DESIGN STRATEGIES AND POTENTIAL EDIBLE PLANTS FOR HIGH-RISE COMMUNITY FARMING
TAN YONG XIN
UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA
2019/2020
DESIGN STRATEGIES AND POTENTIAL EDIBLE PLANTS FOR HIGH-RISE COMMUNITY FARMING
by
TAN YONG XIN
Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Architecture
JULY 2020
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my deepest thanks to all of the individual for helping me out in making this dissertation to become a reality. I would like to express my greatest gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Hazril Sherney Bin Basher for his patience guidance throughout the whole year. His consultation, advice and encouragement had given me a lot of confidence and determination in completing my dissertation. I felt so glad and lucky from the deepest of my heart for having Dr. Hazril Sherney Bin Basher for being my RUL 674 supervisor. Other than that, I wish to express my special gratitude towards Universiti Sains Malaysia RUL674 coordinator, Assoc. Prof. Ar. Dr. Sharifah Fairuz Syed Fadzil for giving me a chance and opportunity to work on this dissertation. A special thanks to the industry expert which is roof top community farming manager, Mr. Tony Tan that I had interviews in Singapore Our Tampines Hub for his kindness and openness. Thank you for spending his time and willing to have a short session semi structure interview with me. The completion of this dissertation would be difficult without the support of my family and friends. Thank for being supportive of my dissertation topic and helping on distribution of my questionnaire to my target respondents.
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ......................................................................................... ii TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................. viii LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................. ix ABSTRAK ................................................................................................................ xii ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................. xiv CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION........................................................................... 1
1.1
Background Study ............................................................................................ 1
1.2
Problem Statement ........................................................................................... 2
1.3
Research Objective ........................................................................................... 3
1.4
Research Questions .......................................................................................... 3
1.5
Significance of Study ....................................................................................... 4
1.6
Research Framework ........................................................................................ 4
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................. 5
2.1
Introduction ...................................................................................................... 5
2.2
History of Agriculture ...................................................................................... 5
2.3
Conventional farming ....................................................................................... 5
2.4
Urban Farming ................................................................................................. 6
2.5
Evolution of Urban Farming ............................................................................ 7
2.6
Growing System in Farming ............................................................................ 9
2.7
2.6.1
Hydroponics........................................................................................ 9
2.6.2
Aquaponics ......................................................................................... 9
2.6.3
Aeroponics ........................................................................................ 10
2.6.4
Roof Top Soil Farming ..................................................................... 11
Crop Cultivation Module Types ..................................................................... 12 iii
2.8
2.7.1
A Frame Trellis ................................................................................. 12
2.7.2
Raise Up Planter Box ....................................................................... 13
2.7.3
Columnar System ............................................................................. 14
2.7.4
Stack Drum ....................................................................................... 15
2.7.5
Stack Bed .......................................................................................... 15
Advantages of Urban Farming ....................................................................... 16 2.8.1
2.8.2
2.8.3
2.9
Environmental Benefits .................................................................... 16 2.8.1(a)
Indoor Air Quality ............................................................. 16
2.8.1(b)
Balance of Biodiversity ..................................................... 16
2.8.1(c)
Protection from Weather Disasters .................................... 17
Social Benefits .................................................................................. 17 2.8.2(a)
Building Aesthetics............................................................ 17
2.8.2(b)
Improve social interaction between community ................ 17
Economics Benefits .......................................................................... 17 2.8.3(a)
Increase Year Round Crop Production .............................. 17
2.8.3(b)
Improve Economics Income .............................................. 18
Challenges of Urban Farming ........................................................................ 18 2.9.1
Challenges of Urban Farming in Malaysia ....................................... 18 2.9.1(a)
Uncertainty and Risk in New Technology ........................ 18
2.9.1(b)
High Construction Cost and High Maintenance Cost ....... 19
2.9.1(c) Lack of Co-operation and Collaboration Between Different Fields 19 2.9.1(d) 2.9.2
2.10
Limited of Local Research And Knowledge ..................... 19
Challenges of Urban Farming in Other Countries ............................ 20 2.9.2(a)
Energy Consumption ......................................................... 20
2.9.2(b)
Expensive Investment ........................................................ 20
2.9.2(c)
Competitive Market due to Repetitive Crops .................... 21
Building Typology ......................................................................................... 21 iv
2.11
2.10.1
Residential ........................................................................................ 21
2.10.2
Commercial ...................................................................................... 21
2.10.3
Industrial ........................................................................................... 22
2.10.4
Infrastructure .................................................................................... 22
2.10.5
Agriculture ........................................................................................ 22
2.10.6
Specialty ........................................................................................... 22
High Rise ........................................................................................................ 22 2.11.1
High Rise Residential ....................................................................... 23 2.11.1(a) Flats (Low Cost Housing).................................................. 23 2.11.1(b) Apartment (Medium Cost Housing) .................................. 24 2.11.1(c) Condominium (High End Housing) .................................. 25
2.11.2
High Rise Commercial ..................................................................... 25 2.11.2(a) Commercial Residential Complex ..................................... 26 2.11.2(b) Office Tower...................................................................... 26
2.12
Transitional space in High Rise ..................................................................... 27
2.13
Research Gaps ................................................................................................ 28
CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY ....................................................................... 29
3.1
Introduction .................................................................................................... 29
3.2
Literature Review ........................................................................................... 29
3.3
Case Study ...................................................................................................... 29 3.3.1
Case Study on Community Farming and Existing Type of Edible Plants ................................................................................................ 30 3.3.1(a)
Case Study 1 - Kampung Admiralty, Woodland, Singapore 30
3.3.1(b)
Case Study 2 - Our Tampines Hub, Tampines, Singapore 32
3.3.1(c)
Case Study Comparison..................................................... 33
3.4
Questionnaires ................................................................................................ 34
3.5
Data Analysis ................................................................................................. 35
v
3.6
Semi-Structured Interview ............................................................................. 36
3.7
Limitations ..................................................................................................... 36
3.8
Methodology Flow Chart ............................................................................... 37
CHAPTER 4
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION .................................................. 38
4.1
Introduction .................................................................................................... 38
4.2
Comparative Analysis .................................................................................... 39
4.3
4.4
4.2.1
Kampung Admiralty ......................................................................... 40
4.2.2
Our Tampines Hub ........................................................................... 55
Questionnaire ................................................................................................. 74 4.3.1
Introduction ...................................................................................... 74
4.3.2
Section A: Demographic Data .......................................................... 75
4.3.3
Section B: Survey on Farmers Regarding Their Own Farming ....... 76 4.3.3(a)
Types of Planting Medium ................................................ 77
4.3.3(b)
Types of Vegetables and Fruits Plants by Farmers ........... 78
4.3.4
Section C: Survey on Design Strategies Toward Community Farming In High Rise ...................................................................................... 80
4.3.5
Section D: Survey on Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Community Farming ........................................................ 90
Semi Structured Interview .............................................................................. 92
CHAPTER 5
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS ................................................. 97
5.1
Suitable Spaces and Types of Growing System for Community Farming in High Rise ........................................................................................................ 97
5.2
Design Improvement Towards Community Farming In High Rise ............... 98
5.3
Types Of Potential Plants In High rise ......................................................... 100
CHAPTER 6
CONCLUSION AND FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS .... 106
6.1
Introduction .................................................................................................. 106
6.2
Problem Statement and Research Objectives ............................................... 106
6.3
Summary of Findings and Conclusion ......................................................... 107
vi
6.3.1
Summary of Findings Toward Objective I ..................................... 107
6.3.2
Summary of Findings Toward Objective II .................................... 108
6.3.3
Conclusion ...................................................................................... 110
6.4
Limitation of Study ...................................................................................... 110
6.5
Recommendation of Research for Future Work .......................................... 111
CHAPTER 7
REFERENCES........................................................................... 112
APPENDIX A:
QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RUL 674 RESEARCH PROJECT
APPENDIX B:
SEMI STRUCTURED INTERVIEW
vii
LIST OF TABLES
Page Table 2.1
Evolution of Urban Farming ................................................................ 7
Table 3.1
Summary of Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub ............... 33
Table 3.2
Score of Five-Level of Likert Scale ................................................... 35
Table 3.3
Scale Range of Five-Level of Likert Scale ........................................ 35
Table 4.1
Table Of Vegetables And Fruit Plants On Kampung Admiralty Roof Top Community Farming Area ................................................. 44
Table 4.2
Table Of Vegetables And Fruit Plants On Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Community Farming Area .......................................................... 62
Table 4.3
Table of Vegetables and Fruit Plants That Farmers Cultivate ........... 78
Table 4.4
Scale Range of Five Likert Scale ....................................................... 81
Table 4.5
Ranking of
Importance of Suitable Spaces for Community
Farming .............................................................................................. 81 Table 4.6
Scale Range of Five Likert Scale ....................................................... 88
Table 4.7
Ranking of Importance of Facilities to Enhance Community Farming .............................................................................................. 88
Table 4.8
Ranking of Suitable Height of Raise Up Planter Box for Community Farming .......................................................................... 92
Table 5.1
Suitable Space and Growing System for Community Farming in High Rise............................................................................................ 97
Table 5.2
Ideal Space or System Use For Community Farming In High Rise .. 98
Table 5.3
List of Potential Edible Plants For Community Farming In High Rise................................................................................................... 100
Table 5.4
Sectional Illustration For Community Farming In High Rise .......... 103
Table 6.1
Scale Range of Five Likert Scale ..................................................... 108
Table 6.2
Ranking of
Importance of Suitable Spaces for Community
Farming ............................................................................................ 108
viii
LIST OF FIGURES
Page Figure 1.1
Agriculture Land Use Percentage ........................................................ 1
Figure 1.2
Research Framework ............................................................................ 4
Figure 2.1
Sir Francis Bacon ................................................................................. 7
Figure 2.2
Gilbert Ellis Bailey............................................................................... 7
Figure 2.3
Architect Le Corbusier ......................................................................... 8
Figure 2.4
Architect Kenneth Yeang ..................................................................... 8
Figure 2.5
Dickson D. Despommier ...................................................................... 8
Figure 2.6
Hydroponics system ............................................................................. 9
Figure 2.7
Aquaponics system ............................................................................ 10
Figure 2.8
Aeroponics Farming ........................................................................... 11
Figure 2.9
Roof Top Farming .............................................................................. 12
Figure 2.10
Vines Growing Plants on A Frame Trellis ......................................... 13
Figure 2.11
Hydroponic A Frame Trellis in Sky Green, Singapore ...................... 13
Figure 2.12
Outdoor Roof Top Raise Up Planter Box .......................................... 14
Figure 2.13
Columnar System With Trays ............................................................ 14
