I'm really interested in looking into Canary Wharf. It's an urban cityscape that is always adapting to fit the demographic that is accumulated there. The landscape however, is very boring and uniform, it definitely fits the theme of modern architecture, however I want to create a space that covers the neglected parts of the city that people may look over often. I want to create a building that will highlight the area alongside using the space effectively.

BlackWall Yard is an abandoned dry dock at Canary Wharf, since I'm creating a structure that verticalness and is elevated off of the floor, I think it could be really cool to incorporate the untouched docks underneath and a social spot, maybe create seating or a bridge, something that will allow traffic flow within the area, whilst upholding a community onto of it.

Mudchute Farm is a very interesting location as it is a change of backdrop when considering the aesthetics of Canary Wharf, definitely something that is often played on, it sets itself apart from the hustle and bustle of the city and allows people to have community and social Time. A part of the country in the city. This is interesting as the use of space is alongside its surroundings makes me feel like this is a very good example of housing communities with social aspects. Canary Wharf has high rise living but it also has odd spots like these where people can take a break from the complex modernised spaces and enjoy community time and social interaction with nature.

https://www.archdaily.com/901501/floating-university-berlin-raumlabor-berlin

Very experimental and unique, materials chosen are also very basic reflecting the temporary nature of the building itself as its always changing and evolving and has room for more... room. Student and teacher joint effort, interesting as the space is intended for learning itself, what better way to learn architecture than to make a structure. I like the fact that its very industrialist and the building itself isn't square cut and boxy, the shapes really reflect the fluid nature of the water underneath the building.

https://www.zanzihomes.com/blog/160/the-rise-of-studio

https://aspenwoolf.co.uk/why-invest-in-studios/

https://www.inspiredhomes.uk.com/insights/micro-apartment-growth/

This article is very important as it shows the current state of the economy and the struggles many young people are going through trying to afford living in the city. Studio Apartments are great at giving space and function at the same time, since everything is laid out in a single space, its much more accessible. They are also very popular making them good choices for struggling young people such as Gen Z's who aren't currently making a good enough income to afford proper apartments. 

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/mar/08/shipping-container-homes-from-tiny-houses-to-ambitious-builds

https://www.container-housing.co.uk/information.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwguzzBRBiEiwAgU0FT0tVMmGSW4Zhn3qre2ZeYEBHpE8MVUl8pLpi9fUhLBYNbjtJfF2DRBoCCjwQAvD_BwE

https://www.loveproperty.com/gallerylist/87022/these-cheap-container-homes-cost-next-to-nothing

These cargo/container homes have been on the rise for the past few years as they are cheap, eco friendly and on par with the architectural trends of today, meeting the urgent needs to facilitate a new generation of home owners. 

Flux Haus from Kammil Carranza on Vimeo.

I have referenced Flux Haus many times because I think its revolutionary in its design, it helps fix housing crisis' whilst adapting to the socio-economic needs of the people, the pods themselves are very interesting as they are a room controlled by AI to fit the user requirements at a time, meaning the space could potentially adapt to any 'room' needed i.e. living space, bedroom, kitchen etc. Its really helpful to look at this because it has helped my understand how a single space can be multifunctional through the use of technology.

https://www.archdaily.com/771767/this-innovative-brick-sucks-pollution-from-the-air-like-a-vacuum-cleaner

I 

I am looking for sustainable solutions to ordinary building materials, these bricks intrigued me as they have a functional use other than to create structure, they are environmentally friendly and help keep an areas carbon footprint low

https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brick-kilns

These bricks are made form leftover ash and waste, making them uniquely made and also very environmentally friendly.

https://www.archdaily.com/785482/translucent-wood-meet-the-new-material-developed-by-kth

In my research for glass alternatives, I've come across a very interesting substitute that is less costly and provides a much more unique experience. Translucent wood. The wood is much more stronger and lighter than frosted glass making it great for screening. It also gives an interesting alternative to privacy as the wood is not fully clear yet allows for light and shadow to be seen through. 

Update:

Whilst exploring material concepts in my research, I came across translucent/transparent wood, this is wood that is genetically modified to be transparent, I think this is a great sustainable material substitute for glass and is much more aesthetically interesting. Glass is actually very unethically made and sourced so I wanted my building to be as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible.

