ArchShowcase Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Ferme Darwin in Bordeaux, france by Soa & HoldupNovember 6th, 2012 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Soa & Holdup IDENTITY ‘NESTED IN THE REMAINS OF NIEL’S BARRACKS, THE FERME DARWIN IS A PILOT PROJECT WHICH ACCOMMODATES MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS, RIGHT IN BETWEEN NATURE AND CULTURE.’
This building synthesizes a vertical farm and cultural facilities in an original manner: indeed, spaces dedicated to art, music and education are overlaid by off-ground crops ! Spectacularly stacking these disparate elements up is like celebrating the insertion of agriculture in the very heart of the city. ‘ANCHORED IN A VISIONARY CITY LIKE BORDEAUX, THE FERME DARWIN ADDRESSES HEALTH, FOOD, ETHICAL AND SOCIAL CONCERNS.’ EDUCATION On the occasion of an outdoor concert or a temporary exhibition, passers-by are pleased to learn about environmental issues tightly bound to agriculture. This educational virtue seems essential in a period during which the food chain is more opaque for consumers than ever. The production technique and crops’ traceability are here crystal clear ! FUNCTION Set as a continuation of the future walk, the music stage and the educational gallery will both turn the existing ruin into a permeable surrounding wall, still bearing marks of time. In the background, an access is given to technical facilities supporting the vertical farm. This collection of clustered spaces is located at street level to free upper stories from any unnecessary load. Consequently, plants seem to levitate almost supernaturally, held up by a lightweight steel structure to benefit from a maximized light exposure. SYSTEM* The concept of stackable compartments to grow plants was developed with an entirely flexible structural frame offering multiples assets. Man works about six feet off the ground, in a traditional fashion, and grows any kind of food. Every harvest is biological and optimized throughout the year owing to a combination of complementary species. The multilevel system meets ecological and sustainable requirements, technically (auto-regulated water-efficient device, solar energy, organic farming, short supply chain) as much as sociologically (employment). * The advocated system is Courtirey’s multilevel agricultural tower. Contact Soa & Holdup
Categories: Educational Center, Mixed use, Music Hall |