Figure 2.14
Stack Drum With Mounting Plants Revolving A Central Light ........ 15
Figure 2.15
Stack Bed With Hydroponic Plants ................................................... 15
Figure 2.16
PDC Flats, Penang ............................................................................. 24
Figure 2.17
Rimbun Sanctuary Apartment, Bukit Jelutong .................................. 24
Figure 2.18
Quayside Seafront Resort Condominium, Penang ............................. 25
Figure 2.19
Funan Mall, Singapore ....................................................................... 26
Figure 2.20
Type of Transitional Space ................................................................ 28
Figure 3.1
Kampung Admiralty Perspective ....................................................... 31
Figure 3.2
Sectional Perspective of Kampung Admiralty ................................... 31
Figure 3.3
Community Farming of Kampung Admiralty.................................... 31
Figure 3.4
Our Tampines hub perspective .......................................................... 32
Figure 3.5
Roof Top Eco-community farming .................................................... 32
Figure 3.6
Kampung Admiralty........................................................................... 33
Figure 3.7
Our Tampines Hub ............................................................................. 33
ix
Figure 3.8
Methodology Flow Chart ................................................................... 37
Figure 4.1
Urban Hijau at Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Selangor ............................... 38
Figure 4.2
Victory farm Roof Top Vertical Farming at Gelugor, Penang .......... 38
Figure 4.3
Methodology for Finding and Discussion .......................................... 39
Figure 4.4
Kampung Admiralty 9th Storey Floor Plan ........................................ 40
Figure 4.5
Kampung Admiralty Roof Top Community Farming Floor Plan ...... 41
Figure 4.6
Facilities Provided At Kampung Admiralty Roof Top Community Farming Area ..................................................................................... 42
Figure 4.7
Overview Of Kampung Admiralty Roof Top Community Farming ............................................................................................................ 43
Figure 4.8
Kampung Admiralty Detail Roof Top Community Farming Floor Plan..................................................................................................... 43
Figure 4.9
Our Tampines Hub Diagrammatic Section ........................................ 55
Figure 4.10
Our Tampines Hub Bird Eye View .................................................... 55
Figure 4.11
Our Tampines Hub Environmental Sustainable Design .................... 56
Figure 4.12
Our Tampines Hub Eco Hybrid Digester ........................................... 56
Figure 4.13
Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Community Farming Floor Plan ........ 58
Figure 4.14
Facilities Provided at Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Community Farming Area ..................................................................................... 59
Figure 4.15
Overview Of Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Community Farming .... 60
Figure 4.16
Our Tampines Hub Detail Roof Top Community Farming Floor Plan..................................................................................................... 61
Figure 4.17
Distribution Of Respondents By Group ............................................. 75
Figure 4.18
Ages Group Of Respondents.............................................................. 75
Figure 4.19
Types of Planting Medium of Farmers .............................................. 77
Figure 4.20
Suitable Spaces for Community Farming .......................................... 80
Figure 4.21
Suitable Growing Medium For Community Farming ........................ 82
Figure 4.22
Suitable Crop Cultivation Module for Community Farming ............. 83
Figure 4.23
Types Of Irrigation System For Community Farming ....................... 84
Figure 4.24
Importance Of Having Resting Checkpoint For Community Farming .............................................................................................. 85
Figure 4.25
Types Of Resting And Gathering Area Suitable For Community Farming .............................................................................................. 85
x
Figure 4.26
Distance To Have A Resting Checkpoint In Between Community Farming .............................................................................................. 86
Figure 4.27
Types Of Facilities To Enhance Community Farming ...................... 87
Figure 4.28
Ideal Space For Community Farming ................................................ 89
Figure 4.29
Ideal Distance In Between Sanitary Equipment................................. 90
Figure 4.30
Planter Box Height in Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Community Farming.......................................................... 91
Figure 4.31
Suitable Height Of Raise Up Planter Box For Community Farming ............................................................................................................ 91
Figure 4.32
Interview Session With Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Ecocommunity Garden Manager.............................................................. 92
Figure 4.33
Soil And Fertiliser At Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Community Farming Area ..................................................................................... 94
Figure 4.34
Seedling Cultivation At Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Community Farming Area ..................................................................................... 94
Figure 6.1
Roof Top Community Farming at Funan Shopping Mall, Singapore ......................................................................................... 109
Figure 6.2
Roof Top Vertical Farming on Multi-storey Car Park located at Ang Mo Kio, Singapore ................................................................... 109
xi
STRATEGI REKA BENTUK UNTUK PERTANIAN KOMUNITI BERPOTENSI TANAMAN MAKANAN DI BANGUNAN TINGGI
ABSTRAK Menurut laporan PBB, penduduk dunia dianggarkan mencecah 9.7 bilion pada tahun 2050 dan juga mencapai jumlah puncak 11 bilion menjelang tahun 2100 (Jabatan Hal Ehwal Ekonomi dan Sosial, 2017). Selain itu, terdapat kira-kira 55% daripada jumlah penduduk dunia hidup di kawasan bandar dalam masyarakat kini dan ia dijangka mencapai 68% pada tahun 2050 (Pesantez, 2018). Jumlah kepadatan penduduk manusia akan menyebabkan ketidakseimbangan ekosistem biologi dan isu-isu alam sekitar. Had tanah dan isu-isu keselamatan makanan akan muncul sebagai peningkatan populasi. Pertanian konvensional memerlukan penebangan hutan sebelum menanam dan ini akan membawa kepada isu pemanasan global. Penggunaan baja, racun perosak dan baja akan menyebabkan hakisan tanah, kehilangan bahan organik tanah, dan ketidakseimbangan biologi alam sekitar. perubahan iklim yang sangat akan memberi kesan kepada tanaman yang dihasilkan daripada pertanian konvensional. Salah satu cara untuk mengubah bandar-bandar serta pertanian untuk mengatasi isu-isu perbandaran dan penambahan penduduk. Salah satu penyelesaian adalah untuk mencadangkan pertanian bandar di bangunan tinggi. Ruang berpotensi dikenal pasti untuk melaksanakan sistem pertanian masyarakat untuk memastikan makanan berada di dalam bandar. Sistem pertanian bandar bermasyarakat yang berjaya akan meningkat dan menaik taraf bandar dan juga memastikan bekalan berterusan makanan sepanjang tahun. Selain itu, terdapat banyak potensi dalam pertanian bandar dalaman atau luaran dan mereka dilindungi daripada
xii
cuaca, bencana alam, dan serangan serangga. Sayur-sayuran yang ditanam adalah sihat tanpa penggunaan racun perosak dan baja kimia. Salah satu sistem pertanian berasaskan komuniti akan meningkatkan sosial interaksi dalam masyarakat hari ini. Sebagai sistem pertanian kominiti akan menghubungkan orang berkumpul sambil berkebun. Pertanian bandar akan meningkatkan kesan ekonomi Malaysia kerana hasil tanaman adalah dua atau tiga kali daripada pertanian konvensional. Ia akan memberi kesan positif kepada alam sekitar dengan penggunaan tanah yang minimum dan hasil tumbuh-tumbuhan akan jadi maksimum. Tumbuhantumbuhan hijau juga akan memberi banyak oksigen ke dalam atmosfera.
xiii
DESIGN STRATEGIES AND POTENTIAL EDIBLE PLANTS FOR HIGHRISE COMMUNITY FARMING
ABSTRACT According to United Nations reports, the world population is estimated to reach 9.7 billion in the year 2050 and even reach a peak amount of 11 billion by the year of 2100 (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2017). There is around 55% of the total world population lives in urban area in today society and it is expected to reach 68% by the year of 2050 (Pesantez, 2018). The compact amount of human population will lead to a widespread of unbalance of biological ecosystem and environmental issues. Limitation of lands and food security issues will then appear as populations increases. Conventional type of farming will need deforestation before planting and this will lead to a global warming issue. The use of fertilizers, pesticides and manures will cause soil erosion, loss of soil organic matter, and imbalance of environmental biological. Climate change will highly affect the crops produced from conventional farming. There have to be a way to transform the cities as well as agriculture to overcome the urbanization issues and population increase. One of the solutions is to propose urban farming in high rise building. The potential space are identified to implement a community farming system to ensure that the availability of food in the heart of cities. A successful community urban farming system will improve and upgrade the cities and also ensure a continuous supply of food throughout the year. There are a lot of advantages in indoor or outdoor urban farming and they are protected from weather, natural disaster, and infestation of insects. The vegetables are grown healthy without the use of pesticide and chemical fertilizers.
xiv
A community based farming system will further enhance the social interaction within today’s society. As community farming system will link the people together while carry out farming. Urban farming will improve the economic impact of Malaysia as there will be double or triple crops produced. Environment will be improve where there is minimal use of land and maximum produce of green vegetation where there will be abundant of oxygen generated into the atmosphere.
xv
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background Study
Agriculture produce a lot of food and vegetation by cultivation of plants and raising of livestock. Today over 38.4% of total landmass of earth is contribute to the use of agriculture land (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2019). The land use for agriculture is no longer available by 2050. Hence, a solution have to be find out to resolve the way of obtaining food easily without disturbance of environmental ecosystem. Urban farming could be the strategy of improving the food production where it can produce 15 to 20% of the world food supply and achieve food security worldwide (Future Direction International, 2013).
Figure 1.1 Agriculture Land Use Percentage (Source: https://i.redd.it/f6vcmr26nxz21.png)
Urban farming refer to the practice of producing food by cultivating plants and vegetation in urban area. A greenhouse, shipping container, warehouse in vertically stacked layers could be use for planting vegetables in the building. The concept of
1
supplying food in cities where the urban farming serve for food security issues in urban area.
1.2
Problem Statement
In recent years, the world population has been increased and up to 7,713,458,100 people (Max Roser, 2019) and expected to reach 10.9 billion by the year 2100 (Anthony Cilluffo and Neil G, 2019). A fast growth of population will lead to an intensive growth of urbanization in the city. This situation will cause environmental issues like concentration of carbon dioxide, release of toxic gases from combustion of chimney produce from industrial factory will cause a lot of issue and pollution to the environment. Limitation of lands due to high population in the urban context will lead to lack of space for agriculture purpose. As the economics growth, higher land values will lead to insufficiency of traditional farming method where a big size of land is needed for agriculture purpose (Ableman M. , 2016). Deforestation of land is needed for traditional soil farming and it will cause an environmental issue. Besides, traditional soil farming will face a lot of issues on production of crop yield when the climate change. Crops will be prevent from growing when there is an extreme climate appeared such as: droughts, floods, plant diseases, insects infestation, soil erosion and etc. The crops yield will be highly affected and this will reduce the economics income of farmers. According to Farming and Agriculture Organization of United Nations 2018, there is excessive and inappropriate use of agricultural fertilizers, pesticides, raw organic matter and nitrogen can cause soil pollution in urban area. The chemical substances in the soil will lead to food insecure and contaminated food will cause health problems to the consumers (Baskoro, 2018). The circumstances
2
from climate change and also lack of well-planned farming system from mankind will lead to food security issue worldwide. From the social perspectives, there are lack of social interaction between people as the city is getting more urbanized. Hence, community farming is introduced into urban farming to improve social interaction between residents in the building. However, community farming have a multi-functional objective and a diverse direction of business management system. This will be an issue while carrying out the farming system. From the economics perspectives, urban farming system might need an initial high construction cost in terms of labour costs, material costs and etc. For example, the paper studies that the green roof area with 1795 square metre in Washington DC, it state that the green roofs installation cost is 27% more expensive than the construction costs of traditional roof (Niu H, Clark C, Zhou J, Adriaens P., 2010). Besides, the urban farming system require a long term maintenance cost in order for the plants to maintain it requires irrigation, fertilization and watering.
1.3
Research Objective
The research objectives are as follow: I.
To investigate the potential edible plant for urban farming in high rise building.
II.
To identify suitable spaces and design strategies for community urban farming in high rise building
1.4
Research Questions
The research questions are as follow: I.
What are the type of edible plants suitable to be planted in high-rise building.
3
II.
What is the space available and design suitable for community urban farming and in high-rise.
1.5
Significance of Study
The significance of this study are: I. II.
To provide a guideline of planting species suitable for high rise. To investigate the suitable community farming method in high rise where people gather to work on farming indirectly enhance the relationship between the residents.
III.
To highlight solutions the available space in high rise for the use of planting.
1.6
Research Framework
Figure 1.2 Research Framework
4
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1
Introduction
This literature review is divided into two parts, starting with the studies about the type of plants suitable to be plant in Malaysia high rise. In Malaysia such a tropical country, there are various kind of vegetation to be plant. Hence, a table is produce to identify what kind of plant suitable to be use in high rise. Next review is to study the space available to be used for community farming in high rise and identify the suitable space for community farming. Other than that, the intention of this paper is to investigate the suitable community farming method in high rise where people gather to work on farming indirectly enhance the relationship between the residents.
2.2
History of Agriculture
Agriculture has play an important role in today society and it has been started around since 10,000 B.C.E. and has enables people to cultivate crops for maximize the human populations. Human are able to discover the potential of seeds plant, and had the ability to explore and establish the green infrastructure whenever the soil starts to fertile (Sustainable vs Conventional Agriculture, 2015). Human start to select seeds to produce desired crops. Local climate will highly affected the early farming technique but most farmers will continue farming until soil is exhausted out of nutrients.
