urban farming | architecture and design news and projects https://www.designboom.com/tag/urban-farming/ designboom magazine | your first source for architecture, design & art news Mon, 31 Mar 2025 06:56:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 clay hydroponics by logman arja redefine urban food production with 3D printed forms https://www.designboom.com/design/clay-hydroponics-logman-arja-urban-food-production-3d-printed-forms-03-25-2025/ Tue, 25 Mar 2025 10:20:33 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=1122999 designed to address climate change, soil degradation, and water scarcity, the system saves up space with a vertical setup.

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Food Self-Sufficiency Through clay 3D Printed Hydroponics

 

EcoTech Lab, led by architect Logman Arja, introduces ClayPonic V1, a sustainable, deployable urban farming system that rethinks food production. Designed to address climate change, soil degradation, and water scarcity, the clay 3D printed hydroponics system saves up space with a vertical setup while creating a multisensory, immersive experience. By combining ceramics and 3D printing, it supports food self-sufficiency and transforms urban farming into a therapeutic and educational practice.


all images courtesy of Logman Arja

 

 

Logman Arja creates a Multisensory Farming Experience

 

The system by the environmental design advocacy EcoTech Lab aims to connect people with nature through all five senses. Visitors can admire the organic ceramic forms, feel the texture of the structures while planting or harvesting, breathe in the scent of herbs and flowers, listen to the calming sound of water trickling through, and, of course, taste the fresh produce. 

 

Beyond just producing food, Logman Arja’s ClayPonic V1 serves as a learning space and a platform for discussing the future of agriculture. It shows how innovative farming techniques can shape cities, create more resilient communities, and make fresh food more accessible.


this sustainable, deployable urban farming system rethinks food production


designed to address climate change, soil degradation, and water scarcity


the system saves up space with a vertical setup


creating a multisensory, immersive experience

clay-hydroponics-logman-arja-urban-food-production-3d-printed-forms-designboom-large02

it supports food self-sufficiency and transforms urban farming into a therapeutic practice


combining ceramics and 3D printing


the system aims to connect people with nature through all five senses

clay-hydroponics-logman-arja-urban-food-production-3d-printed-forms-designboom-large03

ClayPonic V1 serves as a learning space


making fresh food more accessible


visitors can admire the organic ceramic forms and feel the texture of the structures

 

 

project info:

 

name: ClayPonic V1
designer: EcoTech Lab 
lead designer:
Logman Arja | @logmanarja

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom

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plenty opens world’s first vertical farm that uses AI to grow strawberries indoors in virginia https://www.designboom.com/technology/plenty-worlds-first-vertical-farm-ai-strawberries-indoors-virginia-richmond-09-26-2024/ Thu, 26 Sep 2024 19:30:18 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=1092075 in the farm, more than four million pounds of strawberries in a year can be produced, and the first batch is set to arrive in early 2025.

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Vertical farm powered by AI to deliver strawberries in 2025

 

Plenty Unlimited opens the Plenty Richmond Farm, dubbed the world’s first vertical farm that uses AI to grow and cultivate strawberries at scale indoors. The estate – located in Richmond, Virginia in the US – can produce more than four million pounds of strawberries in a year, even though its space is less than 40,000 square feet.

 

Within the vertical farm, there are 30-foot-tall towers inside used to cultivate the fruit. So far, only Driscoll varieties of strawberries are to be grown using Plenty’s technology and Driscoll’s advanced genetics, and the first batch of strawberries from the vertical farm is set to be available in early 2025.

plenty vertical farm ai
all images courtesy of Plenty

 

 

Plenty richmond farm’s AI controls the cultivating environment

 

The idea behind the Plenty Richmond Farm is to control the environment using technology. It doesn’t rely on traditional outdoor farming because, in that setting, the weather, soil, and other factors are less controllable. In Plenty’s vertical farm, the strawberries grow with the help of AI, running software that keeps the temperature suitable for the strawberries. It also controls how much light they receive using artificial lighting that mimics sunlight.

