BE Lab -Vertical Farming & Sustainable Systems Design

college of built environments' interdisciplinary design studio at the university of washington



Branden Born, Associate Professor of Urban Planning

Gundula Proksch, Assistant Professor of Architecture

Ken Yocom, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture






In the United States, it is estimated that about 30% of the agricultural output originates within or on the edges of metropolitan areas. In response, a field of research and practice has emerged that focuses on the productive effectiveness of urban agricultural practices locally, regionally, and globally. In fact, locally, Seattle just declared 2010 "The Year of Urban Agriculture."


Using multidisciplinary skills from both undergraduate and graduate levels, this BE Lab is building upon these urban initiatives and their interrelated goals by developing strategies for integrating agricultural practices into the built environment. In particular, into the sustainable design of a large urban site containing multi-story residential buildings. Working at multiple scales, we are examining and synthesizing the intersections between socially equitable urban agricultural strategies with "high tech"/state of the art sustainable building systems.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Competition can be good!





On Friday the 15th, we had guest speakers from Miller Hull, Weber Thompson, and Mithun present conceptual designs that had been entered into various competitions. All three had urban agriculture operations as central theme. While none of the projects have yet been built, competitions serve as an opportunity to push the envelope of design and possibility and stimulate imaginations and conversations.





Image credits in order:
Mithun
http://mithun.com/projects/project_detail/center_for_urban_agriculture/
Weber Thompson
http://www.weberthompson.com/eco-laboratory.html
Miller Hull
http://www.millerhull.com/htm/nonresidential/bumpercrop.htm
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