2.3
Conventional farming
Conventional agriculture can be classified as the chemical fertilizers use to cultivate the plants. A specific amount of chemicals such as fertilizers, and pesticides are use for farming to produce the maximum amount of crops. This method will have an effect 5
to the environment where the soil quality will be degraded. The biodiversity and ecosystem will become unbalance. The way of conventional farming cultivating the plants where heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers during cultivations will have a negative impact on public health. In addition, others negative effect like abundant land use, loss of animal habitats where there is require of animal placement and integration. There are a number of solution to reduce the negative effects of conventional farming such as promoting organic farming to avoid the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
2.4
Urban Farming
Urban farming refer to the practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food crops or animal products for community in the cities within an urban environment (Kim, 2017). This farming activities adopted by urban folks surrounding residential area has been started long time ago. There are many forms of urban farming including: backyard and community gardens; balcony gardening; roof top gardening; cultivating in vacant spaces, right of ways and parks; hydroponics, aquaculture, hydroponics; aeroponics and traditional soil farming in urban context. Urban farming can also involve aquaculture, agroforesty, animal husbandry, horticulture and urban beekeeping. Urban farming also involved post harvest activities such as creating value added into the farming area such as farmers’ markets, community kitchens, and marketing crops and products, road-side farm stands, and addressing food waste. Urban farming can be value to the local environment in terms of economics, cultural, social, and political.
6
2.5
Evolution of Urban Farming
Urban farming is changing and its different with the first intent or the idea of farming concept in urban area. Table 2.1 Year 1627
Evolution of Urban Farming
Timeline Sir Francis Bacon work on a research on soil-less gardening in 1620s. He publish his work with term of hydroponics vertical farming in his research (Wilby, 2019).
Figure 2.1 Sir Francis Bacon (Source: https://www.anaminecan.com/post/francis-bacon-metodo-cientifico)
1915
American geologist Gilbert Ellis Bailey was first come out with the term of vertical farming on 1915. The initial concept of vertical farming is define as rooftop farming. Vertical farming refer to the grow of edible plants vertically in an environment with controlled temperature (Suzanna, 2017).
Figure 2.2 Gilbert Ellis Bailey (Source: https://lakberendezde.cafeblog.hu/2017/02/11/epitett-ter-a-jovoben/)
7
1922
Architect Le Corbusier developed a five-storey blocks villas with garden stacked on top of one another (Marmot, 1978).
Figure 2.3 Architect Le Corbusier (Source: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/le-corbusier/)
1989
Architect Kenneth Yeang propose that plants should grow in open air instead of sealed mass produced agriculture without the climate control or artificial lights to enhance the productivity of crops. Mixed-use skyscrapers with community planting space were proposed and this required less investment (Tim Health, Yiming Shao, 2014)
Figure 2.4 Architect Kenneth Yeang (Source: https://www.idesign.wiki/tag/ken-yeang/)
1999
A professor in New York Columbia University named Dickson Despommier has introduce the vertical farming to his students on the year of 1999. Dickson Despommier explore the way of raising crops indoor with control environment to protect crops from natural disaster (Envirolgenuity, 2018).
Figure 2.5 Dickson D. Despommier (Source: https://www.amazon.com/Dickson-D.-Despommier/e/B001HPIC98)
8
2.6
Growing System in Farming
There are a few main types of soilless farming technique of urban farming which are hydroponics, aquaponics and aeroponics. Other than that, there is also one common type of urban farming which is roof top farming which contain traditional soil farming. Those growing system are with the means of minimise space use for agriculture in urban context.
2.6.1
Hydroponics
Hydroponics refer to growing plants technique without soil. In hydroponics system, the roots of plant are immersed in water or liquid contain nutrients. The composition of nutrients in liquid solution are use to water the plants. The nutrients used in hydroponic system are manually provided into the system.
Figure 2.6 Hydroponics system (Source: http://www.greengineers.org/hydroponics.html)
2.6.2
Aquaponics
Aquaponics is the system where the plants are also grown by immersed into the water contains nutrients. The aquaponics farming system provide the nutrients into the plants by having a fish tank connected to the plants and the fish wastes are the nutrient source.
9
The fish will create natural waste contain ammonia and it will use to provide nutrient to the plants. The method of planting system relies on the symbiotic relationship between the planting and the fish. Aquaponics is the best combination of hydroponics and aquaculture system. Water from fish tank is then recirculated throughout the system so that it pass through the growing medium to cultivate the vegetation. Aquaponics system only require light nutrients supply to sustain the vegetation crops where its best suit to plant salads and herbs.
Figure 2.7 Aquaponics system (Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Flow-diagrammatic-representation-of-Aquaponics-system-InAquaponics-system-Fig4_fig1_316191741)
2.6.3
Aeroponics
Aeroponics system refer to the plants suspended in the air medium and a sprinkler system containing the water mist will use to spray the root of plants rather than submerged in the water containing nutrients. The roots is provided with access to carbon dioxide and optimal oxygenation. Aeroponics system is highly sustainable for light feeding crops such as herbs and lettuces with the means of production.
10
Figure 2.8 Aeroponics Farming (Source: https://aerofarms.com/technology/)
2.6.4
Roof Top Soil Farming
Traditional soil farming is usually plant on roof top as green roof. Green roof is a roof that contains a soil and build up from a series of vegetation layer that installed on roof. Vegetation on green roof range from 50mm to a metre. There is a root barrier, drainage layer, and waterproof membrane for the construction of green roof in between the growing media. There is/are generally two types of green roof which can be categorised as intensive green roof and extensive green roof. Extensive green roof consisted of a shallow growing medium profile as it varies from 50mm to 200mm high. Intensive green roof thickness will be from 200mm to 1m and they are available for a greater roof development a greater volume of water catchment capacity for plants to be grown. Hence, they are wildly use in commercial building where the owner intent to have a greater space of greenery. Intensive green roof are available for more kind of vegetation to be plant.
11
Figure 2.9 Roof Top Farming (Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/revamped-funan-mall-first-look-photos)
2.7
Crop Cultivation Module Types
There are different types of crop cultivation module available to use in high rise including advanced vertical crops growing module and also traditional way of crops growing module. There are indoor and outdoor crops cultivation module can be considered in high rise.
2.7.1
A Frame Trellis
A Frame Trellis is a “trellis” design with the shape of an “A” frame as a support system in a vertical orientation. A Frame Trellis was first introduced as PVC pipes horizontally or vertically form a triangular footprint increase the available growing surface by using hydroponic system. The system of “A” frame design is utilised to enhance the exposure to direct sunlight. The advantage of this system is due to its simplicity of design and high efficiency in term of space in the hydroponics industry (Graff, 2011). This growing system is adopted as vertical farm in Sky Green, Singapore as shown in figure 2.11 to ensure that all of the vegetables have an even distribution of sunlight with the help of pulleys system for rotating the vegetables. However, there is a traditional way of “A” Frame Trellis where cable frame supporting
12
system is introduced on top of traditional soil for climbing plants supporting structure as shown in figure 2.10.
Figure 2.10 Vines Growing Plants on A Frame Trellis (Source: https://passionfruitaustralia.org.au/home/grow-fruit/resources/trellis/)
Figure 2.11 Hydroponic A Frame Trellis in Sky Green, Singapore (Source: http://www.fao.org/cfs/cfs-home/blog/blog-articles/article/en/c/448730/)
2.7.2
Raise Up Planter Box
Raise up planter box is a form of farming method in which the soil is embedded in a container with a common width of 1.0 meter to 1.2 meter. The containment units are usually made of lightweight concrete, recycled wood, natural stone with any shape or length. The growing medium which is soil is raised above the surrounding soil and may enriched with compost. Raise up planter box are commonly seen in outdoor roof top traditional soil farming as shown in figure 2.12.
13
Figure 2.12 Outdoor Roof Top Raise Up Planter Box (Source: https://www.spiritearthawakening.com/gardening/green-roofs-the-urban-gardens-of-the-future)
2.7.3
Columnar System
Columnar system is a crop cultivation module which the “column� is cycled along to a central machine by using conveyor track that delivers nutrients and the trays is removeable for harvesting purpose. This conveyor system design boost the production of edible plants with a high space efficiency by using hydroponic system. The trays are arranged in a staggered pattern to increase sunlight penetration (Buyeye, 2018). There is a variation of plants growth due to difference in light access and nutrients concentration (R.V., 2002).
Figure 2.13 Columnar System With Trays (Source: http://efwe.ukzn.ac.za/Libraries/ResearchSeminars/Buyeye_Z.sflb.ashx)
14
2.7.4
Stack Drum
Stack drum is drum structure compose of mounting of edible plants revolving a central artificial light source with a hydroponic system (VM, 2014). It not a common commercial cultivation module adopted by agriculture field.
Figure 2.14 Stack Drum With Mounting Plants Revolving A Central Light (Source: http://efwe.ukzn.ac.za/Libraries/ResearchSeminars/Buyeye_Z.sflb.ashx)
2.7.5
Stack Bed
Stack bed consist of edible plants with hydroponic system stacked above one and each other with artificial lighting on top of each bed as shown in figure 2.15 (VM, 2014). This design is considered a common indoor vertical farming inside a building. Hence, stack bed will cause a lot of energy consumption to the building.
Figure 2.15 Stack Bed With Hydroponic Plants (Source: http://efwe.ukzn.ac.za/Libraries/ResearchSeminars/Buyeye_Z.sflb.ashx)
15
2.8
Advantages of Urban Farming
There are many benefits of interpreting building with urban farming. Urban farming can act as a passive cooling to the building and have many other kind of benefits.
2.8.1
2.8.1(a)
Environmental Benefits
Indoor Air Quality
The urban farming building in urban context had contribute to the modulation of the air temperature in the building interior spaces. The farming helps the building to remove carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere during the daytime. The building consume less heat by planting vegetation and the indoor air temperature are lower in the building. Urban farming will reduce the fossil fuel consumption and carbon emission from transportation and manufacturing factory (Ableman M. , 2016).
2.8.1(b)
Balance of Biodiversity
Urban farming impact on building and environmental on balance of biodiversity where there is a balance between production and protection in ecological systems (Jan Willem Erisman, Nick van Eekeren, Jan de Wit, Chris Koopmans, Willemijn Cuijpers, Natasja Oerlemans, 2016). Urban farming helps in reducing habitat deconstruction by protecting the natural land convert into agriculture where the agriculture land will face soil pollution when the agriculture land cultivate with pesticides, fertilizer which will lead to soil acidity.
16
2.8.1(c)
Protection from Weather Disasters
Urban farming are sheltered by building and protected from natural disasters unlike typical farming are dependent on climate. Hence, urban farming will produce yield all year round and unaffected by the climate context.
2.8.2
2.8.2(a)
Social Benefits
Building Aesthetics
The planting of edible plants on building will impacts the building appearance to enhance the urban street beautification. Its will attract the tourist to come for a visit in the building and the building will become a landmark in that area. It will become a branding eventually for the country.
2.8.2(b)
Improve social interaction between community
Community farming will improve the social integration between the building users or the public. Farming will gather the community together. Hence, community are able to interact with each other and further enhance their relationship in between.
2.8.3
2.8.3(a)
Economics Benefits
Increase Year Round Crop Production
Urban farming will solve the problems of shortage of food in urban areas where the people do not have the chance of having healthy and affordable foods. The growing of 17
food in urban area provide the people have an easy access on food and the yield production will be twice the yield of typical commercial vegetable farms (Robert McDougall, Paul Kristiansen, and Romina Rader, 2019).
2.8.3(b)
Improve Economics Income
As the urban farming having double crops yield compare to traditional farming, the economics income will become double too.
2.9
Challenges of Urban Farming
2.9.1
Challenges of Urban Farming in Malaysia
There are of barriers related to the urban farming as we know that Malaysia are still new on technology and there is uncertain risk lurk within. There are high maintenance costs and construction cost of urban farming. There are also lack of co-operation and collaboration between different fields during construction period as Malaysia are still new to this kind of technology.
2.9.1(a)
Uncertainty and Risk in New Technology
There are uncertainty and risk in new technology such as malfunctioning of machinery might result in unexpected costs. For instance, the planting irrigation system are unable to transfer nutrients cause the problems of irrigating the vegetations. Proper maintenance can avoid this risk but maintenance, flora management and water management are sometimes out of the control because of the natural climate impact.
18
2.9.1(b)
High Construction Cost and High Maintenance Cost
High construction cost during initial time is the biggest obstacle in construction of urban green system. Urban farming are usually been thought that they are short term return in term of benefits with long term investment in term of costs. There are a lot of factors that are needed to be considered on urban farming such as type of vegetation, labor costs, location, material and etc. Long term life of regular maintenance for farming technique and roof top garden is required and needed. Proper and regular maintenance in different time interval is crucial for urban greenery.
2.9.1(c)
Lack of Co-operation and Collaboration Between Different Fields
The biggest challenge during and after the construction of building based urban farms. This is because different fields such as architectural, Environmental engineers, Civil engineers and residents do not collaborate properly and lack of cooperation. The loss of all investments might happen when the systems did not maintain and monitored regularly. The construction of urban farming system will be arisen. Therefore, the works for the management of maintenance costs and installation costs of the urban farming system to be divided by the people in charge.
2.9.1(d)
Limited of Local Research And Knowledge
The construction of building based urban farming is still rare in Malaysia and it is more challenging in Malaysia if there is without knowledge, experienced of urban farming professionals and local expertise. That becomes a reason of poor level on application of urban farming in Malaysia. Having urban farming systems local expertise is very
19
important that can specialize in problems solving, installing and maintaining. There is no guidelines and design standards on urban green is one of the obstacles to apply building based urban farming in Malaysia.
2.9.2
Challenges of Urban Farming in Other Countries
There are still barriers related to the urban farming in overseas although there have more experiences in urban farming system.
2.9.2(a)
Energy Consumption
The building are required to grow different species of crops throughout the whole year. Hence, there is necessary to supply artificial light for indoor urban farming. This will lead to a high of electricity supply and power demands compare to traidisional farming which use only natural sunlight. Heating the entire building could be very expensive and not ecological.
2.9.2(b)
Expensive Investment
The building are too expensive where high technology is required to maintain the urban farming system. The maintenance of urban farm is a huge issue where the cost of LED lighting is required to cultivate the planting in a control environment inside a cubicle room of the building. The initial building start up cost could be easily over 100 million.
20
2.9.2(c)
Competitive Market due to Repetitive Crops
There is a repetitive species of crops cultivated in urban farming system. Hence, it will be competitive for the market to make benefits from the crop sales. The issue will be arised and more obvious in country with limited land.
2.10
Building Typology
Building typology refer to the study and grouping of building which have similarities in their type and function, space and form. Basically, the functional typology of building will categorize them into groups such as therapy centre, educational centre, and shopping complex. Building can be divided into a few typologies as below.
2.10.1
Residential
Residential building is mainly for people to sleep on premises. The building may have the living accommodation. Residential building type mainly could be divided into landed housing and high rise residential.
2.10.2
Commercial
Commercial building could be related into where the building engaged in commerce activities. Commercial building is the building with legal title of business provide the owner with specific rights to carry out business. Commercial building include office building, retail shops, hotels, theaters and etc.
21
2.10.3
Industrial
Industrial building are used for production and storage of good and other uses. Industrial building serve for industrial activities for factories to carry out the following activities like manufacturing, repairing, washing, generating power, slaughtering and etc. (Industrial Building, 2016)
2.10.4
Infrastructure
Infrastructure building is the building serve for power station, waste transfer, nuclear power plant, geothermal power, renewable energy power station and etc.
2.10.5
Agriculture
Agriculture building is the building serve for cultivating plants or livestocks. Agriculture building such as farmhouse, greenhouse, barn and etc.
2.10.6
Specialty
Specialty building serve for educational institutions, civilization centre, religious centre, government building, military building and transportation centre.
2.11
High Rise
A building is an enclosed structure that cover with walls, floors, windows and roof. High-rise building can be defined as a tall building or multi-storey building or skyscrapers. A high rise building is a multi-storey building structure in which the occupants have to take lift in order to reach their destination. High rise structure will 22
be considered where height to be higher than the maximum reach of fire equipment. In most, the high rise building can be set between 23 metres and 30 metres or building about seven to ten stories (Johnson, High-Rise Building Definition, 2009).
2.11.1
High Rise Residential
In Malaysia, there are 3 types of housing typologies on high rise building which are flat (low cost housing), apartment (medium cost housing), condominium (high end housing).
2.11.1(a)
Flats (Low Cost Housing)
Flats are refer to the low cost housing where the housing units are able to purchase or affordable by the lower income group society. Low cost flats are constructed to cater with the issue of slumps or area which contain high density. Low cost flats usually having the basic needs of a housing units for sheltering and insufficient to have space to plant on own vegetation. Basic utility in low cost flats are usually comes with 3 bedroom per units and consist of a living room, kitchen with a single dry yard for hanging clothes. In ninth Malaysian plan stated that 37,241 low cost houses were built, completed and rented out for those society which is eligible, and out of this have 72.3% are located in Kuala Lumpur. The low cost flats built in Selangor have adopt the standard size of flats which having 20 units per floor in a 18-storey high rise flats (Goh, Ai Tee and Ahmad, Yahaya, 2006)
23
Figure 2.16 PDC Flats, Penang (Source: https://www.propsocial.my/property/6878/georgetown/macallum-street-ghaut-pdc-flat)
2.11.1(b)
Apartment (Medium Cost Housing)
Apartment refer to a multi-story building with three or more residences stay in one units. Apartment usually have a cookie-cutter design and studio or two-bed units. Apartment units are usually equipped with recreational utility like gym, community room, grocery retail, one free car parking, laundry, and etc. Apartment are usually own by one ownership, management have to deal with maintenance and repairing when there is an issue in apartment. Apartment is best described with multi-story building for medium cost income group in the society (Gregory, 2019).
Figure 2.17 Rimbun Sanctuary Apartment, Bukit Jelutong (Source: https://nuprop.my/selangor/shah-alam/rimbun-sanctuary-apartment-bukit-jelutong-for-sale)
24
2.11.1(c)
Condominium (High End Housing)
Condominium is considered as multi-story residential building which own by private residence and each condominium usually have a different owner. Condominium is equipped with apartments amenities but add on amenities which consist of playground, common park, pet area, car wash, swimming pool and etc, Condominium management and maintenance are usually responsible by each owner as they share the same responsibility on common area but separated for individual units. Condominium are usually adopted by high income group of Malaysia society.
Figure 2.18 Quayside Seafront Resort Condominium, Penang (Source: https://www.nst.com.my/property/2018/05/372623/eos-quayside-garners-overseas-interest)
2.11.2
High Rise Commercial
High rise building are also can be categorized as in multi-story commercial building. Commercial building included retail, office, or even shopping mall with combined function for mixed used purposed.
25
2.11.2(a)
Commercial Residential Complex
High rise commercial residential complex is a common building complex. This kind of high rise commercial residential building is formed as a building served for business, residential, and some leisure living purpose. The basic function of commercial residential is served for living purpose and the constitute elements will be the business part (Zuo, 2015).
Figure 2.19 Funan Mall, Singapore (Source: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/)
2.11.2(b)
Office Tower
Office building is a building structure used for the purpose of clerical services, administration, financial including banking, communication services, performance, client consultation and others consultation services that are unrelated to marketing and sales. Work space of office building including open space, team space, private office, shared office, meeting area, study area, cubicles, storage, kitchen area, reception and etc. (Designing Buildings Wiki, 2019).
26
2.12
Transitional space in High Rise
Transitional space are defined as the “Third Space” in high rise (Baharuddin, June 2017). The existence of transitional spaces in building act as buffer zone and as a “linkage” between different area. Buildings occupants travel and pass by from one space to another space and in between that will named as transitional space. Transitional space is the space not carrying out major activities and its unused for most of the time however its could be impact on occupants experience and energy consumption of a building (A. Pitts and J. Saleh, 2006). Transitional space in high rise can be serves in many places such as it can be a social place, resting place, balconies, lobby, corridors, rooftops, communal spaces, or just pedestrian walkways. Normally a transitional space allocated in a building will be around 10% to 40% of the total volume of a building. Transitional space can be expose or unexposed to solar radiation or outdoor environment. At the same time, transitional space is agree that it will be consume more energy compare although they are unoccupied. This is because transitional space need to achieve thermal comfort to optimize building performance for the building users (S. C. M. Hui and J. Jie, 2014). As the urban area increasing rapidly, there is a need to apply green space into the building. Hence, the best method is to implement the greenery into transitional space or unusable space in a building. Transitional space in high rise are suitable to serve for community farming for building occupants. Hence, the building occupants have the opportunities to interact with others in the habitation area or even workplace.
27
Figure 2.20 Type of Transitional Space (Source: http://ace-conference.org/maximising-the-potential-of-transitional-space-in-building-for-improvingthermal-comfort-through-vertical-greeneries/)
2.13
Research Gaps
This paper given the limited research and design strategy towards building a community farming system, especially in Malaysia context. As Malaysia is relatively lack of operating urban farming and yet to embark soon. Preceding studies will be focus on exploration of planting species in high rise and transitional space for farming in high rise building. Precedent studies is conducted in Singapore. This research aim to enhance integration in between community and farming in high rise building design.
28
CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
3.1
Introduction
In this research, both quantitative and qualitative method are use to conduct to study the design strategy to improve community farming in Malaysia. Besides, the type of vegetables suitable to be use in high rise is also analyse through qualitative method.
3.2
Literature Review
The literature review cover topics such as type of urban farming implemented in today society. The evolution of conventional farming to urban farming system. Type of urban farming systems suitable to be used for high rise. Type of high rise in Malaysia is identified. The challenges and advantages of urban farming had been introduced.
3.3
Case Study
Since Singapore having the similar tropical climate with Malaysia as well as community background and cultural, it also make it to be a suitable place for precedent study. Criteria on case study selection of community farming in high rise: -
Located in hot and humid climate
-
Vegetables able to farm by the surrounding community or the building occupants
-
Farming located in transitional space of high rise either expose or unexposed to sunlight.
29
3.3.1
Case Study on Community Farming and Existing Type of Edible Plants
Case study is carried out in roof top community garden at Kampung Admiralty, Singapore. Another case study will be carry out in the eco-community farming garden at Our Tampines Hub, Singapore. A data collection will be carry out on existing type of edible plants cultivated in Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub, Singapore. The type and size of plant is then identified in the finding. A guideline of edible plants suitable to be plant in high rise is then produced. Floor plan of roof top community farming is then observed and further recorded in the chapter of finding and discussion.
3.3.1(a)
Case Study 1 - Kampung Admiralty, Woodland, Singapore
Kampung Admiralty is an integrate retirement apartment units with wellness, healthcare, a child care center and eldercare facilities located at 676 Woodlands Drive 71, Singapore. Kampung Admiralty composed of 11-storey height building with two residential apartment which are block 676A and block 676B of about 100 studio apartment units. The residential apartment units is mainly for target users of aged 55 and above. It is a place where the elderly can find all their needs in one integrated building. Kampung Admiralty composed of community plaza at ground floor, a total of 900 seater hawker center at level 2, Admiralty Medical Centre at level 3 and 4, and finally the community garden works by all the building residents is located at the uppermost floor which is level 9.
30
Figure 3.1 Kampung Admiralty Perspective (Source: https://landezine-award.com/kampung-admiralty/)
Figure 3.2 Sectional Perspective of Kampung Admiralty (Source: https://landezine-award.com/kampung-admiralty/)
Figure 3.3 Community Farming of Kampung Admiralty (Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/modern-kampung-in-woodlands-opens)
31
3.3.1(b)
Case Study 2 - Our Tampines Hub, Tampines, Singapore
Our Tampines hub is an integrated community hub located in Tampines, Singapore. Our Tampines hub is a center consist of sports facilities, health care, open area hawker center, retail shops and etc. It is design to gather the surrounding community to further enhance their lifestyle through the activities and programs in Our Tampines hub. Our Tampines hub having environment sustainable design which includes roof top solar panels, grey water management system, rainwater catchment system and filtration system.