 

The team says this part is important because plants need the right type and amount of light to help the strawberries grow faster and healthier. The AI technology can also manage the moisture in the air of the vertical farm so that the strawberries don’t grow in an environment that’s too dry or too wet. The software can track and analyze more than 10 million data points every day from its 12 grow rooms to inform the cultivators if the plants need more light, less water, higher temperatures, or other adjustments. The AI system can also make these changes on its own.

plenty vertical farm ai
the Plenty Richmond Farm is dubbed the world’s first vertical farm powered by AI that grows strawberries

 

 

Using 97 percent less land and up to 90 percent less water

 

Strawberries aren’t the first crops that the Plenty vertical farm has grown. Its flagship farm to grow lettuce is in Compton, California, where the property cultivates more than 250 acres worth of leafy greens within a single city block. Plenty has also designed a patent-pending modular growing system flexible enough to farm a variety of crops, with lettuce being an example and now strawberries. Thanks to the 30-foot-tall towers installed on the Virginia farm, it’s easier to deliver more nutrients, airflow, and intense lighting, helping the growth of the strawberries.

 

Arama Kukutai, Plenty CEO, says that the Plenty Richmond Farm is the culmination of 200 research trials over the past six years to perfect growing strawberries with consistent peak-season flavor indoors year-round. ‘Driscoll’s sets an incredibly high bar for the quality of its berries, and we’re excited to join forces to consistently deliver an ultra-premium Driscoll’s strawberry year-round,’ he adds. Plenty says that its vertical farm uses 97 percent less land and up to 90 percent less water than conventional farming. So far, the first batch of its vertical farm-grown strawberries, with the help of AI, is set to be available in early 2025.

plenty vertical farm ai
view of the AI-using Plenty vertical farm from the outside

inside Plenty's lettuce farm in Compton, California
inside Plenty’s lettuce farm in Compton, California

the lettuce farm cultivates more than 250 acres worth of leafy greens within a single city block
the lettuce farm cultivates more than 250 acres worth of leafy greens within a single city block

plenty-richmond-vertical-farm-worlds-first-ai-powered-strawberries-virginia-designboom-ban

Plenty has designed a modular growing system for its crops

construction view of Plenty's AI-using vertical farm for strawberries in Richmond, Virginia
construction view of Plenty’s AI-using vertical farm for strawberries in Richmond, Virginia

the first batch of strawberries from the vertical farm is set to be available in early 2025
the first batch of strawberries from the vertical farm is set to be available in early 2025

plenty-richmond-vertical-farm-worlds-first-ai-powered-strawberries-virginia-designboom-ban2

only Driscoll varieties of strawberries are to be grown using Plenty’s technology

 

project info:

 

name: Plenty Richmond Farm

company: Plenty | @plenty

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PULSE: a farming vehicle printing biodegradable membranes to reverse desertification https://www.designboom.com/technology/pulse-farming-vehicle-printing-biodegradable-membranes-desertification-rohit-vaswani-06-28-2024/ Thu, 27 Jun 2024 23:30:57 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=1073828 autonomous and open-source, PULSE employs a drone equipped with sensors that precisely calibrates the membrane's coverage area for each plant.

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rohit vaswani presents pulse, an autonomous farming vehicle

 

PULSE is a vehicle designed to combat desertification by printing biodegradable membranes around plants in arid regions. Developed by Rohit Vaswani the tool can operate both autonomously and manually to become a vital asset in the modern agricultural landscape. Its minimalist design and modular form emphasize functionality where each element fulfils an essential function. Additionally, PULSE offers possibilities for open-source development and custom add-ons, enhancing its utility.

 

Beyond this primary function of combating desertification, PULSE is envisioned to serve as a versatile, all-round farming vehicle. Its compact size and ability to accommodate third-party tools make it suitable for a range of agricultural tasks, from land surveying and monitoring plant and soil health, to performing jobs typically too delicate for traditional tractors.

pulse: rohit vaswani's farming vehicle prints biodegradable membranes to reverse desertification
all images courtesy of Rohit Vaswani

 

 

the open-source bio-preservation device combats desertification

 

As the climate crisis accelerates, desertification is becoming an increasingly pressing issue. The spread of barren land results in reduced agricultural productivity, leading to food insecurity and rising temperatures. PULSE aims to mitigate these effects by supporting plant growth in these areas, helping to restore the natural ecosystem. Biodegradable membranes are used to form humid microenvironments to shield plants which block harsh UV rays and extreme heat. The protective layer helps plants to survive and fosters the regeneration of the surrounding ecosystem. Over time, the membrane dissolves into the soil, enriching it with essential nutrients.

