The Ark
2020 | Created with Rhino and Photoshop
The proposed design centres around the concept that the climate conditions of our future have made the earth uninhabitable leading to society's evacuation into The Ark. The earth's atmosphere has been toxically polluted with carbon dioxide and as global temperatures grew our atmosphere's humidity reached new peaks causing the water holding capacity of our atmosphere to surge. The earth now finds itself subject to extreme precipitation.
How do we survive this new era?
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The Arks offer permanent climate refuge in an environment that is able to cope with the pressures of this new world. In order to accomodate this new climate, Sydney's CBD is transformed. A network of underground tunnels connect each of the Arks. These allow for physical connections to be maintained between the Arks. The first Ark is constructed on 142 Clarence Street as highlighted in the Noli Map illustrating the accessible spaces of Sydney CBD.
As humans no longer have access to outside resources, harmful energy such as coal is unattainable, forcing reliance on renewable energy. The Ark harnesses the extremely wet climate of the future to produce hydraulic energy. As reflected in the Ark's facade, it's expansive roof enables a great volume of rainwater to collect in the roof before being funnelled to fall down the building at an accelerating rate, turning the turbines connected to generators at the bottom of the Ark. The water sits in a large retainment basin and can be filtered out of an outpipe. Using the logic of negative buoyancy used in submarines, during periods of intense flooding, by filling this retainment basin with water, the Ark is effectively ‘anchored’ reducing the effect of uplift forces.
The primary programs within the Ark are a Greenhouse, Accommodation, Laboratories and a Nightclub/Bar. Laboratories were included as a central program within the design in order for humanity to continue to make scientific and technological advancements into the future.
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Circulation within the Ark is achieved via a series of ramps that follow a solid and void concept. For instance within the accommodation the ramps act as the edge of a solid and the beginning of a void and in the labs the ramps circulate a void and provide access into solid space. The solid and void internal play can also be read from the facade, (the faces from which the interior is derived).
As humanity has been evacuated from the outside world into the Ark’s it is paramount that people feel they are part of a strong community in order to maintain moral. Thus, creating a communal environment that encourages individuals to interact and bond was a central design element.
The accommodation is interlinked with leisure areas for both convenience and a communal atmosphere. Vine covered pergolas mark leisure areas. The greenhouse is composed of five lofted levels creating a larger, more open space that allows for multiple vantage points. Higher ceilings allow also enable trees to grow tall whilst still a taking advantage of empty space. The nightclub and bar provides an area for cultivating fun and socialising in an otherwise bitter and uncertain world.
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The location of the nightclub and bar is underground and is thus a much darker space than the light filled greenhouse. Whilst the greenhouse’s ceiling casts unique reflections from the refraction of natural light through the water, the nightclub contrasts this by reflecting artificial coloured light. The interior is thus transformed into a giant disco ball that illuminates an otherwise dark space.
Given that the Ark will need to remain water tight under flooding pressure the technologies and construction methods applied need to ensure it can cope under these conditions and can remain structurally strong. Internal materiality needs to enable and cope under the conditions of the growth of vegetation. Additionally, an alternative to glass that is much stronger is necessary to allow light into the Ark without compromising the structural integrity of the building. These factors led to the inclusion of developing and emerging technologies within the design - Aerogel, Graphene, Super Hydrophobic Surface, Self-Healing Concrete and Biological Concrete.
