Re-Utility journal

REPURPOSING STEEL GRAIN BINS

CITYZEN AGENCY AT OSAGE CITY, KANSAS - USA 

All infrastructure has a useful life and you will be surprise with the reinvention

and repurposing story. It is the beauty and the authenticity of being “perfection

in the imperfection”

Site:

The United States is a major exporter of food and the agriculture sector contributes

heavily to the economy of the country. There are vast stretches of farmlands in every state and assistance from technology has enabled urban farming as well. Kansas is a

well-established state in regards to the agriculture and manufacturing industry.

The site is located in Osage City, Kansas. It consists of huge farming lands and agricultural

practice is widespread. The majority of the city's farmlands have been using steel

grain bins for storage. The reputation of the agricultural state of Kansas extends to the city as it is benefitted by subtropical climate and plain, flatlands that are ideal for farming.

The site is just outside the dense settlement area of the city. It can be accessed by Lakin street surrounded by vast green stretches of land. This site will be suitable for this typology due to its connection to farming and holding a prime location in Kansas.

Site area = 658 sq.m

Height restriction = 9 metres

Maximum Built-up Area = 329 sq.m

Ground coverage = 20%

Setbacks (as per CAD plan)

Coordinates = 38°38'12.1"N 95°49'26.4"W

Our journey here as Cityzen Agency- we are team of four from the studio of The Ethical Activist Environment focusing on ADAPTIVE RE-USE of steel grain bins. We have spent a number of weeks collaborating on this project. 

Above: Olivia and Jade

Above: Olivia, Emmanuel and Oran

Above: meeting in progress

Above: collaborative design progress

Using the grain bins to find a new purpose - We would like to give these large pieces of equipment a new life. Each grain bin is 21 feet in diameter, 5.59/7.6 OHT(weight: 160 Metric tonnes without air floor)

We are using 12 grain bins – (each 21feet diameter) to create space that can be used by the members of a farming community to lodge their trainees, visiting the farm for training. Taking into consideration its various limitations, grain bins are huge entities built crudely.

Our strategy in urban architecture is also taking full consideration of the sociocultural, economic and environmental settings of context. The compact space will be serviced with modular elements. It is safe and accommodating to all users designing with great ventilation, and eco-friendly materials such as rammed earth as external wall; and recycled wood as interior millwork. The reuse project is designed with minimal resources and waste to achieve functional output.

Our Method:

We are expressing methods of investigation by gathering bins and site information.

In the meantime, we have also been communicating with local people in

Kansas City. While engaging with people, we developed thoughts and understanding

of the possibilities of adaptive re-use architecture in Kansas.

Methodology:

In the preliminary conceptual development, our team brainstormed our ideas by studying

time, space and movement of urbanism architecture by sketches. Reacting to material

selection and technological solution by understanding the impact of context and material flow strategy.

BIN SECTION JOURNAL SKETCH:

This sketch denotes our initial ideas of how the grain bins would work as accommodation with floors added in to create accommodation.

SITE JOURNAL PROGRESS SKETCH:

 We then documented the processes involved in creating the building. As we are using this site as an opportunity for teaching, we wanted to ensure that the processes were as simple as possible so those without much construction experience could still get involved.

CONCEPTUAL JOURNAL PROGRESS SKETCH:

The following sketchbook entries also show our progress through different designs.