 

Rohit Vaswani (more here) employs a drone tethered to the vehicle to apply the biodegradable membrane. Equipped with sensors, the drone precisely calibrates the membrane’s coverage area for each plant. This process leverages existing 3D printing technologies to provide an autonomous solution. By facilitating plant growth in desertified regions, PULSE contributes to the larger effort of restoring fertile land and combating the adverse effects of climate change.

pulse: rohit vaswani's farming vehicle prints biodegradable membranes to reverse desertification
Rohit Vaswani presents PULSE


a vehicle that combats desertification

pulse: rohit vaswani's farming vehicle prints biodegradable membranes to reverse desertification
PULSE prints biodegradable membranes around plants in desertified regions

pulse: rohit vaswani's farming vehicle prints biodegradable membranes to reverse desertification
the protective layer it forms helps plants to survive and fosters the regeneration of the surrounding ecosystem

pulse: rohit vaswani's farming vehicle prints biodegradable membranes to reverse desertification
the tool operates both autonomously and manually to become a vital asset in the modern agricultural landscape

pulse-rohit-vaswani-designboom-01


it tends to a range of agricultural tasks, from land surveying to monitoring plant and soil health


a tethered drone equipped with sensors, precisely calibrates the membrane’s coverage area for each plant

pulse-rohit-vaswani-designboom-03


autonomous and open-source

pulse-rohit-vaswani-designboom-02

 

project info:

 

name: PULSE
designer: Rohit Vaswani

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: ravail khan | designboom

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ETH zurich completes ‘semiramis’ hanging garden, built with the help of robots https://www.designboom.com/design/eth-zurich-semiramis-zug-switzerland-hanging-garden-robots-10-05-2023/ Thu, 05 Oct 2023 15:15:45 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=1020856 the 'semiramis' vertical garden installation owes its unique form to a machine learning design method developed by ETH zurich.

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semiramis: architecture, technology, and nature

 

At the entrance of the Switzerland‘s growing Tech Cluster Zug, ETH Zurich and Gramazio Kohler Research celebrate the completion of a sculptural installation named Semiramis. The vertical garden has come to life with the help of robots and artificial intelligence, and transcends traditional urban concepts to evolve into a monument to nature and technology. Semiramis embodies the synergy of interactive computational design, machine learning, and digital fabrication. Its form, a towering 22.5-meter (74-foot) structure, consists of five organic wooden pods, elegantly suspended by eight slender steel pillars. See designboom’s previous coverage here!

eth zürich semiramisimages courtesy Gramazio Kohler Research

 

 

robotically-optimized geometries by eth zurich

 

The Semiramis installation owes its unique form to a pioneering machine learning design method developed by ETH Zurich‘s chair in partnership with the Swiss Data Science Center. This method allowed the team to iteratively generate the most efficient design variations, considering factors like sunshade, rain protection, and plantable surfaces.

 

The collaboration with the Computational Robotics Lab led to the creation of a custom tool which enables the optimization of the complex geometry of individual pods, while meticulously accounting for material properties and fabrication parameters. It ensured that each panel maintained its flatness and adhered to specified size constraints while enhancing structural integrity.

 

The integration of cross-laminated timber plates was achieved with a novel assembly procedure, developed by Gramazio Kohler Research, ETH Zurich, TS3, and the Chair for Timber Structures at ETH Zurich. The process allowed for the precision bonding of wood components, enabling the creation of intricate folded wood structures on a large scale.

eth zürich semiramis

 

 

a suspended garden in the sky

 

The robotic assembly of Semiramis represents a groundbreaking moment for Gramazio Kohler Research. At ETH Zurich’s Robotic Fabrication Lab, four robots worked in tandem, constituting an unprecedented additive manufacturing process. The team collaborated closely with Intrinsic to integrate their robot planning technology with COMPAS FAB, an open-source robotic fabrication package.

