Dr. Vincent Walsh Ecological Infrastructure

Pop goes the Technosphere is an independent tech event programme in collaboration with Arts Lab and Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter. Pop goes the Technosphere focuses on inviting leading intellects and tech influencers from around the globe to debate and question emerging technologies, biological infrastructure, neo cultures and urban futures across the science, art and design spectrum.

The programme focuses on creating world-class notoriety and momentum for Liverpool’s emerging tech sector, and importantly, a platform which enables new commercial partnerships, multidisciplinary research collaborations and citywide activities within, across and beyond Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter.

POP will increase the city’s profile by enabling a platform which invites intellects and tech influencers see and support the vision for Knowledge Quarter Liverpool. The programme acts as an international public relation performance, delivered with creative direction, scientific rigour and imagination.

Hyper-local mushroom production and distribution model. Mushroom Farm aimed to supply local gourmet restaurants with fresh and dried organic shiitake mushrooms, going from farm to fork within 24 hours. The modular design of the farm aims to make use of un-used urban land, and when in full operation will up-cycle urban waste streams such as coffee grounds, sawdust and wood-chip.

Supported the commission to create a temporary ecological installation within Manchester Museum’s third floor greenhouse that will be used as part of a cultural exhibition and as an educational tool. Bringing together technical and biological design layered with creative typographies, lighting design, monitoring network and laser engraving. The “living installation” will be aromatic, visual and informative. The ecological hub will visually demonstrate and highlight the array of possibilities of developing technological and ecological systems within the built environment, a central theme across future city research.

The architectural design of the bio-productive climatic facade is a derivation of the collaborative work with the wider research and design team. The aim is to produce an innovative design that is practical, cost-efficient and which capitalises on the existing knowledge base across the professions. The bio-productive facade is achieved through the design of a double-skinned facade which could be constructed either as a retrofit onto an existing building or integrated as part of a new building’s envelope from the start.The double skin facade provides the structure for housing a vertical aquaponic system. The design described here is focused on a facade for a typical supermarket but is also applicable to a range of other building types.

Vincent supporting the initial stages of Vegan and Raw Cold Pressed Juice Bar which was founded by Beverly Pugh in Palma de Mallorca 2016. This involved looking across the whole culture of the company and developing future plans and programs.

Manchester International Festival commissioned researchers who have a vision to change the way cities and communities interact to create a more sustainable way of living, MIF temporally transformed a derelict mill on the banks of the River Irwell into a thriving agricultural space. Part farm, part laboratory and part research centre, the formerly disused site showcased innovative sustainable food systems, from agroforestry to aquaponics and roof-top gardening.

Vincent acted as coordinator for the creation of 78 steps. 78 Steps was created as part of a research program investigating food infrastructure in areas of deprivation. 78 Steps is a localised whole food store, creating better access to healthy food in the local community, supplied by a range of high quantity hyper-local distributors and district producers. The first community led whole food grocers in the City of Salford is part of a wider research program aiming to empower sustainable change. This change in action was supported by Salix Homes, Vertical Village Resident Group & Community Committee, Community First.

Vincent asked to develop a mobile whole-foods store to support the sustainability of Pendleton Together communities. Pendleton has always been a proud, passionate community, but most people would agree that some of its housing and outside spaces are in need of a makeover. The Pendleton Together regeneration project, launched in September 2013, is completely transforming the Manchester, Salford area. More than 1,600 new homes are being built, 1,250 existing homes are being given a makeover and some homes are being demolished. Add tranquil new parks and open spaces, sports pitches, new streets and footpaths and even a city farm, and we have all the ingredients of a truly fantastic, modern place to live – whether you are an existing or prospective resident.

Vincent designed the urban agroforestry system which was supported by Manchester Metropolitan University. The urban agroforestry systems designed to have more than 50 species of trees and over 50 plant species; including fruits, berries, perennial vegetables, medicinal plants, herbs/spices, edible flowers and other supportive species. Its location in a densely populated area of a city gives opportunities to study how inner-city land can be modified and adapted for food production. The garden incorporates agricultural processes such as alley-cropping, bio-trenching and guiding to provide a low-maintenance, high yield system.

Commission Value: £50,000

Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture, the process of rearing fish, and hydroponics, the process of growing plants in water. In aquaponics, these two disciplines are brought together in a way that benefits them both. Fish produce two waste products: ammonia through respiration and solid waste. If these waste products are left to accumulate in the tanks, they can become toxic to the fish – but by using aquaponics, we can filter out this waste and put it to better use.

The ammonia-rich water is pumped through a series of filtration beds containing two types of bacteria that convert the ammonia into nitrite, then into nitrate. Our plants absorb this nitrate and use it as a nutrient for growing. After the plants have removed the nitrate the clean water can be re-circulated back to the fish tanks and the cycle can start again.

By Dr. Vincent Walsh

Projects

Event Programme

Overview

hyper-local

MUSHROOM FARM

Aquaponics

MANCHESTER MUSEUM

The bio-productive

BDP ARCHITECTS & SIEMENS

Cold Pressed Juice Bar

Vegan and Raw

Transformed a derelict mill on the banks of the River

MANCHESTER INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

Research program investigating food

78 Steps

Mobile whole-foods store

MOBILE POP UP

The garden incorporates agricultural processes

URBAN AGROFORESTRY

Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture

URBAN MULTI-LAYERED AQUAPONIC SYSTEM IN EUROPE.

SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR - ACADEMIC - CONSULTANT - PRACTITIONER - PUBLIC SPEAKER

DR. VINCENT WALSH ECOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE