to creating an urban strategy,

one with an architecture-less response to trends, fashion s, and politics. Instead we developed a system

governed by the environment, where the aim of the design is to optimize relationships inherent in the

surrounding ecosystem.

The system has three stages of development: the first stage was an analysis of existing environmental

conditions, the second we introduced organizat ional agents, and lastly we created a feedback loop. Eac h

of these stages can be applied across different scales of design, from the large urban, to the regional and

the suburban. In the first stage, the analysis, we took the existing composition of the built environment

and the surrounding ecological field to generate maps of the current makeup of the site. This quickly

allowed us to see relationships between the built environment and that of the surrounding ecology.

In the second stage, the design, we introduced agents, which in essence are actions on the existing

built environment. The agents are assigned an inherent logic that provokes them to move given a

significant ecologic benefit. This new organization is one of an emergent relationship between the

built environment and the natural ecology of the site. Lastly, we created a feedback loop to allow for

an informed adjustment of the system. The feedback loop also provides evidence to make a justified

decision, not based on the irrational trends of aesthetics and personal preference, but on the basis of a

fine tuned and balanced ecology.

AGENTS

Agents refer to artificial life si

their complexity arises from th

of individual agents reacting t

that allows them to shift and r

only in relation to one another

the wider environment. Agent

perhaps be best illustrated by

of iron fillings and the way in w

organize when placed under a

Agent systems are not new to

but where we see our system d

others is in the ability to organ

to ecological or field conditions

geographically informed. Our s

operates on the exchange betw

static and dynamic relationshipand natural environment.

field

composition field agents logic organization feedback


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EDUCATION

ALLOTMENTS

PLAYGROUNDS

right to light

separation

positivetaperto roadnoise

Emergent Agents

Massing Logic

LOGIC

The relationship between agent types (program) and the ecological fields consists of a simple behavioral trait

of either attraction or deflection- each agent is given a positive or negative magnitude towards each type

of ecological field. These positive and negative magnitudes can be tweaked depending on what type of field

conditions are being tested.

The introduction of the third dimension happens in the scalar shift from the regional to the suburban strategy.

Each agent type is assigned a floor area: the residential agent equals 25sqm, the commercial agent equals 36sqm,

and the industrial agent equals 49sqm. To arrive at this calculation we took the total floor area of Christchurchbefore the earthquake and the total proportion of different programs and divided it among the agents, therefore

the examples of rationalized cities represent the same floor area and proportionally the same program as pre-

earthquake Christchurch. Given a floor area, the next task is to 3dimensionalize the organizational diagrams. We

developed a logic where the agents assemble to create a massing envelope based on relationships such as access

to sunlight. The system sets up a suggested envelop inside of which buildings can be designed.

City Logic

Regional Logic

Suburban Logic

green network built circulation

green network industrialcommercial domestic

publicamenities majorpublictransport majorcyclewaysmajorpedestrian

green network

industrial

commercial

publicamenitiesdomestic

publicamenities majorpublictransport majorcyclewaysmajorpedestrian

parks andgardens agriculture green corridors

retail

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH

potentialrooting depth

dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH

potentialrootingdepth

dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

windintensity

pollution

roaduse

roadnoise

watertable

waterabsorption

watershed

erosion

minimum soilpH


dailyshadowing

soilstability

Agent Relationships

n e ut r al r e pu l si o n a t tr a ct i on

53,849,512sqmestimatedtotalfloorareain Christchurch

85,000

633.52sqm

numberof buildingagents

areaperbuilding agent

domestic agent = 25@25sqm peragent

industrialagent = 12@ 49sqmperagent

commercialagent = 18@36sqm peragent

Agent Area Calculation

Micro-Urbanism | Design Introduction


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SUBURBAN ORGANIZATION - HIGH DENSITY

The high density suburb is fully saturated with blocks, buildings naturally stack to a maximum of

eight stories in some areas. Curvilinear forms emerge in residential buildings that result from sunlight

penetration, wind reduction, and separation from industrial areas. Deep light wells emerge in large

residential blocks to allow sunlight to each unit. As well, there are several roof gardens that connect to

pathways at the ground level.

SUBURBAN ORGANIZATION - LOW DENSITY

These are a series of images taken from an interactive model, depicting the assembly of building

volumes relative to program at the suburb scale. The low density suburb has the least building blocks so

building formations do not exceed two stories once the system is stabilized. The collection of buildings

have a low floor area ratio; compared to the other densities, residential and industrial buildings are far

apart, and mixed programmatic spaces are rare.

