Urban Farming in Inner-City Multi-Storey Car-Parking Structures: Adaptive Reuse Potential

The future direction of transport and new global concepts of low-carbon mobility are likely to increase the number of obsolete inner-city multi-storey car-parking structures. The adaptive reuse of these garages is challenged through the continuity of urban change and the need for new mixed-use typologies. The development of technologically advanced farming in these structures could become an innovative strategy that as an interim solution justifies renovation versus demolition and new construction. The paper presents findings from the first stage of the multiple-site case study research on car-parking structures strategically selected in 3 UK cities (Portsmouth, Bristol and Brighton). In order to develop a better understanding of the conditions that enable the implementation of urban hydroponic farming in selected structures planning and technical limitations and opportunities have been identified through the analysis of policies, exploration of layouts using Revit software, field observation and photography. The analysis demonstrated that there is a range of possible uses that may be developed in the process of up-cycling of inner-city car-parking structures, of which one might be hydroponics. Looking at three multi-storey garages has shown that these have similar problems for adaptive reuse, which can be overcome with appropriate architectural strategies. Converting these structures for farming could support addressing social, environmental and economic problems. However, the proposed development requires innovations in planning documents. Further analysis needs to be conducted to assess whether the amount of food that could be produced in such a structure is efficient and comparable with other means of achieving it

Reappraising the visionary work of Arata Isozaki:six decades and four phases

This article analyses the work and presents a portrait of Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. His designs and buildings span six decades and it is suggested that these can be categorised into four distinctively different phases. As a former collaborator of Isozaki during the 1990s, the author is able to draw from first-hand observations and knowledge to explain relevant projects. As the discussion points out, Isozaki’s work is highly unusual, original, complex and personal in its absorption of a multitude of influences and its interdisciplinary approach; thus, one could say that he has created ideas and concepts for spaces that defy characterisation as belonging to any single school of thought

Leipziger Missionare und kolonialer Alltag auf dem 'Missionsfeld' am Kilimanjaro 1893 - 1939

This volume discusses everyday life in the Leipzig Mission's Kilimanjaro 'mission field', 1893-1939. The study focuses upon interaction and transculturation in boarding schools and hospitals, as well as at festivals.Dieser Band beschäftigt sich mit dem kolonialen Alltag der Leipziger Missionare auf dem 'Missionsfeld' Kilimanjaro in den Jahren 1893-1939. Die Studie fokussiert sich auf die Interaktion und Transkulturation in Internaten und Krankenhäusern, sowie bei Festen

Investigations for the evaluation for bonding behaviour of nail-laminated timber floor elements in surface bond with mineral-bound facing

Zur Verbindung des flächigen Bauteils Brettstapelelement mit mineralischer Deckschicht sind bisher kaum geeignete einfachste Fugenausbildungen untersucht. Bei dieser biegebeanspruchten hybriden Verbundkombination bietet das zugbeanspruchte Holz und die druckbeanspruchte mineralische Deckschicht im Verbund ein günstigeres Biegetragverhalten und verbessert im Vergleich zum reinen Brettstapeldeckenelement dessen Eigenschaften. Für die Steifigkeit und die Tragfähigkeit der Verbundkonstruktion ist die Ausbildung der Verbundfuge, die effektive Übertragung der Schubkraft ausschlaggebend. Die vom Verfasser der Arbeit durchgeführten Versuche haben gezeigt, dass der Einsatz alternativer Verbundfugenausführungen grundsätzlich möglich ist. Mit diesem Wissen scheint neben dem Einsatz nachgiebiger Verbindungsmittel auch die Heranziehung, Erfassung und Optimierung des Flächen- sowie Reibungsverbundes zwischen flächigen Holzelementen und mineralischen Deckschichten eine effiziente und sichere Fugenausbildung darzustellen. Für weiterreichende und genauere Aussagen, sind neben der versuchstechnischen Abklärung der Wirksamkeit möglicher chemischer als auch mechanischer Modifikationen der Holzoberfläche in der Verbundfuge computergestützte Kurzzeit- sowie auch Langzeituntersuchungen zur Abschätzung der Möglichkeiten und Zuverlässigkeit des Flächenverbundes zwischen Brettstapelelement und mineralischer Deckschicht unabdingbar gewesen. Als Deckschichtvarianten kamen Normalbeton, Zementestrich, Anhydritestrich und Geopolymerbeton zur Anwendung. Es konnte durch eine statistische Auswertung im Resultat ein Gesamtüberblick über das Tragverhalten von hybriden Verbundelementen mit mineralischen Deckschichten und spezieller Oberflächenbehandlung des Holzes gegeben werden. Dabei wirkten sich die Vorteile bei der Nutzung des Flächenverbundes vor allem auf den Gebrauchszustand des Bauteils aus. Die Steifigkeit des Verbundbauteils wurde durch den Flächenverbund erhöht und es wurden damit günstigere Voraussetzungen für den Nachweis der Gebrauchstauglichkeit vor allem bei Spannweiten über 5,0 m erzielt. Die Untersuchungen zeigen die grundlegende Anwendbarkeit für Brettstapel im Flächenverbund mit mineralischen Baustoffen.Timber-composite elements for buildings combining the favourable load-carrying and surface characteristics of mineral-bound facing and structural timber. The connection between timber and covering layer is of fundamental importance for the stiffness properties and overall performance. Since these systems have been usually realized as timber-concrete composite beams and vertical laminated slabs or revitalization of wooden joists ceilings, metal and groove connectors were usually investigated and used for shear force transfer. Thereby, the separating layer prevented a direct and overall bound. For investigation of the natural adhesion between timber and the covering layer as well as the shear force transfer, different modifications of the timber floor surface (e.g. profiled lamellas) and mineral-bound layer were tested, in fact roughly saws and additionally profiled lamellae of nail-laminated timber elements in combination with accepted mineral-bound layers, for instance concrete, concrete of geopolymer, cement and anhydrite screed. The accomplished tests were completely done without additionally metal connectors and separating layer. Only the natural adhesive bond between timber and applied mineral-bound facing should be sufficient to transfer the shear and tension forces between the layers. An overview of shear, tension and bending tests, performed to examine the load-slip behaviour is given. Based on these numerical simulations and test results the behaviour of natural surface bond is described

Green Urbanism: Formulating a Series of Holistic Principles

New Urbanism New Urbanism is an urban design movement, which arose in the USA in the early 1980s, promoting walkable, mixed-use neighbourhoods and transit-oriented development, seeking to end suburban sprawl and promote community. Characteristics include narrow streets, wide sidewalks and higher densities, qualities which we can all find in the European cities. Green Urbanism Green Urbanism is a conceptual model for zero-emission and zero-waste urban design, which arose in the 1990s, promoting compact energy-efficient urban development, seeking to transform and re-engineer existing city districts and regenerate the post-industrial city centre. It promotes the development of socially and environmentally sustainable city districts. This paper will first look at the timeline of important publications that have been published on sustainable design and have emerged from different schools of thought, to exemplify how gradually the notion of Green Urbanism evolved. It then identifies the intertwined principles for achieving Green Urbanism