A' Design Award 2013

Project Idea by Architect Peter Stasek

Loft London Farm Tower in form of an imaginary gigantic tree, in which artifical crown two big loft formations as floating scrapes are placed. This vision for an until now not avialable life's sensation (joie de vivre) with coevally utilization of the whole metropolitan logistic.

The "floating nests concept" is based on a high utilization of the air space above the appropriate plot of land in conection with an irreducible demands on the available plot area. For all neighborhood buildings should their panoramic view to the Themse remain as far as possible barrier-free, because the block of airspace below the treetop 35 meter hight assumes. The treetop oneself is created in form of three compact rings of 100 meter diameter each, containing an intermediately tight meshed network ascertained for natural vegetal cover. The three circles are fastened at supporting stands of 35 meter hight, whichever coevally represent the boles. Therefore approach the hight of the entire tree construct 135 meter. The rings are equispaced at intervals of 40 meter dimension between their axis and are situated on a parallel axis to the Themse. In the area of the outdoor facility are only the supporting stands (abstract bols) integrated. This bols assume not only the bearing function for the treetop, but also the allotment (preparation) of the whole "floating scrapes community". This bols comprise beside the staircases and the nessesery supply units as wall as two elevators per each, which are moving on their outside edge until the treetop, following on the outside edge of the ring construction. This circulating travel around the floating scrapes outside the treetop in the free airspace represant an additional adwenture for each visitor (or resident). All elevation stations are conected by bridges with the floating scrapes levels.

The artificial treetop assumes not only the bearing and allotment function for the floating scrapes, but also should be used as an important agriculture area upon the vertical farming. In this matter can be here produce among others algae (for algae fuel production) within the meshed net constructions. The ongoing delivery and the ongoing maintenance of this agriculture facilities should be provide by moveably bridge constructions, which are placed on rails between the rings on their inner edge. An additional effect generated by the artificial treetop is the creation of a seemingly oasis environment embracing the floating scrapes, materialize by a transparent green screening. This enables every resident or visitor to enjoy from here the entire panoramic view across the London city.

The floating scrapes as two loosely loft formation are fixed in their floating position by the tie rods whithin the treetop. Each scrape comprises 16 levels, which are shaped in form of gigantic organical leafs. These leafs are staggered placed on top of each other. Their natural leaf structure should be appreciable in the floor segmentation as well as the wall configuration. In this way the centre rib takes over the function of the longitudinal allotment corridor and the side ribs the function of access corridors respectively of the side walls. All levels are connected (syndeticed) among themselves by internal staircases, which are placed on the ring axis. The stairways downwards leads to glas stair towers below the scrapes, whichever act as a junction to reach the stairs within the rings respectively the bols.

The main utilization of all scrypes levels should be defined as a mix from vertical farming and living loft areas. At the top floors should be gastronomy and shops placed. For all residents and visitors of the floating scrapes is the underground parking lot available, which is situated below the entire plot area.

The environmentally conscuios aspect and the sustainability of the whole "floating scrapes" conception should be particulary warranted by the geothermal energy utitlization for heating and cooling as well as the thermal solar energy utilization for the LED lighting operation (included ultraviolet radiation) for supply of all agriculture used areas.