SUBURBAN ORGANIZATION - MEDIUM DENSITY

The medium density suburb has a moderate amount of building blocks, buildings do not exceed four

stories. Larger amounts of commercial and retail blocks are deployed, some of which are part of mixed

use buildings. There is evidence of taller buildings deviating away from green space to allow access

to sunlight at the ground level, and small open spaces in between residential blocks for recreational

funct ions.

Indus tr ial Comme

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Micro-Urbanism | Design


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RATIONALIZED CITY TO MANAGE SURFACE WATER

These are a series of images taken from an urban scale simulation where surface water is managed

by using information such as surface flooding levels and water basin gradients to organize building

locations. It is evident that a higher density of vegetation emerges along major flood plains and

buildings avoid water basins. Conventional circulation networks diminish and green pathways become

the primary circulation.

RATIONALIZED CITY TO MITIGATE WIND

These are a series of images taken from an urban scale simulation where high wind zones repel large

clustering of buildings. An uneven building distribution emerges and greenery forms perpendicular

rows to defend buildings from wind similar to shelter belts. Circulation is curvilinear to avoid straight

pathways which further deters uncomfortably high wind speeds. The large void in the center of

Christchurch suggests a strong wind pattern is present, thus it has repelled buildings.

RATIONALIZED CITY TO MANAGE AIR POLLUTION

These are a series of images taken from an urban scale simulation where pollution is reduced to a

minimum given the scale of the city. Buildi ng areas are densified to allow a shorter distance of travel,

thus reducing pollution caused by vehicular emissions. Circulation paths are more direct and wider to

allow a faster flow and reduce travel time. Wind becomes a component to manage the inversion effec t

which traps smog at the street level. Buildings are attracted to medium wind zones as this has a rate of

air exchange that naturally allows street level smog to be blown away. Vegetation is attracted to the

buildings which are still in higher polluted areas, as a compromise to offset pollution levels. CirculatiBuilding

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4 5 6 7


t ti


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Urban Scale

Buildings C irculat ion Open Space

Magnitude of Field Relationships -

vegetation

RATIONALIZED CITY TO MANAGE SURFACE WATER - URBAN SCALE

Buildings are organized to repel from flood plains zones; the result is a stratification of the built

environment. The circulation is also programmed to repel from floodplain zones, but because the

floodplain is so prevalent, the main road circumnavigates Christchurch, with only secondary roads

negotiating in between. The green network tends to populate the floodplain zones which has the

effect of reducing soil erosio n and creating soil stability. The result of this is a tendency for the water

absorption ecological field to increase in green areas.

water table

potential rooting depths

water absorption

soil acidity

pollution

wind intensity

acoustic noise

Feedback Loop - Ecological Fields


High Density

Low Density

vegetation


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RATIONALIZED CITY ACCORDING TO WIND PATTERNS- URBAN SCALE

The buildings are organized to populate areas with low wind currents, while the other agents create

pockets of green networks to reduce wind. The circulation is programmed to minimize effects of wind

tunneling by methods such as reducing the length of linear routes. The simulated effect is a winding and

dispersed road system with three main nodal intersections. The green network agents are programmed

Urban Scale


water table


water absorption

soil acidity

pollution

wind intensity

acoustic noise


with high attraction to high wind zones, this creates a strong geometry of defined spaces or pockets

similar to shelter belts which also mitigate harsh wind. Ecological feedback from the system shows a

downward trend for wind around buildings.



vegetation

High Density

Low Density

vegetation


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RATIONALIZED CITY TO MINIMIZE AIR POLLUTION - URBAN SCALE

The buildings are organized primarily to repel away from the pollution ecological field. Building agents

are also given a high cohesion or densification, thus reducing reliance on vehicle transportation and

fossil fuel emissions and promoting walking and cycling. The circulation along main roads repels away

from high pollution zones to avoid densification of pollution in one area. High pollution zones and

Urban Scale


main circulation routes are also attracted to high wind zones to allow for natural wind currents to move

pollution away from the city. Dense green networks occur around areas which have high pollution in order

to improve the air condition through plant matter pollution absorption.

water table


water absorption

soil acidity

pollution

wind intensity

acoustic noise




g

High Density

Low Density

Micro-Urbanism

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Transcript of Micro-Urbanism