"To produce the material, the team built on previous work in which they took balsa wood and removed its lignin – a component of wood that gives it strength and colour. Acrylic, which is non-biodegradable and water-repellent, was introduced into the remaining tissues where it filled both the tiny pores left by the removal of lignin and the hollow vessels that carried water in the tree. That, said Montanari, not only helped maintain the wood’s structure but also restored its strength and improved its optical properties. The upshot was a frosted-looking wood-based material.

In the latest work the acrylic was mixed with another substance called polyethylene glycol, which permeates wood well. Crucially, polyethylene glycol also has another feature: when it is heated it absorbs energy and melts, but when temperatures fall it hardens, releasing energy in the process. The team say this property means their wood-based material, which goes from semi-transparent to transparent when warmed, could be used to make buildings more energy-efficient, with energy captured from the sun during the day released later into the interior."

Not only it ethically made and sources, It is a great insulator and also a natural coolant, as seen above. This means that it will keep costs down for residents and will be beneficial in the long run as there won't be expensive heating and gas bills. 

https://algedra.ae/en/blog/transparent-wood-composite

The advantage of transparent wood over glass is that it has all the strength of opaque lumber–but still lets in light. This process could be used to create everything from transparent wood structures to load-bearing windows that never crack or shatter. Think of how this could be used to create entirely new types of sustainable solar panels, made-out of wood instead of chemically treated glass.

'Icynene spray foam insulation is an insulation and air barrier material that seals walls, floors and ceiling cavities against air movement, including spaces around electrical outlets and light fixtures and where walls meet windows and doors. Icynene spray foam insulation can provide an effective air barrier insulation to minimize air infiltration through walls and ceilings, preventing drafts, cold spots and energy loss. The performance of Icynene spray foam insulation means that humid indoor/outdoor air is restricted from entering the walls & ceilings and condensing, thereby minimizing the possibility of moisture entrapment & build-up within the wall & ceiling cavities. This is conducive to preventing building envelope failure due to moisture damage.'

Icynene is a relatively new solution to ethical insulation. The foam expands up to 300x its size and creates an airtight seal that traps heat and allows for air filtration. It traps heat therefore allowing the customer to save up to 50% on their electricity bills. 

Icynene® spray foam insulation is environmentally friendly with a range of green benefits. Unlike other forms of insulation, it contains zero toxic chemicals or gases and is composed of completely natural, recycled materials. It contains 99% pure air, reducing energy consumption and making buildings and homes much more sustainable. Consequently, homeowners that choose Icynene® spray foam will drastically reduce their carbon footprint and contribute towards cutting CO2 emissions by thousands of tons every year.

For the UK Government to meet their carbon emission goals by 2050, it could become a requirement to use spray foam insulation instead of any other form of insulation. Icynene® spray foam insulation has been independently tested as per ISO 16000-9 regulations, making it an industry trusted option with great environmental advantages.

Icynene is a great alternative to other plastic and non sustainable and environmentally friendly insulators. I would opt to use both the hard closed cell foam for flooring and external barriers and use the open cell foam for the interior walls as it is much more soft allowing the walls toe ability to breathe naturally. This will let airflow pass better through the pods

Concrete is the most popular building material of the modern world, however there is a very big controversy on the ethics and sustainability of the material. Since it is pretty much a staple building material and is needed in the building process, I wanted to figure out if there is anyway that it can be made sustainable or if there are any developments towards a much better and environmentally-friendly material.

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/mar/04/making-concrete-green-reinventing-the-worlds-most-used-synthetic-material

https://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk

Georgopoulos, C. and Minson, A., n.d. Sustainable Concrete Solutions.

I've spoken about bamboo in previous projects, its a material that has gained more popularity with the recent decades, bamboo is strong and durable and is a much more sustainable material in comparison to the likes of concrete. 

Bamboo has a lifespan of minimum 25 years with structures being discovered that are over 100 years old. Bamboo is sustainable and is easily found, inmost cases its more durable than most building materials and if selected properly has a high strength to weight ratio useful for handing extreme weights and creating elevated latticed structures, making it perfect for thing such as cantilevers. 

Bamboo is also one of the fastest growing plants on the planet, its a reason why it can be mass produced at such a fast rate. making it easily accessible and relatively cheap. 

SKEPTICISM

Sustainable architecture is usually met with skepticism as there is always a an expiry date, however, if made with quality materials and cleverly made, sustainable materials can last the lengths of time that wood structures would.

https://ibuku.com/resources/faq/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_construction

https://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/bamboo-houses-stand-up-to-earthquakes.html