greenHouse
This project focused on a live/work community in Accord, New York, a small town with a declining population and failing economy. We answered the design brief by creating a community which would intersect refugees and retirees, drawing them to an artificial environment in which they could both live and work. Our design allows for the production of both food and energy, creating a self-sustaining community which would additionally be accessible to members of the larger community of Accord.
The perimeter housing bands allow dual conditions of interior and exterior. The houses open on one side to the exterior of the greenhouse, while the other side opens to the interior, allowing passive ventilation as well as a feeling of connection to the natural environment.
The structure of the greenhouse is based on similar principles to many stadium roofs, such as the Maracana and Wembley stadiums in Rio de Janeiro and London, respectively. The main portion of the roof is supported by a large steel ring connected to a smaller central tension ring. The two are connected by steel cables, which then support the ETFE film roof.
The crops chosen for the greenhouse reflect many of those grown in southern California. This was based on two goals, the first was the desire for the ideal climate for comfortable human habitation, determined to be 20-30% humidity and 65-80° temperatures. The second was the abundance of groundwater available in New York, versus the relative absence of it in California.
The ETFE roof allows for year-round growing seasons. Even as temperatures plunge below freezing and snow falls, citrus fruits would grow unharmed inside.
