Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture

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Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture

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  • Project Name: Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab
  • Student Name: Connor McCarty
  • Softwares/Plugins: Rhinoceros 3D , Adobe Photoshop , Adobe Illustrator , Adobe Indesign , AutoCAD , D5 Render
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Excerpt: ‘Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab’ is a Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture by Connor McCarty from the Manchester School of Architecture (MSA) that examines the consequences of mass industrial processes, such as oil drilling, manufacturing, transportation, and chemical production, on the planet. It explores hypothetical apocalyptic scenarios and proposes converting oil rigs into flood water extraction devices to help Stockport survive the apocalyptic future caused by industrial processes and rising sea levels.

Introduction: The planet is being destroyed by mass industrial processes. Our world is contaminated by industries like oil drilling, manufacturing, transportation, and chemical production. Over[Flow] focuses on one of the consequences of these processes: rising sea levels.

The project explores hypothetical apocalyptic scenarios. What will happen when sea levels continue to rise? Will our towns and cities survive? Potential survival solutions are then explored by deconstructing the very industrial processes that will cause our downfall. 

Oil rigs are extraction machines that generate more than 200,000 kg of CO2 every day. Over[Flow] seeks to put an end to this damaging industry by converting former North Sea oil rigs into an extraction device that extracts and redirects floodwaters, giving Stockport the infrastructure it needs to survive the apocalyptic future brought on by industrial processes and rising sea levels.

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Site Context

Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Flooding in Stockport – Tracing Stockport’s history of flooding
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Rising Sea Levels – Extracting sea level data
Rivers run through the veins of Stockport, a town in the United Kingdom. The rivers Tame, Goyt, and Mersey meet to create an interconnected network of water vessels throughout the town. As sea levels continue to rise, Stockport will not be able to handle flooding on a mass scale, leading to the town’s destruction.

Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Sea Levels on Site – Applying the sea levels data to the site
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
The Apocalypse – Visualizations of a potential future
Nestled within the confluence of the three rivers sits ‘The Machine’ – a dynamic assemblage of components designed to extract and divert flood waters. Its structure is built from decommissioned North Sea oil rigs, which are extraction devices that release more than 200,000 kg of CO2 daily.

Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Oil Rigs Deconstructed – Understanding the structure of oil platforms
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Kit of Parts – Creating a kit of parts from deconstructed oil rigs from which to design from
The structure contains labs where scientists work to operate the machine and reverse the catastrophe of rising sea levels. Gallery spaces educate the public about their potential demise. Through the use of repurposed oil rig drilling arms, intersectional moving promenades are created, providing users with an alternate viewpoint on the river confluence.

Design process

Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
The Jacket – Acts as the structural legs and water intake system of the machine. Constructed from reused oil rig jacket structures and drill pipes.
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
The Modules – Reused oil rig living quarter modules have been reimagined into lab and gallery spaces.
A visual narrative was created from a sequence of moments that together tell a bigger story through a narrative-driven design process. A design was then derived from this narrative. By focusing the project on a particular industrial process—oil rigs, for example—the designer was able to comprehend, disassemble, and reassemble its components into a new structure.

Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
The Arms – Reused drilling arms and crane structures have been reassembled into moving intersectional promenades, allowing users to interact with the site from unseen angles.
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Extraction System – The systems and machinery used to extract oil have been reused to extract, divert and manage flood waters
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Assemblage – All of these parts assemble together to form ‘The Machine’
As soon as the project brief was received, design drivers were selected to use as a starting point for the narrative. After studying Stockport’s rivers, flooding and rising sea levels were chosen as the primary design drivers since the brief was to “explore the relationship between urban places and water.” This led to a study into the factors contributing to sea level rise, such as industrialised global warming. Following this, a solution to the initial problem was created by disassembling and reassembling these causes.

Final Outcome

Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Site Plan – Its moving arms create intersectional promenades, allowing the public to engage with the site in dynamic ways.
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
The Machine in Context – Nestled within the confluence of the rivers Goyt, Mersey and Tame, sits the machine.
The resulting design is not a building, but rather a machine for change. By equally balancing the needs of the environment and humans, it rethinks traditional architecture. The project simultaneously addresses significant environmental and societal issues, including rising sea levels, global warming, and the effects of mass industrial processes.

Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
The Experience – Galleries and promenades educate the public about their potential demise. Scientists work within the lab spaces to revert the crisis of rising sea levels.
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Retrofit Strategy – Oil rigs have been retrofitted into a new, dynamic structure.
It puts an end to destructive industries and reimagines planetary destroying machines into a new concept for positive change. Its tectonic architecture is completely unique, striking emotion in its visitors, and making them aware of their potential future. 

Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
The Machine – A dynamic assemblage of reused oil rigs components, designed to extract and divert flood waters.
Conclusion: The project offers an example of a survival model for a post-apocalyptic scenario in which the planet must cope with the effects of damage brought on by industrialization and sea level rise. By transforming oil rigs into flood water extraction devices, it offers a sustainable solution that will equip Stockport with the infrastructure required to endure the apocalyptic future.

[This Academic Project has been published with text submitted by the student]

Site Context

Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture

Design process

Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture

Final Outcome

Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture
Over[Flow]: Hydrology Lab | Bachelors Design Project on Post-Apocalyptic Architecture

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