The Elegance of Vertical Farming

Architectural Design of Building Integrated Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting

Master thesis (2021)

Authors

S.J. Verdegaal Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

E.J.G.C. van Dooren Public Building and Housing Design (mentor)

F. Adema Building Product Innovation - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)

A.J. Jenkins Climate Design and Sustainability - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)

Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment, Architecture and the Built Environment

Architecture Architectural Engineering Explore Lab Modular Vertical Farming Building technology Plant factory Urban Agriculture Building integrated Climate Design

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Published Date

29-10-2021

Language

English

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract

With phenomena such as population growth and urbanisation, expanding cities no longer derive their food supply from their hinterlands but rely on the global food trade which includes vast greenhouse and open-field agriculture. Given the limited availability of land, water and nutrients together with the uncertainty of a changing climate, the sustainability of these networks becomes questionable. Urban agriculture and in particular Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting (PFAL) offer the potential to positively adapt to these changes. In these PFALs, horizontal trays are stacked in a closed environment, using LEDs, HVAC and hydroponic systems to enable an optimal environment for plant growth.

FACTOR LIST
Because of the novelty of plant factories and especially their integration into the built environment, most architects are not equipped with the knowledge to do so. The first step is to provide a document dissecting what is relevant for architects designing building integrated PFAL.

GROWMODULE PROTOTYPE
An automated growmodule prototype is designed, with the aim of optimising social and aesthetic potentials without compromising on production quality and efficiency. These modules can be placed into any building space and include a structural system that allows for modular placement along all axes.

BUILDING TESTCASE
These growmodules do not require any natural light, allowing them to be placed in spaces that are typically regarded as dark and unattractive. When transforming large offices and factories to a residential function, these dark spaces often occur. Hence, the growmodule prototype is tested in one such building, the grain silo Latenstein (Rijnhaven, Rotterdam). The building concept consists of three layers; a vertical farming core, apartments and a green shell. Multiple aspects are explored including user interaction, aesthetic qualities, climate design and reduction of overall energy demands by integration of the vertical farm with the climate system of the building surrounding urban network.