Joy Factory
Weather Condition
Baku is a peninsula which is surrounded by the Caspian sea and it is the capital of Azerbaijan. Baku is referred to as the city of winds, pointing out its strong and daily winds. North and south winds are dominating the land during winter and summer respectively. Fall and spring are typically rainy. Average temperature during summer is 27 C degree and 6 C degree during winter.
The Site
The chosen site is currently an unused oil refinery which is surrounded by the port and the White City which is partly under construction. After being an oil refinery for decades, the site’s soil is contaminated and its air is polluted. Therefore the main aim is to heal the environment with wetlands and greenery while providing social, functional and economical support to the community. Wetlands water is sourced by the salty Caspian sea water.
Bridges are connecting the city to the islands. The site is isolated from the highway and crowded city by the green landscape with variant levels while accessibility is granted by platforms that pass above the highway.
Amenities
The design contains amenities for different age groups and interests. Combining sustainable nature, sense of community and physical wellbeing is the main objective of the design. Functions revolving around enhancement of physical, mental and spiritual qualities are working in harmony to provide enriching
Change of use in multi-functional island depends on seasons, holidays or weekends. Festivals take place during special days or holidays such as Nowruz.
Rainwater Runoff
Baku has heavy rains during spring and fall therefore, if stormwater is not controlled, flooding can occur. Many strategies are used against rainwater runoff:
Bioswales are located between highway lanes which are tilted toward them.
Permeable paving absorb rainwater.
Stormwater recharges to the ground water by greenery and wetland.
Before any construction work, the site has to be cleaned from contaminated soil hence, ecopiling system is added along highway in order to act also as sound barier. Wetland is introduced to the site with the purpose of cleaning soil, meanwhile creating macro environment for different types of flora and fauna.
Construction Detail
Bioswale separates road lanes, establish greenery, collect and recharges rainwater runoff. Once water level reaches its maximum hight, stormwater runoff move to underground perforated pipe through overflow structure in order to recharge groundwater.
Bikelane and tramway paving is permeable with the aim of absorbing rainwater.
Wetland bed has to be prepared before introducing water to the land. Human accessible part of wetland has pebble bed which is along the edge in curtain shallow locations.
Adoption of Changes
Water level reduction in Caspian sea is expected. According to research, the sea is going to lose almost 25% of its water by end of the century. Therefore, the design has to adopt to this major change.
Trees are going to grow and increase continuously. Moreover, wetland greenery is going to transform from native wetland plants to bushes while water level drops. After 50 years, local forest will be dominating in the site. Bridge over wetland will become forest bridge. After water disappear, forest pathways will be introduced. Seashore will change and move backward. Continuity of boulevard park will be surrounded by forest and bushland. By the end of the century trees will be dominant element rather than sea water.