Concorso Internazionale di idee per la realizzazione di una Vertical Farm a Londra | alessandro petrini

Population growth and urban centralization lead to increased demand for real estate market and for food. One possible solution is vertical farming. AWR therefore proposes the design of a new kind of skyscraper on the Thames waterfront, inserted into the new city skyline. Vertical Farming: architecture and nature working together. In the year 2000, Dickson Despommier (Professor of Environmental Science at Columbia University in New York) developed the concept of vertical farms, in collaboration with various architectural firms. Vertical urban farming means the cultivation of agriculture products and livestock in multi-storey tower structures, inserted within metropolitan areas. The benefits offered by this technology are: continuous, non-seasonal supply of agricultural products safeguarded agricultural production against the damage caused by natural disasters such as droughts, floods. reconstruction of a balanced ecosystem, through the reduction of cultivated land. reduction of CO2 emissions, by eliminating the use of pollutants machineries such as tractors and vehicles for the transport of goods for long distances. reduction of water consumption decreased cost of food products social benefits such as creating new job opportunities and education for the community. The goals to achieve are: meet the requirements of the World Green Building Council determine which materials are best suited for the construction of a vertical farm identify resistant, light, transparent and long-term materials experiment with innovative materials The competition requires the design of a vertical farm with a residential use. In the city there is still a strong demand for housing and for public functions in downtown areas where the presence of public transportation makes the site extremely strategic. The city offers the chance to build a real vertical village, which may include a public plaza, shopping areas, restaurants and residences. Londoners welcome these macro-structures that allow them to experience the city as well as possible. At the same time this project allows people to enjoy both indoor and outdoor activities, regardless of the weather.