BE Lab -Vertical Farming & Sustainable Systems Design: Process, process, process

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.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Process, process, process

Talking it out.

Finally, enough site analysis. Now everyone is split up into their groups and can begin to design. Designing is a back-and-forth, iterative process even when you're doing it alone. Add to that a group of 5 or 6 people from different disciplines, and that's where the ideas really start flowing. Everyone is going at it in their different ways.

Some are starting to model masses on their site.

Others prefer to draw.

Finding inspiration
We all looked at precedents a couple weeks ago, but all three groups, now with a more clear goal in their heads, have gone looking for more precedents that more closely speak to their vision.