The Use of Urban Farms in Modern Architecture

A big factor in global vehicle emissions is caused by transportation and freight, of which a significant 

portion is food. In the US, 95% of food travels over 1600km to reach its destination in supermarkets, at huge cost to the environment and the consumer. 

Transporting food long distances also increases the need for preservatives and treatments to ensure long-life storage. Even with modern technology, these processes often degrade the food quality, and reduce the dietary benefits of the food. Further, this increased distance creates an inequality of access to fresh foods, with significant price differences depending on the location. 

With global population increasing, the need for localised food sources is more prevalent than ever, and one potential solution to this is the introduction of urban farms. There is a huge amount of "grey land" within modern cities - secondary areas which are not in use, or are under utilized. These spaces, such as rooftops, carparks, and even large bodies of water, have the potential to be converted to urban farms. Rooftop greenhouses, modular gardens, and floating greenhouse barges are just some of the many fascinating proposals that have been discussed over the last few years. 

Not only do these potential urban farms provide localised sources for fresh produce, but they also benefit the city in many other ways. Firstly, the creation of secondary greenspace improves air quality and improves the resident experience within an otherwise predominantly concrete environment. Secondly, by covering rooftops, which are often hard surfaces, the new gardens can help reduce solar heat gain and the urban heat island effect. Thirdly, it allows for a flexible scale of urban gardens, from large commercial blocks, to smaller local community-run plots. This in turn helps create situations which can encourage community engagement and participation. 

While many of these proposals are idealistic, the core logic is sound, and raises important questions about what we should do with the disused and under utilised spaces within our cities. In a time where global warming and exponential population growth are key concerns, we can no longer afford to leave these grey spaces as dead-zones within the city.