Polluted Pastures: An Agriculture & Water Research Centre in Lumbutts
Polluted Pastures is a transformative thesis project that reimagines the underutilised Lumbutts Water Tower. Located in a valley between Todmorden and Stoodley Pike Monument, the project addresses how architectural interventions can foster sustainable relationships between agriculture, people, and land, while supporting a wider culture of commons. By mixing private residential spaces with public, the site becomes a central hub for dairy farming learning and water research centre combined with community engagement and local farmers market.
The proposal revitalises the Lumbutts Water Tower, integrating new routes, connections to water, and a communal courtyard. The design elements of the project include a reimagined Water Tower that maintains its historical significance while creating spaces for water conservation and sustainable practices. A unique water path running through all three buildings symbolises the cyclical nature of water use in agriculture, connecting all buildings and demonstrating the dairy process and dairy farming impact to rivers.
The new barn incorporates sustainable design principles, facilitating livestock movement and seasonal ventilation. The ground floor will serve as a learning space, hosting workshops on historical cheese-making processes and traditional cow-milking activities for locals and school children. Through collaboration with Incredible Farm and the local community, the project explores the relationship between buildings, people, processes, and land, emphasising sustainable land use and water management. It aims to address social, economic, and environmental challenges, drawing inspiration from successful initiatives like Incredible Edible in Todmorden.
The design process involves exploring preliminary concepts to determine the optimal approach. By using precedents and analysing surrounding buildings, the aim is to create a design that harmonises with the existing architectural context. This iterative process allows to refine ideas, ensuring the final design is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Examining the fenestration of existing buildings during the design phase is crucial in creating a context-sensitive facade, particularly when adding new buildings to an existing site. It is particularly important when working on the site of a Grade II listed building such as this, the water tower’s language should influence the overall design.
The site of Lumbutts Water Tower is central to the hamlet, and is currently under-utilised as a public commons. The proposal for the site creates a new shared space, mixing existing residential and public interventions. The final proposed site plan established new routes through Lumbutts, a clear connection to the water, and a courtyard space.
The adaptive re-use of Lumbutts Water Tower highlights the harmony between old and new in this site intervention. The model showcases a reimagined Water Tower with thoughtful material choices that respect the vernacular architecture. The roof extension introduces new functions while preserving the tower's iconic silhouette. Creating this plaster model was challenging due to its scale, but it allowed us to focus on details and promote discussions about material and light qualities.
In this research on Water Source Heat Pumps, I found the Hepworth Museum's use of the River Calder to be an exemplary case. Their experience offers valuable insights for the project. While the Water Source Heat Pump is a commendable sustainable energy solution, certain considerations are essential to avoid issues they face: Monitoring & Maintenance: Proper monitoring and maintenance of the heat pump system is crucial to prevent blockages and fouling from river debris. Proposed using a high-performance filter and consistent system monitoring. Inspections & Back-Up Systems: Regular inspections and investing in back-up heating systems can mitigate disruptions during maintenance or unforeseen downtime, ensuring continuous comfort for site users.
Nestled among trees and water, a corten-clad barn welcomes visitors with its weathered charm. Inside, the warmth of timber and soft sunlight filtering through pivoting doors create an inviting atmosphere. Visitors receive a leaflet detailing the process they will observe, amidst the earthy aroma of fermenting milk and aging cheese. The workshop embodies tradition and craftsmanship, highlighting the bond between land and livelihood. Water plays a significant role, from the sounds of the nearby river and draining whey to the water path intersecting the room, reflecting the importance of surrounding rivers and reservoirs.
The barn model demonstrates its function and showcases its expressive construction and aesthetics. The timber construction nods to traditional barns, while the corten steel represents the influence of water and time in agriculture. Diagrams illustrate movement, occupancy, and ventilation, emphasising the barn's practical design. These diagrams detail the spatial flow, showing how pivoting doors facilitate ventilation and movement. Additionally, they depict the movement of cows and people, ensuring the site meets the needs of all its users.
Impact: Aging Elevation (2026)
Impact: Aging Elevation (2050)
Early Changes
Social & Economic Impact: Repurposing the disused grade II listed Water Tower as a community hub will foster social interaction and highlight the farming-river pollution relationship. Educational programs, workshops, and public events on water monitoring and conservation will empower residents to steward their environment and stimulate the local economy through a public barn and market.
Environmental Impact: Architectural interventions will enhance both the community and ecology. A programme and water path intervention for river health monitoring will gradually improve the environment. Initial pollution levels may remain unchanged, and the new barn may seem empty, but phased development will engage residents and farmers, promoting river monitoring and aiding broader research.
Anticipated Future Impact
Environmental Impact: This project prioritises environmental sustainability from design to implementation and future use. Repurposing existing infrastructure and materials would minimise resource consumption and reduce carbon emissions. Incorporating Passive house strategies, renewable energy systems, and water-efficient technologies mitigate negative environmental impacts, promoting ecological resilience. The focus on river monitoring and management aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water & Sanitation, contributing to the protection of natural resources and raising social awareness.
Political Impact: The project aligns with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and global sustainability initiatives, making it a model for responsible development. Early community input and transparency ensure site longevity. The commitment to positive social, economic, and environmental outcomes underscores architecture's role in advocating for policies that prioritise the well-being of people and the environment. This project could influence positive legislative changes regarding farming pollution in the UK and serve as a lesson in adaptive reuse, preventing the negative effects of 'pathological preservation' by applying theories from Rossi and Alexander to innovate rural architecture.