The Emerging New York Architects Competition proposal, ‘The Greenhouse Transformer’, which received an honorable mention, is a typology for urban farming with the purpose of creating environments for learning year round within the community of West Harlem. PRAUD‘s main goal is to integrate life cycle components of food production into a building that is also a catalyst for activity in the area and allows visitors to engage in the program in a more efficient way. More images and architects’ description after the break.
To achieve this goal, we introduced a transforming system that can provide various environments as nature. One of the things that restricts farming in a city the most is climate condition. Unlike in a farm land where developed irrigation systems are, urban farming should strictly depend on natural climate conditions. Together with mechanical means, the system allows different types of climate so that climate conditions for urban farming can be more controlled.
The building allows for food production year round in farming through hydroponics, greenhouse transformation, and exterior farming. The building also provides spaces for teaching and learning about urban farming in a direct matter, where people interested can see the process first hand.
In regard to processing and distribution, goods grown in the farms can be collected and sold to raise funds for the Learning program. During the summer months, the open deck plaza allows for farmer’s markets, where the products can be sold, and used by local food vendors. The building itself provides new settings that demonstrate different environments and settings for social mixing, and creates new recreational activities for the community.
Architects: PRAUD Location: West Harlem, Manhattan, New York Team: Rafael Luna, Dongwoo Yim Project: Emerging New York Architects Competition 2012 (The Harlem Edge; Cultivating Connetions) Result: Honorable Mention Area: 2,475 m2 Year: 2012
