Vincent Walsh, Director and Founder of the Biospheric Foundation, explaining the principles of vermiculture to us during our visit to the Biospheric Project in Salford.

Secondly I investigated how we could best occupy the unused space at the top of the building. There is currently an open roof top terrace space which we propose to turn into a urban garden for school children to use and learn from. Surrounding this a number of rooms which can be occupied in conjunction with the urban garden as well as a new staff room/storage space.

Our groups idea was to occupy some of the unused space as educational space for the local schools who already use the centre for swimming lessons and a creche. On top of this, to make the immediate outside space more engaging so that you start to experience the building before even entering it. The only structural redevelopment part to our design is to include a full length glass window/door following the natural arch of the building, to soften the transition of inside and outside and allow plenty of light to flood the space.

A site visit to Withington Baths allowed us to experience the unused and spatial qualities that we could occupy for our project. The eye catching glass roof flooding the pool area with light was certainly a focal point. It was refreshing to hear the views of community members who's ambitions are to take on the baths from the Council, to keep it running for the local people.

Situated behind many residential homes sits an urban farm, The Biospheric Foundation (Salford), is located inside a warehouse and has an aim to be completely self efficient. Their ideas and projects have been noticed by large companies such as Sainsburys, Waitrose and Costa. All headed and funded by Vincent Walsh, just goes to show how far passion and dedication can go!

The first sketches of the proposed changes in one area of the baths. The idea came from medical baths and leisure centers, as well as from the thermal water-parks in Hungarian cities Debrecen and Nyiregyhaza.

First day out on the field, the Biospheric Foundation was truly an eye-opener. I found it amazing that closed systems, almost completely autonomous and self serving, can be so sustainable.

Field Trip to Withington Baths.

Our Mission: To create a fantastic community run facility at Withington Baths from Spring 2015, incorporating our heritage pool, the very popular gym but also much more community usage, including cafe, workspace, art and craft space, children's parties etc

6th May (Day 3) - Proposing and finalizing ideas for Withington Baths vision

2nd May (Day 2) - visiting Withington Baths and accumulating data through taking pictures and measurements.

30th April (Day 1) - Introductory session followed by tour visit to biospheric foundation demonstrating indoor food schemes and creative farming areas.

Design Stage 2
Idea development, working out plan layouts and sketching out sections/elevations to best use the space to incorporate our new additions.

THE BIOSPHERIC PROJECT
www.biosphericproject.com
www.wholebox.org

Chatham 611 - Design stage 1
Idea: Health Spa extension in unused yard space.

Site Visit: Withington Baths
It's clearly a well used and loved building but needs reinvigorating. A large overgrown yard space around the side is an ideal location for possible extension/development.

Research Visit - Biospheric Foundation
Forest Garden, with more than 30 species of trees and over 50 species of plant, produces many different crops (unlike a conventional farm) and is ideal for a city environment.
Green Facades, vertical farming systems are being developed for futuristic agriculturally productive facades.

Day 2 - 02/05/14
We visited out site, Withington baths, and collectively carried out site surveys. We also met with the group of people who are involved in saving the baths to gain some knowledge of what ideas they had for reusing the space.

Research Visit - Biospheric Foundation, Salford
Tour by director and founder Vincent Walsh, showing the full cycle system of urban farming of the future.

Day 1 - 30/04/14
We visited the biospheric foundation in Salford, and were taught about social, ecological and technical practices through urban research.