If you like the vertical forest of Carlo Ratti, perhaps you also know the Farmscraper project, also by that old rogue and his team. But how much confidence I'm getting. I think it's fantastic: workspaces and hydroponic farming in one large building that not only offers a green oasis in the heart of the city, but will also be able to produce hydroponic food. Much.
The Farmscraper project was born out of a competition by Wumart, a Chinese supermarket chain, and aims to complete the skyline of the central axis of Shenzhen's Central Business District, occupying the last available land. At the end of the work, it will be called Jian Mu Tower.
A marriage between offices and agriculture
Carlo Ratti Associati (CRA) has collaborated with Italian agricultural innovators ZERO to develop a system that allows the production of salads, fruit and herbs directly on the building facade. The tower, 218 meters high and composed of 51 floors, will mainly house offices, but will also include a food court, a supermarket and a roof terrace area to make the most of the available space.
Approximately 10.000 square meters of Jian Mu Tower's outdoor surface will be dedicated to cultivation, with the aim of producing 270.000 kilograms of hydroponic food annually – enough to meet the needs of 40.000 people. Thanks to a “virtual agronomist” based on artificial intelligence, the system will manage the irrigation and nutritional conditions of the plants.
A self-sustaining hydroponic ecosystem in the heart of the city
The project involves the creation of an independent food supply chain within the building. Cultivation, harvest, sale and consumption of agricultural products will all be in the same place. The external spaces of the tower will be enriched by landscaped terraces with water lilies, ferns and litchis. A hymn to biodiversity and an oasis of relaxation for those who work there. Even inside, double-height internal gardens will encourage social interaction and well-being.
On an energy level, the presence of such an amount of greenery on the surface of the building will help reduce solar heat inside, also reducing the use of air conditioning (and energy consumption). The vertical hydroponic project, it goes without saying, in turn reduces the use of agricultural land and brings zero-kilometer food production directly to urban areas.
Well done Carletto
With its cutting-edge design, Farmscraper represents a vision of the future in which urban architecture and agriculture merge to create sustainable and productive spaces. This “hydroponic skyscraper” demonstrates that it is possible to combine the beauty of greenery with the functionality of a building. It can provide food and welcoming spaces for city dwellers, and help reduce environmental impact at the same time.
Is it clear that I like it?