 

Semiramis’s vertical landscaping concept, conceived and executed in collaboration with Müller Illien Landscape Architects Gmbh, offers a sanctuary for nature to thrive. These pagoda-like pods are off-limits to human access, preserving the undisturbed growth of a new and ever-evolving ecosystem. As spectators, we can only admire this living artwork from below and, in the future, from the surrounding buildings set to rise in the Tech Cluster Zug.


Semiramis owes its unique form to a machine learning design method, resulting in an interplay of wood and steel

 

 

Beyond its role as an artistic installation, Semiramis serves as a retreat and communal space for the Tech Cluster Zug’s workers and residents. Its centralized irrigation system ensures green densification, filtering light and creating varying degrees of shade on the ground. This design provides a comfortable microclimate during the hot summer months, making Semiramis at once a work of art and a functional and sustainable addition to the urban landscape.

eth zürich semiramis
the installation stands tall at the entrance of Tech Cluster Zug, Switzerland

semiramis-installation-eth-zurich-gramazio-kohler-research-zug-switzerland-designboom-05a

the pagoda-like pods are off-limits to humans, allowing nature to flourish undisturbed in this urban habitat


semiramis owes its unique form to a groundbreaking machine learning design method

semiramis-installation-eth-zurich-gramazio-kohler-research-zug-switzerland-designboom-07a

the robotic assembly is a milestone in the field, with four robots working together to create this installation

 

project info:

 

project title: Semiramis

architecture: ETH Zurich + Gramazio Kohler Research

location: Zug, Switzerland

completion: 2022

 

client: Urban Assets Zug AG

general contractor: Erne AG Holzbau

collaborators: Müller Illien Landschaftsarchitekten GmbH, Timbatec Holzbauingenieure Schweiz AG

team: Matthias Kohler, Fabio Gramazio, Sarah Schneider, Matteo Pacher, Aleksandra Apolinarska, Pascal Bach, Gonzalo Casas, Philippe Fleischmann, Matthias Helmreich, Michael Lyrenmann, Beverly Lytle, Romana Rust

industry partners: TS3 AG, Intrinsic

selected experts: Chair for Timber Structures, ETH Zürich; Computational Robotics Lab, ETH Zürich – Krispin Wandel, Bernhard Thomaszewsky, Roi Poranne, Stelian Coros; Swiss Data Science Center – Luis Salamanca, Fernando Perez-​Cruz

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saudi arabia’s desert city NEOM will grow its own crops inside dutch greenhouses https://www.designboom.com/architecture/neom-van-der-hoeven-dutch-greenhouses-saudi-arabia-desert-crops-08-18-2023/ Fri, 18 Aug 2023 20:30:48 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=1011203 NEOM has contracted dutch greenhouse experts van der hoeven to bring efficient horticultural infrastructure to saudi arabia.

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van der hoeven will make the NEOM desert bloom

 

NEOM has announced a collaboration with Dutch greenhouse company Van Der Hoeven in an effort to introduce flourishing gardens amidst the arid deserts of Saudi Arabia. As the ‘city of the future’ hopes to become a self-sustaining oasis and home to millions of people, food security has become a priority for the city’s planners. The Dutch horticultural experts have been enlisted to design, build, and operate two test facilities together covering 110,000 square-meters along the city’s outskirts. With this urban farming solution, the team plans to create a controlled climate for efficient and sustainable food production. 

 

NEOM comprises four ‘megacities’ and is perhaps most well-known for its mirrored city THE LINE. Currently under construction, the 170 kilometer-long ‘groundscraper’ is planned to be car-free and powered by 100 percent renewable energy. The recently announced greenhouse facilities will further NEOM’s self-sustaining vision.

neom greenhouse saudi arabiaimage courtesy NEOM

 

 

dutch horticulture to arrive in saudi arabia

 

With Saudi Arabia’s unforgiving desert climate, NEOM‘s horticultural plans are ambitious — so teaming with the Dutch greenhouse company is a smart move. Even with its relatively small size, the Netherlands is the world’s second-largest agricultural exporter after the United States. According to the Washington Post, more than half of the European country’s land is used for agriculture. Almost 24,000 acres are occupied by highly efficient greenhouses — an area nearly double the size of Manhattan — which require just one-tenth of the land area required by traditional farming. 