Figure 3.4 Our Tampines hub perspective (Source: https://landezine-award.com/kampung-admiralty/)
Figure 3.5 Roof Top Eco-community farming (Source: https://landezine-award.com/kampung-admiralty/)
32
3.3.1(c)
Case Study Comparison
Table 3.1 below shows the comparison of summary of both selected case studies. This below 2 case studies will be study about their community garden design and type of edible plants on roof top. Table 3.1
Summary of Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub Kampung Admiralty
Location
676 Woodlands Singapore.
Our Tampines Hub Drive
71, 1 Tampines Walk, Singapore, 528523
Perspective
Typology
Facilities
Figure 3.6 Kampung Admiralty
Figure 3.7 Our Tampines Hub
(Source:https://www.indesignlive.sg/happe nings/waf-2018)
(Source:https://www.dpa.com.sg/projects/our tampineshub/)
Mixed used building (integrated Integrated Hub (Integrated senior retirement housing community, sports, and lifestyle complex together with hub) healthcare, commercial under one roof) -
Medical Centre Child Care Centre Elderly Care Centre Apartment Units Wellness Centre Community Plaza Supermarket Hawker Centre Retail Shops Roof Top Community Farming
33
i) Sports - Team Sports Halls, Rooftop Swimming Pools, Jogging Track, Gym Facility, Orchid Bowl, Town Square, Stadium, Sports & Recreation Park, Arena ii) Food - Hawker Centre, Festive Mall F&B outlets iii) Services - HomeTeamNS Club, Community Club, Childcare Centre, Family Medical Clinic, Community Health Centre, HDB Tampines Branch, Public Service Centre
iv) Others - Performance Arts Auditorium, National Heritage Gallery, Dance Studios, Culinary Studio, Regional Library, EcoCommunity Garden, Kid's Playground, Karaoke Facility, Festive Plaza, Festive Atrium Site Area
9000 sq. metre
Target Users
Senior Citizen above 55 years old Tampines Residents and above
Clients
Housing Development Board
Community Involved
104 units of studio apartment for Involved more than 15,000 elderly and the surrounding Tampines residents and residents will utilise the approximately 80,000 households commercial part
Community Farm Location
Roof Top
Community Farm Users
Senior citizens in Kampung Volunteers grows and harvest Admiralty vegetables to supply the culinary studio and distribute to residents
Year
Completed in 2017
3.4
57,000 sq. metre
People’s Association
Level 5
Completed in 2017
Questionnaires
Questionnaires was then carried out on the respondents from roof top community farming volunteers of Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub in Singapore. Target respondents are widen to Malaysia farmers consists of full time farmers, part time farmers, and urban farmers. Basically, questionnaire cover topics such as suitable transitional space for community farming, satisfaction level according to different type of facilities, suitable planting medium and crops cultivation method for community farming. Section A show the demographic data of respondents collected. Section B is survey covers common type of edible plants and soil medium of target respondents in their own farm. Section C covers the design strategy for an ideal community farming
34
by Malaysia and Singapore farmers in high rise. Section D is to measure the perception of farmers towards the satisfaction of current traditional soil raise up planter box on roof top community farming in Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub, Singapore. Some questions in section C and D required target respondents fill in the questionnaires according to their satisfaction level. Hence, likert scale is applied in this dissertation findings where it utilised in section C and section D to scale the respondent responses. Other than that, all data collected in section A, B, C and D will be analysed by using bar chart, pie chart, and histogram in the excel. A table of score level is named as below table 3.2 was used to calculate the satisfaction level of respondent. Table 3.2
Score of Five-Level of Likert Scale
Scale Numbering
Score
Very Disagree
1
Disagree
2
Neutral
3
Agree
4
Very Agree
5
Score of Likert scale is then further calculated to a scale range in between 1.00 to 5.00 to measure the satisfaction level of target respondents as shown in table 3.3. Table 3.3
Scale Range of Five-Level of Likert Scale
Not Relevant
Less Relevant
Neither
Relevant
Very Relevant
1.00 – 1.80
1.81 – 2.60
2.61 – 3.40
3.41 – 4.20
4.21 – 5.00
3.5
Data Analysis
The qualitative and quantitative data findings are collected and analysed in chart, histogram, table or others kind of form separately. Both methods are then analysed
35
together via the Microsoft words, excel and descriptive method for the result. The relationship between urban farming and its social interaction between community is studied from questionnaire, case study of layout plan, space planning from the interviewees are analysed and documented in Chapter 4.
3.6
Semi-Structured Interview
A total of one to one semi-structured interview is conducted with the professional community farming manager of roof top eco-community garden of Our Tampines Hub, Singapore on his perspective towards the current eco community garden in Singapore. The interview is based on his expertise in term of practice and experience towards the current scenario of community farming in Singapore. The interviewee was chosen based on the professional background related to the field of community farming with the specified knowledge to respond on the questionnaire and also interview questions. The whole interview was conducted in English. The questionnaires was distributed to the interviewee as well as the interview questions where both questions has been established before the semi-structured interview.
3.7
Limitations
Limitations of this research will be the time constraint, travel distance and availability of different opinions from the Singapore and Malaysia target respondents. The target respondents may not be of expert expertise towards the knowledge of community farming since Malaysia has not been explore in the field of community farming in high rise. Other than that, it should be noted that all of the farmers perception are never been a homogenous one due to their limited knowledge towards the community farming industry in high rise.
36
3.8
Methodology Flow Chart
Figure 3.8
Methodology Flow Chart
37
CHAPTER 4
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
4.1
Introduction
There is no community farming in Malaysia. However, there are several urban farming exists in urban area like Kuala Lumpur or Penang. There is a few farmers run the urban farming area which aimed to produce a non-chemical and natural grown vegetation. Most of the urban farming is also open for educational purpose, company bonding events, and birthday parties in return of profit making and also increase public interest towards a sustainable environment.
Figure 4.1 Urban Hijau at Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Selangor (Source: https://www.uhijau.org//)
Figure 4.2 Victory farm Roof Top Vertical Farming at Gelugor, Penang 38
Based on figure 4.1, Urban Hijau is located at urban area in Selangor where using the traditional soil planting method for cultivating vegetation in an urban environment to create food awareness and promote permaculture sustainable farm design. Roof top vertical farming at Victory farm, Penang as in figure 4.2 is mainly introduce and sell the bioponics design planting module to the public for self-sustain farming in their own house.
Figure 4.3 Methodology for Finding and Discussion Hence, comparative study is made between roof top community farming garden of Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub in Singapore. Findings and discussion are made as according to table 4.3 by method of comparative study, questionnaire and semi-structured interview. Target respondents of questionnaire are widen to both farmers in Singapore and Malaysia due to there is no community farmers in Malaysia. Semi structured interview is conducted with manager of community garden in Our Tampines Hub, Singapore for further understanding in roof top community farming.
4.2
Comparative Analysis
Section 4.2 will compare and observe both roof top community farming at Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub, Singapore. Both floor plan of Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub are drawn out to observe and record the edible plants and also the facilities provided.
39
4.2.1
Kampung Admiralty
Kampung Admiralty is an elderly residential apartment integrated with healthcare, childcare, eldercare, roof top farming and commercial facilities in one building. Kampung Admiralty located at Block 676, Woodlands, Drive 71, 730676, Singapore. Kampung Admiralty is located right in front of the Admiralty MRT which is very convenience for people to drop by in the same time. It’s a one stop centre providing elderly care for the senior citizen of Kampung Admiralty. Figure 4.4 below shows that location of roof top farming on uppermost floor, level 8 and also facing the apartment units.
Figure 4.4
Kampung Admiralty 9th Storey Floor Plan
Roof top community farming located at uppermost floor level 8 and it is slightly elevated from the lift lobby entry. A proper design for the disable on ramp and staircase towards the farming area is prepare for the elderly to reach the community farming area. 40
Figure 4.5
Kampung Admiralty Roof Top Community Farming Floor Plan
Figure 4.5 above show that the roof top community farming floor included the space from lift lobby entry to ramp and staircase directed towards the roof top community farming area.
(1) Lift Lobby Entry
(2) Pathway Towards Community Farming
(3) Stopping Tiles At Resting Point
(4) Resting Bench In Middle Of Ramp
41
(5) Resting Bench At End Of Ramp
(7) Handrail Enhanced On Ramp
(9) Vining Tree Shading Figure 4.6
(6) Staircase With Handrail
(8) Benches With Table At Farming Entrance
(10) Hose Reel At Roof Top Farming
Facilities Provided At Kampung Admiralty Roof Top Community Farming Area
Based on figure 4.6, the above figures show that the facilities and the guide way towards the roof top community farming area. Figure 4.6(1) shows that the view towards the lift lobby entry which having 2 bench attached with table. Figure 4.6(2) shows that the view from lift lobbies towards the pathway up to roof top community farming area on top. Figure 4.6(3) show that there is round dots tile to ease disable
42
people with wheelchair to stop and rest at the middle of ramp to rest on bench. Figure 4.6(4) shows that the resting bench in the middle of ramp. Figure 4.6(5) shows that the resting bench at the end of ramp. Figure 4.6(6) shows that the staircase with handrail directed the pathway towards community farming. There is handrail installed at each of the ramp as well as shown in figure 4.6(7). There is one bench attached with table and also one resting bench located at the community farming entrance as labelled in figure 4.6(8). There are lots of tree shading and vine tree shading along the pathway and spreading all over the roof top area as shown in figure 4.6(9). There is a hose reel located at the entrance of roof top community farming as shown in figure 4.6(10).
Figure 4.7
Figure 4.8
Overview Of Kampung Admiralty Roof Top Community Farming
Kampung Admiralty Detail Roof Top Community Farming Floor Plan
Kampung Admiralty detailed roof top floor plan shows there are 2 raise up planter box with trellis support system where it marked as (ii) & (iii) as in figure 4.8. From indication (i) as in figure 4.8, vegetation is planted in small potting hang on the services area gate. There is 4 raise up planter boxes with different height which indicated as iv, v, vi, and vii in figure 4.8. 43
Table 4.1
Table Of Vegetables And Fruit Plants On Kampung Admiralty Roof Top Community Farming Area
Categories (i) - Small Potting Hanging Plants On Services Area Gate
Types of Plants
Description Types of Plants Butterfly Pea flower / Clitoria ternatea - Climbing plants - Trailing vine - Grow on the gate of services area
Description Peperomia pellucida - Around 150mm high in small pots - Plant on small pot hang at services gate
Aloe Vera - Grow on a small pot and hang on gate - Short-stem plant - Around 150cm high in pot
Basella alba/ Malabar Spinach - Around 100mm high in small pots - Plant on small pot
44
Talinum paniculatum - Around 100mm high in small pots - Plants on small pot hang at services gate Categories (ii) - Traditional Soil Raise Up Planter Box (800mm Height) With Trellis Support Structure
Types of Plants
Description Longan - Plant on traditional soil raise up planter box - Around 2000mm height on planter box Tie on support system at behind
45
Categories (iii) - Traditional Soil Raise Up Planter Box (800mm Height) With Trellis Support Structure
Types of Plants
Description Types of Plants Star Fruits - Around 4m to 5m height - Stem of plants tied with support system
Description Java apple/ Syzygium samarangense (Jambu Air) - Around 4m height - Fruit plants
Jasmine - Around 300mm height - Flower
Limau / Lime - Around 500mm height - Fruit plants
46
Lantana - Flower species - Around 400mm height
Kedondong/Balonlong Cytherea) Around 4m height
Mango - Around 5m to 6m height - Fruit
Dianthus Corona Flower - Planted in small pot hang on support system
Periwinkle - Around 300mm height - Flower plants
Surinam Cherry - Around 4m height - Fruit plants
47
(Spondias
Chiku - Around 4m height
Arabica Coffee - Around 4m height
Avocado - Around 4m height
Guava - Around 4m height
Red Bird Flower - Around 500mm height
48
Categories (iv) - Traditional Soil Raise Up Planter Box (900mm Height)
Types of Plants
Description Laksa Leaf - Around 250mm height
Types of Plants
Cai Xin / Brassica vegetable - Around 200mm height
Description Bayam - Around 150mm height
Bak Choy - Around 150mm height
49
Categories (v)
Types of Plants
Traditional Soil Raise Up Planter Box (550mm Height) Staircase Leading Up To 550mm Height Planter Box Description Types of Plants Description Indian Borage/ Mexican Mint Bryophyllum pinnatum - Around 150mm height - Around 100mm height
Mulberry - Around 4m height
Hierochloe odorata/ Sweet grass - Around 400mm height
50
Sabah snacks grass - Around 200mm height
Curry Leaves - Around 300mm height
Thai Basil - Around 200mm height
Categories (vi) - Traditional Soil Raise Up Planter Box (900mm Height)
51
Types of Plants
Description Lady Fingers - Around 2m height
Types of Plants
Red Corn - Around 500mm height
Description Red long bean - Around 2m height with vining plants support system
Bitter Gourd - Around 2m height with vining plants support system
52
Categories (vii)
Traditional Soil Raise Up Planter Box (550mm Height) Staircase Leading Up To 550mm Height Planter Box Types of Plants Description Types of Plants Description Baby’s Breath/ Gypsophila Artemisia argyi - Around 200mm height - Around 200mm height
Ixora / West Indian Jasmine - Around 500m height
Citrus Medica - Around 4m height
53
Ginger - Around 500mm height
Averrhoa bilimbi - Around 4m height
Brinjal / Eggplant - Around 2m height
Cat whiskers plant - Around 300mm height
Artemisia vulgaris - Around 500mm height
54
4.2.2
Our Tampines Hub
Our Tampines Hub is an integrational community center which consist of all kind of facilities, hawker center, medical center, sport arena, and etc. Our Tampines Hub is gathering all Singapore citizens in Tampines into one community center. Our Tampines Hub is located at 1 Tampines Walk, Singapore 520858 and its only take 15 minutes to walk from Tampines MRT station in Singapore which is very easily accessible. Our Tampines Hub consist of a football field in the middle and surrounded by 5 storey of sport facilities, authority center, retail shops, hawker center, and etc.
