CULTIVATOR PROJECT
for Indoors Urban Farming
May 3rd 2012 | Parsons - PoliMi exchange program | Thesis in progress presentation | Judit Boros
expanding urban areas and growing population
food activism
food justice
distribution
security
water scarcity
empowerment
education
health
expanding urban areas and growing population
food activism
food justice
distribution
security
water scarcity
empowerment
eduaction
health
NYC
Brooklyn Grange
Timeshare backyard NYC
Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Rooftop Garden
The Wilkses in East New York
Rooftop gardener, NY
SCALES and SPACE Household productive systems
TECHNIQUE Aquaponics
02 THE CYCLE Almost self-sustainable ecosystem
FILTERED WATER
NITROBACTER and NITROSOMONAS
AMMONIA
NITRATE
C02
ADVANTAGES * no space requirements * no traditional farming equipment * 100 % organic * water conservation * no soil - no pests
CHALLENGES * initial expenses can be high * rely on environmental control * varieties of configurations = the technology is complex
PRECEDENTS exploring aquaponics
Biosphere, Philips, 2009
River plant aquarium, Mathieu Lehanneur, 2008
BUY from manufacturer
Tower Garden, 500$
The Kitchen Cultivator, from 2200$
Phoenix, Earth Solutions, 2995$
Lee Mandell
loft farmer, hydroponic expert, visual artist, former computer programmer 2008 - Boswyck Farms * hydroponic research and development space * producing fresh food for the community * educational programs, workshops * consult, design and build
Jonathan Kadish
aquaponic enthusiast self-learner, attended workshops + consulted experts Dec 2010 - home system - project to scale-up: start aquaponic farm in New Jersey to enter in organic grown fish business
Rael Clarke
former Abercrombie & Fitch mode owner of LOFT:LIC self-learning, DIY process, Home Depot project: to turn the system into a business that sets up the designs on rooftops and vacant lots across the city “I wanted to show you could grow a high-density amount of food in a small carbon footprint.” “I hope to one day see systems like this all across New York. It’s the most sustainable way to produce food in New York.” nydailynews.com article
food production
education
business
Pet Shop
FINDINGS
process
failures
self-learning engagement
test start in little
skills
connection
right level of common laninformation guage
solution space
rules of the system personal space and assets
PROPOSAL
CULTIVATOR PROJECT small scale systems
big scale systems
households, community (edu)
professional urban farmer
“ENTHUSIASTS” self-learning, DIY
toolkit basic information in a consistent way
scenarios of use
online inventory
adaptive systems
collection of user generated designs
“EXPERTS” workshops, trainings, edu
MANUAL info start design implementation maintenance scaling
info start design implementation maintenance scaling
info start design implementation maintenance scaling
Basics definition the life cycle unique advantages
Design
System
Plants & Fish
Deep water culture Wick Flood and drain Nutrient Film Technique Drip irrigation Aeroponics
Aeration Bacteria Growth Water Pumps Plant Structure Water And Air Cond. Temperature Chlorine Water Change Lighting
types of fish + characteristics types of plants + characteristics
define the space use recycled materials number of fish - fish tank size - growing bed area types of plants and fish
choose the type of the aqu. system design the holding structure - waterflow - pumping lighting - filtration
ADAPTIVE SYSTEMS recycle - reuse - rethink
WHAT IF...
TEST
KELLEN GALLERY 2 W 13th St MFA Design and Technology Exhibition
NEXT STEPS
design feedback system - collect feedbacks test the materials with Lee refine the system + refine the toolkits
and AFTER...
channels / organisation scale explore the scenarios
THANK YOU Chris Piuggi Christian Schneider Lara Penin Scott Pobiner Eduardo Staszowski Alessandro Confalonieri Fabio DiLiberto Lee Mandall Jonathan Kadsih