architecture firm MJZ has introduced their proposal for a new urban farming masterplan in poland. dubbed ‘the gardens of the future’, the project focuses on natural food production, while aiming to integrate social activities with the public interest in the environment and its protection.

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urban farming masterplan as a part of the urban tissue
all images courtesy of MJZ

 

 

the proposal by MJZ suggests having fresh products grown and sold in every district, in small markets that would be accessible to everyone. in this way, the project alleviates the need for mediators, which are the largest cost factor when it comes to the food delivery chain. the proposed urban cultivation areas could also serve as testing locations for new technologies and techniques that experiment with growing, researching, and selling food grown within the city. 

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to discover and develop a sustainable scheme of green food mass production, the ‘organic nutrition research center’ is also included in the proposed masterplan. just like the plantations, the building grows from the soil – its volume is positioned underneath a hill, created by lifting the urban farming allotment grid. the structure would be mostly conceived from engineered timber from certified plantations.

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the center is designed as a big technological and organic laboratory with spaces available for guests and more private rooms for experimentation, which would not be accessible but could still be visible to everyone when fully glazed. a generous entrance hall greets the visitors and performs as a roof covered square for educational events on special occasions. the structure is based on a wooden waffle, resting on concrete walls that support the excavation soil from the sides.

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research center outdoor pavilions

 

 

technological advacements such as hydroponics, robotics, or AI which could be implemented in the project, to boost the production of food surplus, which would be needed in case of emergency. since existing urban farming plots have already proved to be an efficient physical and mental relief steppingstone mechanism in the COVID-19 spread, the ‘gardens of the future’ could also make cities more resilient to epidemics.

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research center

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project info:

 

 

name: gardens of the future
architects: MJZ
project team: łukasz wenclewski, michał polak, cantya paramita, xinman guo, giacomo rinaldi, jan gronkiewicz, arvin aria, maciej jakub zawadzki
location: poland

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom