Plantagon acknowledged as one of the most promising innovations in the world

                                    

Since the industrial age’s passing through the last century, the migration towards cities has increased headlong and keeps on going. According to statistics, in 2050, more than 80 % of the urban population will be living in the urban areas. Considering also the peak oil and the unbearable prices of petrol lately, that increases the price of everything we consume because of the unavoidable transportation. Do we have to rethink our lifestyle to adapt to the new urban conditions and be able to deal with all these factors that would continue to cause more problems? The main issue of the population in general is to produce enough food for all. How to do it if we all want to live in the city?

The solution is called a Plantscraper! A building exclusively designed for growing crops exactly as in the agricultural fields, but in an urban environment, vertically, floor after floor .The strategy is to provide access to fresh production inside the urban limits which will avoid long distance transportation and so decrease the price and time for delivery.

The idea is not new but it’s finally becoming real as the construction of the first Plantscraper has already started in Sweden, in the heart of the city of Linkoping. The “urban farm”, 17 storeys in height, will provide the city with a natural “farm market “ in the city by the end of next year when it’s expected to be completed.
                                    

Plantagon Urban Greenhouse

The team of Plantagon has designed 3 different ways of integrating farming in the city.
• First example is by making the façade a productive greenhouse. They design a 6 meter deep greenhouse wrapping the building facade. The technology; consists of conveyors carrying pots with plants and rotating them regularly on 90 degrees, so that they receive sunlight regularly on all sides. This kind of façade provides, at the same time, enough light in the office spaces inside but also a good shade and regulates the temperature.

• Another example of the technology is how to integrate the urban farm into existing buildings. They call it the Parasite as it looks like one attached to the structure.

• The third example is what the team believes can in the future become a common part of cities suburbs just like big supermarkets are now and it’s the one under construction now in Sweden.
The innovative architecture of the building allows sunlight to all parts of the spirally organized space, covered by a glass sphere. The designers from Plantagon have even won a Silver Stevie Award for being “the most innovative company of the year” in Europe. They have invented a self sufficient system which uses the leftover heat, organic waste and carbon dioxide by using them to produce Biofuel or using the excess heat in the cold periods.

Basically the production in the Plantscarper in Linkoping will happen in pots which will be fit into trays that will be irrigated by funnels.  All the wastewater will be collected and reused. The amount of pesticides and fertilizer will easily be controlled by an automatic system and in this way soil pollution is avoided. The trays when planted are being transported by a special elevator to the top of the Helix where they start their journey down the spiral structure growing and they reach the ground floor ready to be automatically harvested. It makes all year round production easy, efficient and compact.

                                     

The smallest model of the Plantscraper will be able to feed about 10 000 people per year and will cost about $10 to $20 million. But the trick is that it’s being paid off by the production.
The Plantscraper is not only a way to produce food in the crowded urban areas; it is a possible solution to the urban life conditions nowadays. But also a good example of multifunctional use of a building, including the waste materials in the productions process.


 
                  Hydroponics System from Chicfarm LED grower, http://www.chicfarm.net