 

This technology can offer a lot to the challenging climate of Saudi Arabia. The nation relies mainly on imports to supply its food, as local growers struggle with efficient cultivation and water shortages and the Dutch-built greenhouses require substantially less fertilizer and water. The Washington Post reports:Dutch farms use only a half-gallon of water to grow about a pound of tomatoes, while the global average is more than 28 gallons.’

neom greenhouse saudi arabia24,000 acres of the Netherlands are occupied by greenhouses | image courtesy Van Der Hoeven

 

 

established greenhouses in the gulf region

 

NEOM has contracted Van der Hoeven, which is itself is a global leader in the design, build, and operation of horticultural infrastructure. The company has joined the Dutch Greenhouse Delta (DGD), a foundation which aims to bring the nation’s expertise around the world in an effort to offer large-scale food production in a range of climates. The company already has an established presence in the Middle East. Van Der Hoeven sales director Bas Duijvestijn gives an example of their efforts, commenting: ‘Four years ago, we built a tomato nursery of more than 11 hectares in Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates. This was the first large-scale modern greenhouse in that region.’

 

Duijvestijn describes his hopes for future development:It will come as no surprise that growing vegetables in the Gulf region is no simple task and makes different demands from growing them in Northwestern Europe. A hot and sometimes humid climate along with severe water shortages make growing crops here a major challengethe Gulf region offers great opportunities for producers of greenhouse technology.’

neom greenhouse saudi arabiaArmela Farms, a two-hectare glasshouse lettuce farm in the UAE built by Van Der Hoeven in 2021 | image via DGD

 

 

The team at Van Der Hoeven notes that it is possible to source water by desalinating sea water — a strategy which the planners at NEOM claim will be the main source of water for the city. In an interview with designboom, NEOM’s director of urban planning explains:The extraction of potable water from sea water is usual frowned upon because the process involves dumping the salts back into the sea. This alters the salinity of the water, and in turn the ecology of the sea. In NEOM, we have a zero-brine discharge policy, meaning the salts will be retained and used for other purposes.’

Van Der Hoeven is enlisted to design, build, and operate the NEOM greenhouses | image courtesy Van Der Hoeven

 

 

project info:

 

greenhouse company: Van Der Hoeven

client: NEOM @discoverneom

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red brickwork encloses the introverted courtyard of urban farm house in india https://www.designboom.com/architecture/red-brickwork-introverted-courtyard-urban-farm-house-india-compartment-s4-03-12-2023/ Sun, 12 Mar 2023 15:10:08 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=968267 the residence-workspace by compartment s4 develops a c-shaped plan.

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Court Fort by Compartment S4 – a living-working space in india

 

Multi-disciplinary design practice Compartment S4 constructs ‘Court Fort’, the living and working space for an urban farmer in India. The project aims to strike a dialogue between the built form and its farm-like surroundings disseminating knowledge related to urban farming and natural and organic farming techniques. Located on the outskirts of the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, the structure hosts seasonal workshops, film screenings, lectures, and seminars concerning the benefits of farming in urban spaces. The space comprises four major zones. 

 

The first zone occupies over sixty percent of the plot in the east and composes the farming space. The second part forms a natural central pond held together by wild greens and complemented by the waterbody attached to the built volume in the east. The third part plants a dense verdure completing the ecosystem along with the other two areas, that invites various species of animals into the property. The fourth component forms the built space that presents a minimal footprint designed as a non-invasive structure coexisting with its surroundings. Organizing a c-shaped introverted frame, the brick-built fabric weaves a plan of the programmatic requirements enclosing a private courtyard in the south.


all images by Dhrupad Shukla

 

 

load-bearing exposed brick walls frame the structure

 

The courtyard forms a visual axis with the entrance in the north, dividing the main living-working space into a formal work-dining area in the west and a sitting lounge-meeting zone in the east. The layout, also, arranges a small kitchenette, a washroom, and a common toilet accessible from the courtyard. The bedroom develops as a relatively private space connected to the living area and the outdoor terrace.

