With increasing amount of residential housing, especially department buildings, in Wester Hailes, the demand of community facilities is increasing. According to the survey for community members, they need more ways and spaces to communicate each other. The exiting community garden received positive feedback but it is not maintained and managed properly in winter. In addition, people need more warm indoor spaces. Wester Hailes has more plain green spaces compared with other parts of canal but which are not used well now.
For community, it is a activity hub for people living nearby to be involved in community, know each other, feel leisure in nature and get cheaper vegetables. For education, it can be linked to volunteering and schools; For business, selling production to neighbourhood even further markets can bring more funds for community.
The canal side is a slight tilted place. So stair fields are designed to fit and make the edible plants still have good viewing.
A special equipment is used for kids which called “climbing plant tower”. The structure is for climbing plants such as cucumber and peas. Children can play under the tower and close to nature, learn the knowledge of plants.
Green space around the calder park is usually under the shadow because of buildings. Thus, the shade-loving vegetables can be planted here.
The main building next to canal and the Calder community garden are combined by four same shape block, where west-south two (face to canal) are used for community meeting, cafe and shop. The third one is a glass atrium which rich sunlight. It can be used as exhibition or another big event. The east one is greenhouse with hydroponic plants. Benefit from quick and all year round production, people can sell them to develop business besides eat. There is also a good place for education which help people learn the knowledge of hydroponic technology.
There are many sustainable technologies are used in the building design. The building’s orientation is 45 degrees, south to west, which face to main source of wind in Edinburgh. It mainly naturally ventilated because the highest temperature of Edinburgh average climate in summer is 14. In the case of extreme condition, four fans each row are arranged on the top of building’s wall. than Solar panel on the west-south direction with 20 degree tilt can obtain 94% of solar energy. In winter, the underground heating system, powered by geothermal heat pump, can maintain the indoor environment. Only greenhouse is controlled fully by Air conditioning system for planting. Thanks to rainy weather in Edinburgh, rainwater can be collected to feed vegetables.
This project shows positive potential of development and it is a visible sign to show community people connect to nature and other people. It also contributes for local food production because people joined will expect the products they planted before. As the process of education such as school tour and planting workshop, canal farm become a natural outdoor classroom. People will learn how to take care of plants and how to cooperate with others.
It can be expected that an edible green corridor will not only limit in Wester Hailes but also expend to larger area and contribute to local life.
WATER LOGIC: REGENERATING UNION CANAL 