Eco Factor: Housing project with shared greenhouse spaces to let urban dwellers grow their own food.
Growing food locally can potentially benefit the urban areas socially, physically and environmentally. In an attempt to add a new dimension to urban living, Saranga Nakhooda and Devin Lafo from Columbia University GSAPP developed a research and design think tank focused on exposing the potential of urban agriculture. Dubbed the “Growingcity,” this think tank will understand, evaluate and re-envision the urban system to propose effective agricultural methods for the cities.
The Growingcity suggested a housing project that combines shared greenhouse spaces with affordable housing, allowing urban dwellers to grow their own food. This would mean expanding the economic base of the city, connecting people to a natural food cycle, and reducing food cost while increasing food quality.
The south oriented Growingcity will get maximum natural light to give residents the opportunity to grow vegetables in their rooftop greenhouses throughout the year. It has been noted that major cities import early import 6,000 tons of food each day, with an average distance of 1,700 miles between grower and consumer. So, the designers thought of progressing toward a sustainable future by bringing appropriate changes to architecture and design. The Growingcity will not only encourage social connectivity, but will also allow productive use of unused spaces.
Via: Designboom
