02. Between Memory & Water is where species meet De Stadsboerderij: The Urban Farm

Cities need to move beyond an inward looking view of nature, and instead explore alternative ways of integrating biological and ecological systems into a human-dominated built environment. A world in which the line between the human and natural world is blurred .

The project entailed a residential scheme, as part of a larger multi-stage masterplan. It explored making architecture that not only responded to the life and needs of humans, but also to a non-human species.

My scheme explored the concept of urban farming, by designing residential units that worked together with corn and tomato harvesting in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. In combination, this aimed to create a more sustainable and local food production cycle in and around the canals of Amsterdam.

Masterplan Phasing

Phase 0

The initial phase of the master plan consists of all housing units on site. These are broken up to maintain privacy distance between block, but still keep a community feel for the people living there.

Phase 1

Phase 1 begins to touch the existing site. Part of the site is excavated, making space for a wider canal at the top of the site. This will allow for canal boats to park in order to enter the site.

Phase 2

Public spaces is introduced to the plan, in order to allow for maximum engagement with the people living on the site, as well as people coming from outside; in line with manifesto point 2 & 5. The spaces include two restaurants, a farmers market, and a seating area leading down to the canal.

Phase 4

The non-human species, corn, is introduced to the plan by designing fields around the buildings for corn to specifically grow. The fields are broken up to create walkways between, for farmers to be able to harvest the corn.

Phase 3

Service and refuge areas are introduced to the back of the site. This consists of car and bike parking spaces as well as waste management. The last unit will be a bio fuel conversion building, where excess product from corn production will be used to produce fuel for canal boats.

Phase 5

The final phase of the masterplan introduces green spaces to be used by the residents and others visiting the site. Implementing green spaces means that pedestrians are prioritized and have easy access to comfortable and healthy outdoor areas.