Figure 4.9
Our Tampines Hub Diagrammatic Section
(Source: https://www.floornature.com/blog/our-tampines-hub-singapore-dpa-13408/)
Figure 4.10
Our Tampines Hub Bird Eye View
(Source: https://www.arcadis.com/en/global/what-we-do/our-projects/asia/singapore/our-tampines-hub/)
Our Tampines Hub roof top located at level 5 where consist of roof top community farming which it hatched as red color in figure 4.10. There is also BBQ pit link to the community garden where is hatch as dark red color in figure 4.10. There is a huge roof
55
top landscape area which consist of jogging track hatch in purple color as indicated in figure 4.10.
Figure 4.11
Our Tampines Hub Environmental Sustainable Design
(Source: https://www.pa.gov.sg/our-network/our-tampines-hub/hub-info)
Figure 4.12
Our Tampines Hub Eco Hybrid Digester
(Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tampines-hubs-way-to-cut-waste-and-cost)
Based on figure 4.11, ‘Our Tampines Hub’ having a sustainable waste water management design to recycle the rainwater from roof top landscape garden for the purpose of irrigation on eco-community garden and also grey water reuse for toilet flushing purpose. Figure 4.12 shows that Our Tampines Hub has two food waste eco hybrid digester located at first floor which turn all the unwanted food from hawker centre and also agriculture waste from supermarket into organic fertiliser to harvest
56
the vegetation on roof top eco community farming garden. Fertiliser generated from eco-digester is also given out to the residents as well.
57
Figure 4.13
Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Community Farming Floor Plan
Figure 4.13 shows a part of Our Tampines Hub roof top plan where there are facilities provided around the roof top community farming area. There is one lift core directed to the level 5 roof top community farming area. Roof top community farming is gated by 1100mm height round hollow solid bar stainless steel railing and its only open to public from 9am to 6pm daily.
(1) Resting Bench Attached With Table
(2) BBQ Pit With Disposal Bin
(3) Roof Top Landscape Garden
(5) Mixture Room/ Compost Room
(4) Vending Machine
(6) Crops Cultivation Room
58
(7) Resting Bench
(8) Jogging track
(9) Box Up Hose Reel
(11) Compost Tumbler Figure 4.14
(10) Irrigation Water Tape
(12) Box Up Fire Extinguisher
Facilities Provided at Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Community Farming Area
Based on figure 4.14(8), Our Tampines Hub roof top farming is located beside a jogging track. There is a barbeque pit fully furnished with basin, built in barbeque grill, and disposal bin as indicated in figure 4.14(1) and figure 4.14(2). There is a vending machine in front of barbeque pit as indicated as figure 4.14(4). Other than that, there is a roof top landscape garden with jogging track in the middle as shown in figure
59
4.14(3). A compost mixture room served for roof top community farming is located as further away from the barbeque pit as indicated in figure 4.14(5). There is a crops cultivation room located inside the roof top community farming garden as shown in figure 4.14(6). Based on figure 4.13, there are five resting benches as illustrated as figure 4.14(7) are located inside the community farming area where having a size of 964.53 metre square. There is one hose reel and one irrigation water tape as illustrated in figure 4.14(9) and figure 4.14(10) in the middle of community garden as shown in the figure 4.13 roof top community farming floor plan. There two compost tumbler as illustrated in figure 4.14(11) used to store the unwanted crops and deliver to the eco hybrid digester at level 1 to produce fertiliser. There is two box up fire extinguisher located inside the roof top community farming garden as shown in the figure 4.13 community farming floor plan and illustrated in figure 4.14(12).
Figure 4.15
Overview Of Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Community Farming
Based on figure 4.15, Our Tampines Hub roof top community farming consist of traditional planter box top with mesh netting for farmers working on farming ubder the direct sunlight. Each raise up planter box is covered with hollow steel frame garden mesh netting for sun shading purpose as shown in figure 4.15.
60
Figure 4.16
Our Tampines Hub Detail Roof Top Community Farming Floor Plan
Figure 4.16 shows that the Our Tampines Hub detail roof top community garden floor plan where consist of 29 raise up planter box with height of 800mm, 500mm and 300mm. There are five resting bench with planter box in the middle within this 964.5 metre square of Our Tampines Hub roof top community farming garden as shown in figure 4.16. 61
Table 4.2
Table Of Vegetables And Fruit Plants On Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Community Farming Area
Category (1) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Category (2) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Type of Plants Description Type of Plants Description Water spinach / Purple Cai Xin KangKung - With height up to - With height up around 0.15m to 0.2m
Category (3) Planter Box With 450mm Height Resting Bench Category (4) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Star Fruits Cai Xin - Tradisional soil - With height up to planter box is around 0.2m surrounded by resting bench - Ease of harvest to climb up for picking the fruits
62
Category (5) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Category (6) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Big Leaf Tangoh Bayam Merah - With height up - With height up to to around 0.2m around 0.2m
Category (7) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height and 500mm Height Osyter Plants (Trandesantia Spathacea) - Planted on raise up planter box with 800mm height
Grape Fruit Mint - Planted on raise up planter box with 500mm height
Chocolate Mint - Planted on raise up planter box with 500mm height
Coriander - Planted on raise up planter box with 500mm height
63
Category (8) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height and 500mm Height Mango - With height up to around 2m
Category (9) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height and 500mm Height Applemint - With height up to around 0.15m
Frame Flower (Talinum Paniculatum) - With height up to around 0.15m
64
Fan Bak Choy - With height up to around 0.2m
Sweet Leaf (Stevia Rebaudiana) - With height up to around 1.5m
Category (10) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height and 500mm Height Japanese Kale - With height up to around 0.5m
Sayur Manis - With height up to around 0.5m
Thai Coriander - With height up to around 0.2m
Category (11) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height and 500mm Height Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) - With height up to around 0.6m
65
Laksa Leaf (Persicaria Odorata) - With height up to around 1.1m
Category (12) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height and 500mm Height Black Pepper - With height up to around 1.0m
King Of Bitters (Andrographis Paniculata) - With height up to around 1.0m
Thai Basil (Ocimum Basilicum Var) - With height up to around 1.2m
Tulasi - With height up to around 1.1m
Category (13) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height and 500mm Height Organic Rosemarry - With height up to around 0.5m
66
Kale -
With height up to around 1.2m
Tampines Tree - With height up to around 2.5m
Category (14) Planter Box With 450mm Height Resting Bench Category (15) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Sweet potato Mango - Leaf height up to - With height up to around 0.2m around 3m - Sweet potatoes will be underneath the soil
67
Category (16) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Pumpkin - With height up to around 0.2m
Cauliflower - With height up to around 0.4m
Category (17) Planter Box With 450mm Height Resting Bench Category (18) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Sweet Potatoes Key Lime - Leaf height up to - With height up to around 0.2m around 1.5m - Sweet potatoes will be underneath the soil
Category (18) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height With Support System Passion Fruits - Climbing plants with need support system
68
Long Bean - Climbing plants with need support system
Category (19) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Curry Leaf - With height up to around 1.5m
Eggplant - With height up to around 1.2m
Category (20) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Bird Chilli - With height up to around 1.0m
Fig -
Category (21) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Variegated Calamondin Limes - With height up to around 0.6m
With height up to around 2.0m
Lowland Capsicum - With height up to around 0.7m
69
Category (22) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height White Eggplants - With height up to around 1.0m
Category (23) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Pink Guava - With height up to around 2.5m
Kaffir lime - With height up to around 1.5m
Category (24) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Gal Fruit Honeydew - Climbing plants with the needs of support system
Bitter Gourd (Ampalaya) - Climbing plants with the needs of support system
70
Category (25) Planter Box With 450mm Height Resting Bench Category (26) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Miracle Fruit Lady Finger - With height up - With height up to to around 0.9m around 0.8m
Category (27) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Category (28) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Belimbing Buluh Avocado (Averrhoa Bilimbi) - With height up to - With height up around 2.5m to around 1.5m
71
Category (28) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Aloe vera - With height up to around 0.8m
Dutch Cabbage - With height up to around 0.6m
Category (29) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Pineapple (Anana Comoss) - With height up to around 0.8m
Red Lady Finger - With height up to around 1.5m
Category (30) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Cherry Tomatoes - With height up to around 1.2m
Purple Pepper - With height up to around 0.8m
72
White Raddish Category (31) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height - With height up Sapodilla (Chikoo) to around 0.4m - With height up to around 3.5m
Category (31) Raise Up Planter Box With 800mm Height Bay leaves - With height up to around 1.0m
Peppermint (Mentha Piperita) - With height up to around 0.5m
Category (32) Planter Box With 450mm Height Resting Bench Category (33) Planter Box With 1000mm Height Railing Morinda Citrifolia Papaya - With height up - With height up to to around 1.2m around 0.9m
73
4.3
4.3.1
Questionnaire
Introduction
A conclusion is made from the respondents from questionnaires consist of 4 parts. Section A demographic information consist of the personal detail of respondents. Section B is survey covers common type of edible plants and soil medium of target respondents in their own farm. Section C covers the design strategy for an ideal community farming by Malaysia and Singapore farmers in high rise. Section D is to measure the perception of farmers towards the satisfaction of current traditional soil raise up planter box on roof top community farming in Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub, Singapore. The questionnaire is answered by 80 respondents which consisted of full time or part time farmers from Malaysia and Singapore. The questionnaire is shared in farmers group via social media for Malaysian farmers. Malaysian farmers included full time farmers, urban farmers and part time farmers. Full time farmer consist of farmers which work full time 8 hours daily for their household income purpose. Full time farmer including durian farmers, organic vegetables farmers and etc. Urban farmer are farmers having farming in urban area. Part time farmer are community having edible planting in home for self-sustain purpose. Singapore farmers completed the questionnaires while visiting both case study (Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub) by distributing the questionnaires to the respondents. Kampung Admiralty respondents are the senior citizen of the building residents who works on the community farming. Our Tampines Hub consisted of a group of volunteers covered with a wide range of ages who willing to work on community farming in Our Tampines 74
Hub. Manager of Our Tampines Hub roof top community farming area is included as one of the respondents as well.