 

The load-bearing exposed brick walls put up the main framework topped by a reinforced cement concrete pitch roof shielding the building. The internal walls are finished with lime highlighting the structural system. The red bricks and grey recycled slabs are chosen by the creative studio as the primary material, while wooden furniture and polished concrete flooring edged with black kadappa stone inlay complement the design. The ledge seating by the entrance and the bed are cast in situ, while the rest of the furniture is designed to be flexible and adaptable to various arrangements. Openings throughout the interior form a flow of circulation and visual continuity between the indoor and outdoor spaces. The northwest external corner of the structure carves a small amphitheater overlooking the farm dedicated to workshops and training sessions. The project promotes a minimal and natural living setting that combines functionality and aesthetics with an easy-to-maintain material palette.


the built structure coexists harmonically with the ecosystem on the site


the northwest external corner of the structure carves a small amphitheater overlooking the farm


the load-bearing exposed brick walls support the reinforced cement concrete pitch roof

court-fort-compartment-s4-living-working-designboom-1800-2


the c-shaped frame of the brick-built fabric organizes a private courtyard hence the name Court Fort


the entrance of the structure is shielded by jaali walls on both sides and a low-height covering

court-fort-compartment-s4-living-working-designboom-1800-3


the main living-working space overlooks the greenery


wooden furniture decorates the flexible interior


the ledge seating by the entrance is cast-in-situ

 

project info:

 

name: Court Fort
designer: Compartment S4 | @compartment_s4

location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

photography: Dhrupad Shukla | @dhrupadshukl

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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snøhetta’s urban farm design sprouts green pockets in bustling hong kong https://www.designboom.com/architecture/snohetta-urban-farm-green-pockets-bustling-hong-kong-12-22-2022/ Thu, 22 Dec 2022 10:30:43 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=953865 in the middle of the densely populated city, this green lung encourages social interaction and shared experiences.

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Snøhetta introduces its urban farm in Hong Kong 

 

Snøhetta returns to Hong Kong with its urban farm design bringing green pockets into the heart of the bustling city.

Conceived for The Pavilia Farm residential development in Tai Wai, the project consists of three clubhouses that

encourage social interaction, shaping a gathering space where residents can share experiences, dive into calm, and enjoy urban farming in a shared garden. This green lung in the middle of the densely populated city brings people closer together and closer to nature, inviting them to leave the urban environment that surrounds them behind for a while and surrender to the positive effects of agriculture.

 

‘Pavilia Farm is a project that highlights the importance of creating new green, urban neighborhoods. More people live in cities than ever before – and that trend is likely to continue to increase in the future – so we need to build in a way that can make it sustainable – both environmentally and socially,’ says Robert Greenwood, Partner and Managing Director of Snøhetta Asia.snøhetta's urban farm design sprouts green pockets in bustling hong kong all images by ©New World Development

 

 

A shelter for interaction and calm 

 

Celebrating the beautiful landscape of mountains and the Shing Mun River, Snøhetta (see more here) designed three small structures ‘to become sanctuaries of calm and simplicity in the heart of buzzing Hong Kong’. The aim of the project is to bring a playful touch to the urban city and enhance the life quality of both old and young residents. Two of the three clubhouses dubbed ‘the Tea House and the Farm House’ just opened, while the last one with the name ‘the Sky House’ is expected to be completed at the end of 2023. Each of them serves different purposes for the local community, but they all share the same philosophy of adding green pops to the urban future and creating memories.

 

‘The Pavilia Farm and the clubhouses are small but perfect examples of how that can be done. At Snøhetta, we talk about collective ownership and creating places and spaces that belong to the collective and can bring people together. Spaces that belong to no one and everyone at the same time. With this project, the Tea House and The Farm House represent those ideas and create a green lung in the middle of pulsating Hong Kong. A space where all the residents can find peace and calm, but also interact and connect with each other’, continues Robert Greenwood.

snøhetta's urban farm design sprouts green pockets in bustling hong kong

 

 

Three small pockets

 

The Tea House is planned ‘as a point of arrival’, inviting guests to escape from the fast-paced city and indulge in a serene journey. This ambition is accentuated by the element of water, which is the protagonist of the structure. An indoor pool on one side and a waterfall on the other echo the continuous sound of the falling water, fostering a relaxing harmony calming the mind, and slowing down the tempo.

