St. Louis Science Center: GROW

Arcturis | St. Louis, Missouri

Purpose

A quick review of St Louis Science Center’s website (www.slsc.org) allows a peek at what the GROW facilities has to offer patrons. The attraction provides a surplus of information, exhibits, and interactive activities surrounding food production, cutting edge technologies and the science of agriculture. The GROW Pavilion is an award-winning indoor space that provides exhibits, educational programs, and planned events for exploring the vital role farming plays in local and international economies. Also featuredisthe‘FarmTechField’,aplace wherepatrons get up close and personal with modern farming tools, technology and environmental sensors used on modern farms and crops. The on-site Greenhouse features demonstrations in growing foods using aquaponics, hydroponics, and aeroponic systems. The space provides a working example of open source agriculture and how modern technologies can be utilized to grow and provide sustenance for all. There is an interactive outdoor water area that allows forchildrentoplaywhilelearningabouttherolewater playsinagriculture.Alsofeaturednearbyisraingarden and permeable paver systems that allow guests to have a detailed view of how designed spaces can responsibly clean and contribute back to their local water table. GROW also features the Fermentation

Station, where guests are able to purchase beverages such as beer, wine and kombucha or grab a bite at the on-site burger bar that offers tasty food that uses ingredients produced on-site. The outdoor seating area is complimented by the encircling grape vines. The facilities also offers an area called homeGROWn that is dedicated to providing ideas, strategies, and access to knowledgeable staff and volunteers who can help you start producing your own ‘edible plot’. The advice and exploration continues even into postproduction with a compost area teaching about the process of turning food scraps into fertilizer.

Relevance

Pertaining to my own thesis project is the artful interactive experience of natural and human-aided systems that exist within agriculture. My project site is located within a region whose economy has historically been dependent on the agriculture of orchards for apples and cherries, and more recently, vineyards. The GROW Pavilion and Gallery is an exemplar of how one can use the concept of play to drive a design intended to provide an enlightening experience. The ability for visitors to take that experience home with them and implement it into their own lives is the comfort I hope my own design is able to deliver.