I’ve begun to dig into what program pieces would compromise an urban vertical farm. For the most part, a lot of research has begun into production, consumption, yields and planting information regarding several fruits and vegetables. This will help inform the amount of food I would need to sustain the neighborhood, and I’ll ultimately be able to deduct how much space it would take to do this hydroponically. Until those numbers are found, I’ve decided that this building would grow a variety of different crops, leaving a mass production facility of lets say wheat for development along an urban periphery. The land is cheaper out that way for that type of endeavor.
Manufacturing
Hydroponically Grown Food – These types of food will be grown to provide enough food for the community on various different floors. (I.E. tomatoes on one floor, lettuce on another)
Orchards – Orchards may or may not be provided for fruit bearing trees. Extra care would need to be in place for them. An indoor orchard would be ideal, yielding more harvest cycles perhaps.
Aquaculture and Chicken Farm Aquaculture will provide fish as food, clean water and nutrients recycled back to the hydroponic systems. Chickens will be farmed sustainably, and access to fresh air would be preferable.
Anaerobic Digesters – Take the food wastes and other usable wastes from the building and surrounding restaurants and filter the methane gas to provide energy.
Grey Water Remediation – Water used in the building will be reused to provide water for crops and fish, reducing water needs within the building.
Community
Co-op Market – Fruit and vegetables from the facility will be available for sale, employed by residents or volunteers within the community.
Restaurant – Featuring only local food from the tower, available to the public and open year round.
Event Space – Public event space available to the community and surrounding areas to hold events of any nature. Using this space will foster a strong awareness of what the building does, and it’s importance in the community and world.
Living and Work
I’m debating about just omitting a living component to this project. There are too many condos in the area as it is, and maybe that would deter from this being more of a manufacturing type project. So for now I’ll just have work spaces in the program.
Research Facilities – Lots of jobs will be available for researchers on hydroponics, farming and other related items.
Farming – Labor available for displaced farmers, becoming the new farmer of the 21st century.
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