 

Unlike the meditative mood of the Tea House, the Farm House takes shape as a gathering hub, bringing the farm inside the house and bringing visitors together. Surrounded by the urban farm and its produce, it becomes the centerpiece of Pavilia Farm. Rail-bound table system invites the community to gather under the same roof and linger around the same table. Informed by a conventional dining table in a home, this table is ‘the center point for conversations, laughter, and spending time together’. Here residents can prepare and eat the food they have collected, while conversations flow and experiences are shared. This clubhouse forms a ‘close-knitted community through food and harvesting from nature’.

 

snøhetta's urban farm design sprouts green pockets in bustling hong kong
the houses create a sanctuary for peacefulness and joy

snøhetta's urban farm design sprouts green pockets in bustling hong kong
the table is the heart of the Farm House


people of different backgrounds share experiences and make memories

 

 

 

project info:

 

name: The Pavilia Farm

architects: Snøhetta | @snohetta

location: Hong Kong

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URB set to develop the world’s largest decarbonized agritourism hub in dubai https://www.designboom.com/architecture/urb-worlds-largest-decarbonized-agrotourism-hub-dubai-12-14-2022/ Wed, 14 Dec 2022 03:05:22 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=951857 winding through the desert, agri hub will enhance the lives of local of farmers whilst enriching the natural environment.

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urb unveils plans for dubai’s new ecotourism monumental

 

Strengthening its foothold as one of world’s leading tourism destinations, Dubai is set to transform its desertscape to house a giant eco-friendly agritourism monument. Proposed by architectural practice URB, the Agri Hub will be fully powered by renewable energy, weaving retail, commercial, educational, and leisure facilities in a serpentine metallic form that integrates with its natural context.

 

The project is driven by the emirate’s wider initiative to position itself as a global benchmark for rural ecotourism. Promoting a green economy and fostering sustainability of the local communities, heritage, and cultural landscapes, Agri Hub will enhance the lives of farmers whilst enriching the environment and local culture.

URB set to develop the world’s largest decarbonized agrotourism hub in dubai
Agri Hub winds through the desert of Dubai | all images by URB

 

 

promoting a green economy for the rural community

 

Inviting tourists for an educational and recreational experience in the heart of the desert, URB’s Agri Hub will boast a nature and heritage conservation center, and ecotourism and restorative wellness facilities, as well as an Agri-tech institute creating a collaborative research and innovation ecosystem. Altogether, over 10,000 new jobs across various sectors will be generated, promoting a green economy for local rural farmer residents, and enhancing their quality of living.

 

In its design and typology, the monumental structure topped by a delicate geometric design gives visitors a sense of being immersed in nature, both inside and out. As it winds through Dubai’s lush landscape of palm trees and farmland, the design team continues to integrate natural elements within the interior too.

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intertwining retail, commercial, educational, wellness and leisure facilities

 

 

The Agri Hub will serve as a blueprint for decarbonized rural destination of the future, starting with offsetting its embodied carbon emissions from construction and operation. Other environmental features will include its 100% renewable energy and water recycling systems, bio-saline agriculture, green transit systems and onsite zero waste management.

 

Baharash Bagherian, CEO of URB, notes: ‘Agri Hub will provide spaces for local farmers to sell their products directly from their farms, whilst offering a new eco-friendly shopping, dining & edutainment experience for visitors. Beyond becoming a new tourism experience in the countryside and wilderness of Dubai, the project will also promote greater health, wellbeing, and prosperity for rural local inhabitants.’

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the world’s largest agritourism project will create over 10,000 jobs

URB set to develop the world’s largest decarbonized agrotourism hub in dubai
URB will be offsetting embodied carbon emissions from construction to operation

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a collaborative ecosystem in research and innovation

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visitors will be able to enjoy local organic cuisine straight from a farm in the restaurants

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project info:

 

name: Agri Hub
architecture: URB
location: Dubai, UAE

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: ravail khan | designboom

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this walk-in climate greenhouse is the first mass-produced solution for microgreen gardening https://www.designboom.com/design/emotioncube-microgreen-walk-in-greenhouse-first-mass-produced-studio-oberhauser-10-05-2021/ Tue, 05 Oct 2021 09:00:06 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=840444 the 'emotioncube microgreen' features PDLC glazing, automatic doors, integrated infrared lighting as well as climate regulating stone flooring.

