Data Farming+Recycling Algae Centre |Symbiosis|Environments Design
Thesis | Winter’23 | M.S AUD’23, UCLAxIDEO
Situation
The Inglewood Oilfield, located in the Los Angeles Basin, has been a subject of concern due to its
environmental impact, health risks, community disruption, and potential seismic activity. The oilfield's century-long operations have resulted in pollution of air, water, and soil, posing risks to human health and the environment. Residents living nearby have experienced health issues due to air pollution and worry about contamination. The oilfield's activities have also disrupted the surrounding communities through noise, vibrations.
Task
In a future Los Angeles where the environment is revered and celebrated in equal measure with humans and machines, architecture takes center stage in harmonizing the landscape. How can Environments Designs play an important role in implementing monitoring and reporting mechanisms, diversify energy sources and invest in remediation and restoration efforts
Action
The Data Farm Recycling Center is an exemplary manifestation of this ethos, requiring minimal human intervention while providing invaluable services as a data warehouse, horticulture laboratory and recycling center. These three essential programs operate in symbiotic harmony, enhancing their individual functions through interconnected systems. This building serves as a significant step in correcting the ecological imbalances caused by the Inglewood Oil Field, creating a synthetic environment that fosters the remediation of the polluted land Where the recycling center focuses on decarbonising the environment through Biomass using algae (spirulina) bioreactors. The Data Farm monitors and calculates the production growth requirements of horticulture. Additionally, The heat generated from the Data Farm is vacuumed to generate and store energy to be self sufficient.
Result
Implementing comprehensive mitigation strategies at the Inglewood Oilfield holds the potential for significant positive ramifications. Robust environmental monitoring and stringent adherence to sustainable best practices would engender a marked reduction in pollutant emissions and the mitigation of soil, water, and air contamination.Parallelly, environmental remediation efforts would rehabilitate impacted areas, rehabilitating ecological equilibrium, and reestablishing vital habitats. In synergy, facilitating a seamless transition towards Biomass as a renewable energy source and decarbonization initiatives would contribute to a paradigm shift in the energy mix, ultimately fostering a more resilient and environmentally conscious energy landscape.