4.3.2
Section A: Demographic Data
Respondents Group 40
37
35 30 25 20
16
15
15 10 5
6 3
2
1
0
0 Full Time Farmers
Leisure Time Farmers Malaysian
Figure 4.17
Community Farmers
Urban Farmers
Singaporean
Distribution Of Respondents By Group
Ages Group Of Respondents 1.25% 13.75%
52.5% 32.5%
25-35
Figure 4.18
36-45
46-55
Above 55
Ages Group Of Respondents
75
Figure 4.17 shows that the distribution of respondents according to different categories which are full time farmers, leisure time farmers, community farmers and urban farmers. Community farmers are the farmers working on community gardens in high rise. Leisure time farmers are part time farmers plants on their own land or house for self-sustain purpose. Full time farmers will be those farmers working full time as their main job for own living. Urban farmers are farmers who plants on a land in urban area. The highest percentage of respondents will be 50% or 40 number of leisure time farmers made up of 37 Malaysian and 3 Singaporean. 16 community farmers from Singapore had answer the questionnaires via online and answer while visiting the building. There are 16 or 18.8% urban farmers which made up from 15 Malaysian and 1 Singaporean. The least number of respondents will be full time farmers where it allocated around 10% of the total amount of respondents which consist of 6 Malaysian and 2 Singaporean. According to figure 4.18, the respondents age are mainly above 55 years old which is after the retirement age where it consist of 52.5% or 42 respondents from the total amount of respondents. The second largest amount of respondents age will be range from 46 to 55 years old where consist of 32.5% or 26 respondents. There are 13.75% or 11 respondents are range from 36 to 45 years old. However, there is only 1 respondent age from 25 to 35 years old.
4.3.3
Section B: Survey on Farmers Regarding Their Own Farming
Section B analyses different type of soil medium and edible plants that Malaysia and Singapore farmers plants. Malaysia farmers consist of urban farmers, full time farmers, and part time farmers. Singapore farmers are community farmers from Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub.
76
4.3.3(a)
Types of Planting Medium
Types of Planting Medium of Farmers Burnt Paddy Husk
1
Water
1
Compost Soil
1
Natural Forest Soil
9
Sharp Sand
5
Coir (Coconut Husk Fiber)
16
Peat Moss
32
Potting Soil
32
Black Commercial Garden Soil
75 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Number Of Respondents
Figure 4.19
Types of Planting Medium of Farmers
All of the respondents plant by using traditional soil method which included mostly black commercial garden soil which occupied for around 75 respondents, then followed by potting soil and peat moss which consist of 32 respondents simultaneously. 16 respondents are using potting soil as their planting medium followed by 9 respondents cultivate theirs crops via natural forest soil. There is 5 respondents using sharp sand as their planting medium and most of them are planting coconuts. There is 1 respondent use water as their cultivating medium which to cultivate bean sprouts. Finally, there is 1 respondent using compost soil and burnt paddy husk each as their soil medium. From the result as shown in figure 4.19, most of the respondents are mainly using black commercial garden soil, potting mix and peat moss as their planting medium. Part time farmers occupy around 50% of respondents where they plant edible vegetables with vase by using potting mix and black commercial soil. Some of the part time farmers uses water as their planting medium for cultivating sprouts. Full time farmer mostly utilise the most nature forest
77
soil as planting medium for cultivating big size plants like durian, rambutan, jackfruit and etc. Full time farmers in Cameron Highland are using natural soil with fertilisers to cultivate vegetables too. There are certain full time farmers plant coconuts using sharp sand for cultivating. Community farmers consist of Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub roof top community garden volunteers where they are using traditional planter box to cultivate edible plants with black commercial garden soil, potting soil, compost soil as their planting medium. Urban farmers could be vertical farmers using the hydroponics system on roof top or urban organic farmers plant on traditional soil in urban area.
4.3.3(b)
Types of Vegetables and Fruits Plants by Farmers
Table 4.3
Table of Vegetables and Fruit Plants That Farmers Cultivate
Vegetables (green) Urban Fruits (yellow) Farmer Aloe vera / Banana Bean Sprouts Brazilian Spinach / Bayam / Carrots / Chinese Spinach / Corn Calamansi (Limau Nipis) Chilli Chinese Flower Cabbage / Curry Leaves Cucumber / Custard Apple Coriander / Coconut Chinese Cabbage (Brassica / Chinensis) Durians
Community Farmer /
Leisure Time Full Time Farmer Farmer / / /
/ / / / / /
/ /
/ / / / /
/ /
/ /
78
Eggplant Ginger Guava Herbs Hot Peppers Kale KangKung (Water Spinach) Lady Finger Lettuce Lemongrass Lime Long Bean Longan Mulberry Mangosteen Mint Mango Nangka/Jackfruit Onion Okra Bitter gourd Pandan leaves Passion Fruit Papaya Petai Pineapple Potatoes Pomergranate Rambutan Red Pepper Roselle Serai Spring Onion Sweet Potatoes Star Fruits Strawberry Turmeric Leaf (Kunyit Leaves) Tapioca Tomato Wintermelon
/ /
/ /
/
/
/ / / / /
/ / / /
/ / / / /
/
/
/ /
/
/ /
/
/ / /
/
/ / /
/ / /
/
/ / / / / /
/ /
/
/
/
/
/
/ / /
/ /
/
/ /
/ /
/ / / / / / /
/
/
79
/ / /
According to table 4.3 shows that the vegetables or fruit plants of different categories of farmers plants. From the above, we can observe that the common vegetables that plants on their land by 80 respondents from Malaysia and Singapore farmers. Yellow colour column indicated as fruit plants where green colour column indicated as vegetable plants based on table 4.3.
4.3.4
Section C: Survey on Design Strategies Toward Community Farming
In High Rise
Section C analyses the suitable transitional space inside the building for community farming to enhance the social interaction between the public and design strategies for community farming to be interpreted in the building.
Suitable Spaces For Community Farming Percentage (%)
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Roof Top
Balcony (Private Area)
Podium (Middle Level)
Void Area (Middle Level)
Corridor (Middle Level)
Lobby (Ground Level)
Very Disagree
0
13.75
1.25
13.75
8.75
15
Disagree
0
42.5
20
26.25
15
38.75
Neutral
0
32.5
40
40
20
31.25
Agree
6.25
11.25
26.25
15
51.25
12.5
Very Agree
93.75
0
12.5
5
5
2.5
Figure 4.20
Suitable Spaces for Community Farming
Figure 4.20 shows that several potential spaces of a high rise and their suitability to become community farming area. Roof top obtained the highest votes among the farmers to carry out community farming where 93.75% or 75 respondents very agree
80
with the option of roof top. Corridor ranked the second highest suitability based on farmers opinions where there are 51.25% or 41 respondents agree with community farming located at corridor. Farmers are neutral about locating community farming in podium and void area where the highest vote falls on category of neutral. 40% or 32 respondents are neutral on changing podium and void area into community farming. 38.75% or 31 respondents are disagree on changing lobby into community farming area as the lobby is an open public area where it will face a lots of security issues and plants are not protected when there is too much community pass by. Balcony obtained the highest votes of disagree where 42.5% of respondents are disagree because community farming shouldn’t located at private area where only the apartment units residents able to carry out community farming. Table 4.4
Scale Range of Five Likert Scale
Not Relevant
Less Relevant
Neither
Relevant
Very Relevant
1.00 – 1.80
1.81 – 2.60
2.61 – 3.40
3.41 – 4.20
4.21 – 5.00
Table 4.5
Ranking of Importance of Suitable Spaces for Community Farming
Elements
Average Index
Scale Response
Roof Top
4.94
Very Relevant
Balcony (Private Area)
2.41
Less Relevant
Podium (Middle Level)
3.29
Neither
Void Area (Middle Level)
2.71
Neither
Corridor (Middle Level)
3.29
Neither
Lobby (Ground Level)
2.49
Less Relevant
According to table 4.5, Malaysia and Singapore farmers think that the most suitable spaces for community farming will be at roof top where it is the biggest transition area
81
accept the most direct sunlight and able to plant all kind of vegetation. Balcony will be more suitable of becoming self-sustain farming for own consuming purposes.
Suitable Growing Medium For Community Farming (%) 6.25 26.25 Hydroponic Aeroponic Traditional Soil 56.25
Figure 4.21
11.25
Aquaponic
Suitable Growing Medium For Community Farming
Figure 4.21 shown 56.25% or 45 over half of the respondents choose the traditional soil to be the most suitable growing medium to cultivate plants in community farming. Hydroponic growing system where growing plants in nutrients come the second then followed by aeroponic growing system which refer to cultivating plants in the air medium and spray by concentrated nutrients every in between a certain time interval. 26.25% of respondents votes on hydroponic growing system and 11.25% of respondents votes on aeroponic growing system. Aquaponic growing system is the occupied the least votes to become growing system for community farming where it only stand 6.25% or 5 respondents.
82
Type of Crop Cultivation Module For Community Farming Columnar System
13
Stack Drum
5
Stack Bed
16
Raise Up Planter Box
80
A Frame Trellis
46 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Number Of Respondents
Figure 4.22
Suitable Crop Cultivation Module for Community Farming
All respondents are required to fill in this question as in figure 4.22 with a maximum of 2 choices. Thus, there are 160 votes by 80 respondents. Raise up planter box usually happened to be outdoor roof top traditional soil farming method found out to be the most favourable system where all of the respondents agree about having raise up planter box to cultivate plants in community farming. 46 votes by the respondents or 28.8% of votes fall on A Frame Trellis which could be the second to consider about to become the second choices of having it as community farming cultivation module. A Frame Trellis could be a support frame system hooked together to form an “A� frame for cultivating plants via traditional soil or PVC pipes vertically and horizontally from a triangular footprint via hydroponic system. There is 16 or 10% votes by the respondents and 13 or 8.1% votes by the respondents agree about stack bed and columnar system to become cultivation system in community farming simultaneously. There are only 5 or 3.1% votes by the respondents for stack drum to become community farming crop cultivation module. Stack bed is an indoor vertical farming system which are usually carry out by trained indoor vertical farmers. Stack drum and
83
columnar system are the least common indoor vertical farming system and only carried out by a group of trained indoor farming specialist. Stack drum is a crop cultivation system where crop cultivate inside a drum structure revolving a LED lighting source in the middle. Columnar system having a high space efficiency but most limited plants to cultivate where crops cultivate on trays are arrange in staked pattern and cycled along a central conveyor machine which deliver nutrients.
Types Of Irrigation System For Community Farming (%) 2.5 12.5
33.75 Automated Sprinkler System Automated Drip System Manual Hand Watering Natural Weather Irrigation
51.25
Figure 4.23
Types Of Irrigation System For Community Farming
Figure 4.23 show that automated drip irrigation system is the most suitable irrigation system for community farming which 51.25% or 41 respondents voted for this irrigation system. 33.75% of respondents voted for automated sprinkler system to irrigate community farming and then followed by 12.5% of respondents voted for manual hand watering for irrigation. 2.5% of respondents agree about using natural weather irrigation for irrigation purpose.
84
Importance Of Resting Checkpoint For Community Farming (%) 1.25 3.75
Yes No May Be
95
Figure 4.24
Importance Of Having Resting Checkpoint For Community Farming
Figure 4.24 shows that 95% or 76 respondents are agree about having resting checkpoint in between of community farming area. There only 5% of respondents are uncertain and disagree of having resting checkpoint in community farming area.
Types Of Resting And Gathering Area For Community Farming Area With Sun Shading Devices
78
Area Under The Sun
7
Shared Area
61
Private Area
14 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Number Of Respondents
Figure 4.25
Types Of Resting And Gathering Area Suitable For Community Farming
85
90
All respondents are required to fill in this question as in figure 4.25 with a maximum of 2 choices. Thus, there are 160 votes by 80 respondents. Most of the respondents where 78 or 48.8% vote of respondents and 61 or 38.1% vote of respondents are agree with having area with shading devices and shared area as resting checkpoint in community farming simultaneously. Area under the sun and private area are the least recommendation resting checkpoint for resting in community farming area as shown in figure 4.25. Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub roof top community farming having resting check point in between every 5 metres to 10 metres as shown in figure 4.5 and figure 4.16.
