Algenosphere: Case Study 03

Urban Gym

Mehek Usman


Case Study: Surface
This project researches the effects of creating a form using the material assembly with less restrictions, instead contorting the surface into a shield-like usage. With the air becoming purified upon its release, the Urban Gym form blocks incoming air from dispersing it immediately to have areas such as the seating and exercise areas beneficial respiratory effects. The usage of the space, existing as a fitness hub for exercise and pause area for runners especially needed for FDR Drive, results as one of the healthiest areas for wellness. The site itself is intentionally chosen as a spot of great misuse and proximity to both car traffic (for its exhaust to be purified) as well as near one of the three access bridges to the walking path. 




Physical model of gridshell plane twisting into form


Plans and Site Analysis
The site itself is intentionally chosen as a spot of great misuse and proximity to both car traffic (for its exhaust to be purified) as well as near one of the three access bridges to the walking path. 

 With the air becoming purified upon its release, the Urban Gym form blocks incoming air from dispersing it immediately to have areas such as the seating and exercise areas beneficial respiratory effects. 



Sections
The usage of the space, existing as a fitness hub for exercise and pause area for runners especially needed for FDR Drive, results as one of the healthiest areas for wellness. 

Due to the nature of the gridshell assembly, not only can it twist into more forgiving forms but it can also load additional weight of the growing biomass of the algae but as well as people accessing the pull-up set.




Section parallel to wind flow showing movement into oxygenated areas


CFD Diagram

CFD simulations highlighted the efficency of the form and how it lowered speed of airflow maintaining the oxygenated area within radius of the seating of the form.






All Images







Darrick Borowski
Visiting Associate Professor

dborow64@pratt.edu
darrick@dba.nyc
718.399.4305

http://darrickborowski.com
http://are-a.net
http://materialphenomenal.com

IG:

Mycoshield:
Mycellium

Sarah Cawley
Brianna Martinez-Burns
Saahir Lakhani

Algenosphere:
Algae

Aarav Schroff
Nicolas Gotzev
Mehek Usman
Terraflow:
Terracotta

Brynn Lucky
Vaughn Carson
Olivia Su

Urban Osmosis:
Hydrogel

Zophia Li
Tia Thomspon
Kyle Fish