Introduction The goal of this proposal is to establish a complimentary, viable master plan within current development plans and ongoing studies for New Orleans. This new master plan seeks to create a new community of 40,000 residents housed in an iconic and visionary structure. In addition to the residential units, this parish would also house a school system, commercial, retail, hotels, casinos, parking, and public works facilities. This bold new urban platform has been name New Orleans Arcology Habitat or NOAH. NOAH is a proposed urban Arcology (Architecture and Ecology) whose philosophic underpinnings rest in combining large scale sustainability concentrated urban structures, and in this case, a floating city. NOAH is an ideal demonstration project for all the right reasons. New Orleans is a city of both rich traditions and strategic importance. It is also a city with particular needs, both immediate and long term which must be addressed. These needs have been dramatized by the very nature of its location which has placed it in direct conflict with natural forces resulting in obvious impact. If global climate predictions are even remotely correct, New Orleans is already that future scenario today. Accordingly, New Orleans has an unprecedented opportunity to set new creative standards which address both current issues and also offer distinct prototypical guidance to the future needs of coastal cities. Preliminary Program NOAH is based upon the following preliminary program outline. All program input is subject to change commensurate with civic input and feasibility estimates. 2. Three Hotels 3. Time Share Units 4. Three Casino Facilities 5. Commercial Space / Rental and Condominiums 6. Commercial Space / Retail 7. Parking Garage / within foundation 8. Cultural Facilities 9. Public Works 10. District School System 11. District Administrative Office 12. District Health Care Facility Estimated Total Square Footage : 30 million Location/ Site Specific: In reviewing all the options and possible sites for NOAH, the most logical location is on the Mississippi riverfront and adjacent to the Central Business District. The location specifically will occupy an undeveloped parking area with an extended connection to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. In addition to the merits of this site, it will also allow development to occur with the least disruption to the existing urban fabric. Given the scale of the foundation footprint of NOAH, it has been determined the area required will need to carve inbound and extend outbound into the river. Why a Floating City? There are three major challenges which must be overcome to be of significant advantage to New Orleans. 1. The first challenge is to overcome both the physical and psychological damages of recurring severe weather patterns. Though repopulation has begun, the need to provide a stabilized and safe environment is paramount to a long term recovery and economic well being of New Orleans. 2. The second challenge is that New Orleans has too much water. The city has been built at and below sea levels which creates consistently high water table and makes it prone to flooding and storm surges. 3. The third challenge is that New Orleans is built on soil condition which consists of thousands of feet of soft soil, silt and clay. These conditions make building large scale concentrated structures difficult. Believing that NOAH is a viable plan, our solution to overcome these challenges is to take advantage of these seemingly conflicting issues with the introduction of a floating urban platform. This solution is deceptively simple, using water as a controlled, naturally occurring, bearing foundation, feasible and practical. Note: This proposal in no way suggests that ongoing water retention measures should be abandoned. Rather, a floating urban platform should be viewed as a complimentary venture. Foundation Design / Basin / NOAH The NOAH foundation system is two fold. The first part of the system is to create a water filled “basin” within which the urban platform (NOAH) will float. The second part of the system is to create a multi-cavity “hull” which will be the actual foundation for the superstructure. Basin/Foundation The water basin will be a combination of carving into the existing land and extending out into the Mississippi River. This man made basin is estimated to be 1,200 feet in diameter with a depth of 250 feet. The walls and floor of the basin would be constructed of high strength concrete with applied lateral bracing and exterior attached tension rings. (Note: if possible, a caisson foundation wall system would also be employed). Backup intact valves will allow basin and river water levels to remain constant. Noah/Foundation Noah, at its current height of 1,200 feet will rest up its triangulated foundation constituted to be a buoyant multi-cavity “hull.” This “hull” will consist of high strength concrete cells, forming approximately a 40x40 matrix. This matrix not only gives buoyancy to the structure, it also becomes the framing matrix for the steel framed superstructure. It is estimated that the combined weight of NOAH will draft 180 feet within the water-filled basin, allowing a minimum 50 foot space between the floor of the basin and the floor of the buoyant foundation. The hull will accept all land connectors as flexible conveyors to take into account any movement. Design Brief / Exterior: A triangulate shape has been chosen as the basis for NOAH. For two reasons: First, the triangle is inherently the most rigid of all structural framing systems. The system is designed to dissipate gravity and severe wind loads through an all-steel applied (eko skeleton) exterior frame and conventional internal framing methodology. Second, the triangle is an “open” frame configuration, dividing NOAH into three separate “towers” converging at the top. The intent of this open system is to allow all severe weather /winds to in effect “blow through” the structure in any direction with the minimum of massing interference. To further dissipate wind loads, the outer edges are curved and tilted. The “Tower” surfaces, both flat and curved, would be outfitted with secured sliding hurricane panels forming a uniform exterior protective barrier skin. Design Brief / Internal: Aside from the overall design vocabulary, NOAH will incorporate a variety of notable design features. Some of those are as follows: 1. Sky Gardens will be inserted into the three main towers every 30 floors. These sky gardens provide landscaped glass enclosed atria. In addition to their practical application of additional inner surface units, there “sky gardens” will create a sense of neighborhood presence and support a range of sustainable initiatives. 2. Vertical commuting within NOAH will be supported by a series of local and express custom canted elevators. These elevators will be double stacked for increased efficiency and speed. 3. NOAH is geared to an all pedestrian environment. Accordingly, only select horizontally based areas will be fitted with moving walkways and/or electric train carriers. 4. Because of its immediate adjacency to the Aquarium, it is proposed that the facility extend into the base of NOAH and facilitate an expanded botanic environment much as the Eden project in Europe. Design Brief / Phasing/Scalability: This design proposal has an immediate scale and presence. It has been calculated to accommodate a proposed program, site constructs, and maximum build out. The overall design of NOAH takes into account the ability to be scaled to accommodate variations in program. NOAH is a three phase master plan with a proposed 10 year build out. This time frame can be reduced to an estimated 6 years should demand accelerate. Sustainability / Ecology NOAH is designed to expand the horizon of sustainability and will seek LEED certification. NOAH will eliminate the need for cars within the urban structure, and thus becomes a carbon neutral entity. Internal electric transport links, vertical and horizontal, create a pedestrian-friendly community. A wide range of passive and active provisions will be employed throughout the structure. Some of these elements are secured wind turbines, fresh water recovery and storage systems, passive glazing system, sky garden heating/cooling vents, grey water treatment, solar array banding panels, and river based water turbines. Conclusion: This is an exploration proposal which suggests a new urban design formula for New Orleans. The scale, economic program, and structural formation of NOAH are all viable in today’s growth projection and technologies. There are obvious political and economic considerations which would adjust the current bounds of this proposal. This is a project of tremendous potential which pushes beyond current expectations for New Orleans and places it in the forefront of the new age of urban growth possibilities. Team Design / Concept: Executive Architect: Associate Architect: Visual: Structural / Mechanical: Foundation Consultants:
It should be noted that we have found certain errors in our initial introduction of NOAH.
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