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Composting | An Alternative to Landfill

Composting | An Alternative to Landfill

Auburn Community Agriculture-Site Plan

This an updated site plan that shows the proposed bio-mass facility deisgned by Hung Ngo, the research greenhouse facility designed b Mike Lucas and Tim Werfelmann, worker housing designed by Erick Alvarez, and the locations of the detention ponds and CSA facility designed by Shane Fagan, and the first-year crop/animal roations outline by Ryan Liesche and Brian Koepke. 

SAW ROOF SYSTEM

Bio-mass | Compost

Farmer Housing

Housing will be incorporated into the urban agriculture as a means to provide adequate housing to farmers of both long term stay and short term for those that will work as a seasonal farmer. There is also an emphasis to provide housing for those that may be working or visiting the research and development facility. This housing facility will work toward demonstrating a community which embraces the potentials of urban agriculture.

Research and Development

The Research and Development complex would address the very necessity for the synergy between urban renewal and agricultural practices.  With the growing concern over volatile markets and organic foods as a commodity, new research must be explored and as a result, an architectural vernacular will emerge that will reflect the practices within the facility.  This will continue to improve and develop certain technologies that may be used within everyday buildings.  This will help to improve the local economy and provide jobs for the local citizens.

Greenhouse

    The proposed greenhouse for this site would be the second piece of a research/greenhouse building.  It will include systems that will be researched and developed within the lower facility.  Produce grown within the greenhouse will serve the CSA and include temperature sensitive fruits and vegetables.  The exterior skin of the greenhouse will be made of ETFE plastic which will be stretched to create transparency and serve as thermal insulation.

The proposed greenhouse for this site would be the second piece of a research/greenhouse building.  It will include systems that will be researched and developed within the lower facility.  Produce grown within the greenhouse will serve the CSA and include temperature sensitive fruits and vegetables.  The exterior skin of the greenhouse will be made of ETFE plastic which will be stretched to create transparency and serve as thermal insulation.

Urban Agriculture Master Site Plan

Bio-Mass/Compost

The proposal of this biomass/composting facility is to be able to recycle bio waste and convert them into usable products. The concept of this is fairly simple. This facility will collect food waste and wood products from restaurants, households, and other commercial places and then process them into organic compost and/or bio-fuel. This facility will provide composts to the local CSA, farmers, and to the whole region of Auburn. The biomass facility will process the bio wastes into bio char, bio crude oil, and excess heat. The bio char can be further use as an additive to the compost to increase the fidelity of the soil. The bio crude oil can be shipped to another facility to be refine into usable fuel. And the excess heat can be collected to heat facility buildings on site as well as our year round asparagus field.

CSA

The CSA will be programmed to not only be a place to pick up and drop off goods, but also be a central hub of the urban agriculture.  The Building has a generous portion of it designated to cold storage to allow ample amounts of produce to be stored.  The cold storage will have movable partitions and shelves to allow customization in zoning to maximize the space and its versatility.  The daily pick up racks will be linked into the geothermal system to allow them to be cooled to 55 degrees.  The slight temperature drop will help preserve the produce shares, and make for a nice experience for the people picking up package to know the geothermal system is on.  The exterior of the building will have a movable screen with herb beds on rails.  This will help reduce solar radiation and make a better use of the solar screen.  The remaining program of the building will focus on making learning environment for members of the CSA to use.  The members will be able to learn hydroponics, aquaponics, areoponics, proper food storage, green house management, and general gardening. 



Update on Monday, February 28, 2011 at 10:59AM by Shane Fagan

     The CSA has a very prominent position within the fabric of the proposed Auburn plan. The building will act as a filter for many types of circulation; it will help to improve the quality of rainwater by bioremediation as it passes under the building to the bond. Pedestrian traffic will flow the building to pick up their CSA units, or make their way back to the community gardens.  Vehicles will also pass through the site to pick up their CSA units. The CSA hopes to reduce the reliance on personal vehicle transportation by making use of public transportation stops and catering to bicycle users.