The design of an urban agriculture centre for Port Elizabeth
ABSTRACT
This dissertation is based on the design of an Urban Agriculture Centre situated within the urban fabric of Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
The treatise evolves out of issues pertaining to actual problems. Deforestation, desertification, floods, drought, population growth and pollution, only to name a few, are issues that play a crucial role in the survival of humanity and other ecosystems.
After extensive research, it was identified that traditional farms are unsustainable, inefficient and causes great damage to the environment. Current farming methods will not be able to produce enough food for the growing population. Traditional farming relies on the climate and particular seasons to produce crops. At the rate that the population is growing, traditional farmers will not be able to keep up. Traditional farms use hectares and hectares of land - this is the one major disadvantage, as there is only a certain amount of arable land in the country.
The treatise diagnosed this problem, and proposes that farming should move into the urban areas, where the majority of the population subsists. New generation farming techniques allows for agriculture to take place within the urban fabric. The agriculture technique that will be used in this treatise is hydroponics.
The treatise addresses urban issues such as sprawl and wasted space within urban areas. For this reason, the treatise adopts a derelict industrial heritage building, within the Central Business District of Port Elizabeth, as the building that will be utilized by the proposed urban farm.
The treatise has chosen the Old Premier Mill Building in Port Elizabeth as a suitable candidate for the proposed project. The building is over one hundred years old, and possesses unique heritage value. Using an existing building is a sustainable option, but for obvious reasons the treatise will be challenged to preserve the heritage value of the old Premier Mill building.
The concept of an urban farm/vertical farm is perceived as a highly technical building, due to its nature, which demands a ‘high-tech’ aesthetic.
The treatise challenges this contrast: designing a highly technical building while trying to preserve a structure of high heritage value.
BACKGROUND
THE HYPOTHESIS
NATURE OF THE BUILDING
IDENTIFYING THE SITE AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
URBAN DESIGN
THE DESIGN OF AN URBAN AGRICULTURE CENTRE FOR PORT ELIZABETH
The design process
Presentation Panels
The Model
“The best way to feed the world in 50 years is to grow food where most of us
live - in cities.” - Despommier, Dickson D.