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a complete walk-in greenhouse for microgreen gardening

 

design studio oberhauser has unveiled the emotioncube microgreen, the first complete solution for microgreen gardening in the gastronomy and hospitality industry. the structure takes shape as a walk-in climate greenhouse with liquid crystal glazing (PDLC) and integrated infrared lighting which provides microgreens with an optimal growing climate. in addition, the climate-regulating tuff stone floor provides the perfect humidity in the interior.

studio oberhauser designs first walk-in climate greenhouse for microgreen gardening
the emotioncube microgreen

all images courtesy of studio oberhauser

 

100% recyclable and serially produced

 

the emotioncube microgreen by studio oberhauser (find more here) is the first climate greenhouse that features PDLC glazing, automatic doors, integrated infrared lighting as well as climate regulating stone flooring. built with 100% recyclable materials, the emotioncube is available in four different versions: the emotioncube wine, emotioncube microgreen, emotioncube cheese, and emotioncube meat. this makes it the first serially produced complete solution for a wide range of requirements in the gastronomy, hospitality, and catering industry. the emotioncube microgreen has been nominated for the german design award 2022 in the category ‘excellent product design – eco design’.studio oberhauser designs first walk-in climate greenhouse for microgreen gardening
the integrated infrared lighting and climate-regulating tuff stone floor provides microgreens with an optimal growing climate

project info:

 

name: emotioncube microgreen
designer: studio oberhauser
lead designer: martin oberhauser
manufacturer: METEK ltd.

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom

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butterfly-shaped structure houses urban rooftop garden in the heart of kuching, malaysia https://www.designboom.com/architecture/butterfly-shaped-urban-rooftop-garden-kuching-05-20-2021/ Thu, 20 May 2021 09:43:13 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=803194 the design aims to remind of the hopeful quote 'what the caterpillar thinks is the end of the world, the butterfly knows it's only the beginning'.

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organized by multidisciplinary creative agency borneo laboratory, and designed by wendy teo atelier the ‘butterfly garden’ is a community-initiated garden project that was conceived and realized during the semi-lockdown period in kuching, malaysia. with most gathering venues in south east asia being predominantly enclosed or indoor market-driven spaces, the project seeks to provide an alternative, community-supported urban farm accessible to all. located at a rooftop in the heart of the city, the butterfly garden aims to visualize and inspire hope among locals. 

butterfly-shaped structure by wendy teo houses urban rooftop garden in the heart of kuching, malaysia
all images courtesy of wendy teo atelier

 

 

wendy teo atelier’s butterfly garden’s was constructed at the top of the ‘think & tink’ old supermarket building, in the center of kuching. the locals have set up the community garden as an open space where anyone from the neighborhood can participate. borneo laboratory and all other participants organize weekend meetings where the members gather, up-cycle, grow vegetables and cook during day-long productive sessions.

butterfly-shaped structure by wendy teo houses urban rooftop garden in the heart of kuching, malaysia

 

 

since the project was carried out during the semi-lockdown period of kuching, a strategy of minimizing large group gathering and contacting was developed thoroughly for the construction process. rapid fabrication and assembling strategy was made possible with a network of cutting edge fabricators. as a result, the three-day assembling timeline was made possible after two months of planning.

butterfly-shaped structure by wendy teo houses urban rooftop garden in the heart of kuching, malaysia

 

 

the design by wendy teo atelier aims to remind of the hopeful quote ‘what the caterpillar thinks is the end of the world, the butterfly knows it’s only the beginning’. thus, the rooftop pavilion translates the shape and texture of butterfly wings into a canopy pattern. timber seating is allocated underneath the canopy, allowing visitors to enjoy the generous urban views.

 

 

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project info:

 

name: the butterfly garden
designers: wendy teo atelier
development: borneo laboratory platform
CNC supplier: CH enterprise
steel contractor: kingwoods company
funding support: cendana malaysia 

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom

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