Distance of Resting Checkpoint In Between Community Farming Area (%) 3.75
2.5 8.75
6.25
1m to 5m 6m to 10m 25
23.75
11m to 15m 16m to 20m 20m to 25m 25m to 30m above 30m
30
Figure 4.26
Distance To Have A Resting Checkpoint In Between Community Farming
Figure 4.26 shows that the ideal distance of having a resting checkpoint is between 6m to 20m in community farming area. 30% or 24 respondents agree having resting checkpoint in between 11m to 15m at community farming area. 25% of respondents and 23.75% of respondents agree with having a resting checkpoint in between 6m to 10m and 16m to 20m simultaneously. There are 8.75% or 7 respondents agree to have
86
resting checkpoint as near as possible where 1m to 5m between of each other. 6.25% of respondents and 3.75% respondents agree to have resting checkpoint 20m to 25m and 25m to 30m between each other. Only 2 respondents wish to locate resting checkpoint above 30m.
Facilities To Enhance Community Farming Percentage (%)
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Sitting Area
Resting Open Gym Deck With Tables
Playland
BBQ Pit
Shared Kitchen
Water Dispenser
Very Disagree
0
2.5
0
1.25
0
5
0
Disagree
0
6.25
0
5
10
12.5
10
Neutral
2.5
21.25
2.5
23.75
12.5
51.25
12.5
Agree
11.25
56.25
10
43.75
26.25
20
23.75
Very Agree
86.25
13.75
87.5
26.25
51.25
11.25
53.75
Facilities To Enhance Community Farming Percentage (%)
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Communit y Room
Crops Storage
Jogging Track
Cultivation Workshop
Library
Utility Room
Compost Room
2.5
0
3.75
0
7.5
0
0
Disagree
2.5
0
15
13.75
26.25
0
0
Neutral
17.5
0
56.25
51.25
58.75
1.25
2.5
Agree
63.75
11.25
18.75
25
5
10
10
Very Agree
13.75
88.75
6.25
10
2.5
88.75
87.5
Very Disagree
Figure 4.27
Types Of Facilities To Enhance Community Farming
Figure 4.27 show that the highest necessity of having a crops storage and utility room in the community farming area where there are 88.75% or 71 respondents very agree
87
in this item. Compost room is then followed by 87.5% of respondent very agree to have the facilities in community farming. Sitting area and resting deck with tables are very agree by 86.25% and 87% respondents simultaneously as well. 57.75% of respondents very agree about having water dispenser in community farming area and 51.25% of respondents very agree about having barbeque pit. There are 63.75% of respondents agree to have community room and followed by 56.25% of respondents agree to have open gym in community farming area. Other than that, 43.75% of respondents wish to have playland in community farming. There is 58.75% of respondents and 56.25% of respondents are neutral to have library and jogging track in community farming. 51.25% of respondents are neutral to have cultivation workshop and shared kitchen in community farming area. Table 4.6
Scale Range of Five Likert Scale
Not Relevant
Less Relevant
Neither
Relevant
Very Relevant
1.00 – 1.80
1.81 – 2.60
2.61 – 3.40
3.41 – 4.20
4.21 – 5.00
Table 4.7
Ranking of Importance of Facilities to Enhance Community Farming
Elements
Average Index
Scale Response
Sitting Area
4.84
Very Relevant
Open Gym
3.73
Relevant
Resting Deck with Tables
4.85
Very Relevant
Playlands
3.89
Relevant
BBQ Pit
4.19
Relevant
Shared Kitchen
3.20
Neither
Water Dispenser
4.34
Very Relevant
Community Room
3.84
Relevant
Crops Storage
4.89
Very Relevant
88
Jogging Track
3.09
Neither
Cultivation Workshop
3.31
Neither
Library
2.69
Neither
Utility Room
4.88
Very Relevant
Compost Room
4.85
Very Relevant
According to table 4.7, there is a few facilities ranked as the most relevant which are sitting area, resting deck with tables, water dispenser, crops storage, utility room and compost room. The lowest rated are cultivation workshop, shared kitchen, jogging track, and library. Open gym, playlands, barbeque pit, and community room are considered as relevant with a score in between 3.41 to 4.20.
Ideal Space For Community Farming (%) 1.25 8.75 Resting(Play), Utility and Farming Seperated Resting(Play) Mix With Farming, Utility Seperated
Utility Mix With Farming, Resting(Play) Seperated 90
Figure 4.28
Ideal Space For Community Farming
According to figure 4.28, the most ideal space for community farming is to integrate resting checkpoint or playland with community farming and separate from utility area based on farmer’s perception. 90% or 72 respondents are agree to mix resting area and farming area together. However, there is 8.75% or 7 respondents has agreed on mixing
89
utility area and farming area together for the ease of their work, and playland could be separated. 1 respondents wish to separate resting, utility and farming area.
Ideal Distance Between Sanitary Equipment 60 52.5
Percentage (%)
50 38.75
40 30
27.5
26.25 21.25
20 12.5
12.5 8.75
10 0
Water Tap/ Washing Area 1m to 10m
Figure 4.29
Toilet
10m to 20m
20m to 30m
above 30m
Ideal Distance In Between Sanitary Equipment
Based on figure 4.29, the ideal distance to locate water tap or washing area is 10 metre to 20 metre where 52.5% over half of the respondents agree about this distance. Other than that, ideal distance to have a toilet is 20 metre to 30 metre where 38.75% of respondents agree about this distance.
4.3.5
Section D: Survey on Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub
Roof Top Community Farming
Section D is to discuss the existing roof top community farming in Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub having raise up planter box at different level height as shown in figure 4.30. Hence, figure 4.31 is to analyse the most favorable height in the existing planter box of Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub.
90
Figure 4.30
Planter Box Height in Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Community Farming
Suitable Height For Raise Up Planter Box Percentage (%)
90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Very Disagree
0mm (Squad Down)
500mm (Knee Level)
800mm(Butt Level)
900mm (Waist Level)
0
0
0
0
Disagree
8.75
1.25
0
0
Neutral
51.25
11.25
2.5
13.75
Agree
27.5
63.75
12.5
22.5
Very Agree
12.5
23.75
85
63.75
Figure 4.31
Suitable Height Of Raise Up Planter Box For Community Farming
Based on figure 4.31, current height of raise up planter box in Singapore community farming is recorded and analyse. The ideal height for raise up planter box for community farming is 800mm where 85% of respondents very satisfy about this
91
height. There is 63.75% of respondents very agree about 900mm height of raise up planter box for traditional soil planting method. However, 63.75% respondents are still agree about 500mm height of raise up planter box. There are 51.25% of respondents are neutral about squad down for planting. There is a staircase leading to raise up planter box in Kampung Admiralty roof top farming area for traditional soil planting. Table 4.8
Ranking of Suitable Height of Raise Up Planter Box for Community Farming
Elements
Average Index
Scale Response
0mm (Squad Down)
3.44
Relevant
500mm (Knee Level)
4.10
Relevant
800mm (Butt Level)
4.83
Very Relevant
900mm (Waist Level)
4.50
Very Relevant
Based on table 4.8, 800mm which is at butt level of a person is the most favourable height for raise up planter box and then goes to 900mm height of raise up planter box.
4.4
Semi Structured Interview
Figure 4.32
Interview Session With Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Eco-community Garden Manager
92
A semi-structured interview is carried out with Our Tampines Hub roof top ecocommunity garden Manager, Tony Tan regarding the design improvements of community farming and the cultivation techniques on the community farming in high rise. Questions 1: What is the best transitional space do you think a community garden should be in the building? The first community farming located in high rise Singapore is at roof top of Our Tampines Hub. Other than that, there are a lot of community garden located in Singapore high rise due to the issues of land scarcity which are Kampung Admiralty and Funan Shopping Mall. Hence, roof top is the best transitional place for community farming. Questions 2: What is the time for you to cultivate the vegetation and fruit plants in Our Tampines Hub roof top community garden? Everyday morning before 12pm with my staff which is a group of volunteers. Questions 3: What type of fertiliser and soil that you use for farming?
(1) Potting Mix
(2) Fertiliser Water (pH 4.5)
93
(3) Black Commercial Soil Figure 4.33
(4) Organic Fertiliser
Soil And Fertiliser At Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Community Farming Area
We use the potting mix as shown in figure 4.33(1) and black commercial soil as shown in figure 4.33(3) to become our growing medium. As we know that soil that we use in high rise is different and less nutrient compare with the natural earth soil. Hence, it is necessary for us to use fertiliser to harvest our plants. There is an eco-hybrid digester located in Our Tampines Hub level 1 produce organic fertilisers for community farming as shown in figure 4.33(4). We also use fertiliser water with pH4.5 to fertilise the soil in planter box by digging out some soil and put the water inside and cover again the with soil dig out. Fertiliser water are not recommended to straight pour on the soil. Questions 4: How do you cultivate the seedling? How long do you harvest your vegetation?
(1) Seedling Cultivated Via Sponge Figure 4.34
(2) Seedling Cultivated Via Soil
Seedling Cultivation At Our Tampines Hub Roof Top Community Farming Area 94
We cultivate the seedling by using water sponge as shown in figure 4.34(1) and commercial soil as shown in figure 4.34(2). The seedlings are protected in crops cultivation room and some are cultivated under natural sunlight. We will cultivate the seedling at the beginning of the months so that we capable to produce vegetation every 27th and 28th of each month giving out as free towards the residents and also provide to culinary studio in Our Tampines Hub. Questions 5: What are the necessary facilities in community farming in high rise? Cultivation room, compost room, soil mixing room, washing area, storage and sitting area. Questions 6: What is the further design enhancement for community farming in high rise? Natural sun shading device when planting tree, specification of planting species and information of plants for the public, rainwater harvesting system, photovoltaic system for cultivation of seedling in crop cultivation room and produce light when there is less light in daytime, organise farmers workshop Questions 7: Do you use pesticide for community farming? How to avoid insects from destroying the crops? We did use some organic/biological pesticide without chemical ingredients and frequently check on plants daily. Natural enzyme can be used as well. The best to protect all crops from insects will be a big mesh or netting to cover up all crops. Questions 8: How do you cultivate the big size edible plants and maintain on roof top in high rise with such a limited space?
95
Big size tree like mango, longan are able to grow on roof top as there is need to cut the stems regularly so that they able to grow on top with a medium size as well as maintain their root with the size of growing medium. Summary: Based on the information obtained from interview with Mr. Tony Tan, it is concluded that the best transitional space in high rise for farming is located at roof top. There are a certain big size tree are able to cultivate in high rise roof top area with the care of community garden volunteers. A mesh netting could be use to cover the roof top edible plants from the insects attack. Cultivation room, compost room, soil mixing room, washing area, storage and sitting area are important for community farming based on the interviews.
96
CHAPTER 5
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
5.1
Suitable Spaces and Types of Growing System for Community Farming
in High Rise Community farming is locally grown and operated by a group of volunteers who willing to take responsible of farm. Community farmers could be anyone who is interested to cultivate crops in the community farming. The harvest products are given out to the needs of society, educational purpose, culinary studio or self-consuming purpose. Table 5.1
Suitable Space and Growing System for Community Farming in High Rise Ideal Space Or System
Descriptions
Suitable Space
Roof Top
Plenty of natural sunlight for cultivating the plants
Growing Medium
Traditional Soil
Potting mix and black commercial soil is use for cultivating in high rise
Crops Cultivation Module
Raise Up Planter Box
Reinforced concrete raise up planter box is use for cultivating plants
97
An “A� frame is form to support the climbing plants on top of soil
A Frame Trellis
Alternative Wooden Elevated Planter Box Traditional Soil Crops Cultivation Module
Unwanted wooden pallets could be used for planting
(Environment Sustainable)
Vehicle Tires
5.2
Traditional plants are able to put inside the tyres
Design Improvement Towards Community Farming In High Rise
Table 5.2
Ideal Space or System Use For Community Farming In High Rise Ideal Space/System
Number Distance in Of Item
Irrigation
Automated Drip System
System Facilities/
Between
To be spread all over the traditional soil
Storage (Fertiliser & Crops)
Equipment
Depend on amount of crops
(Compulsory) Utility Room Compost Room
98
1
-
1
-
Crops Cultivation Room
1
-
Soil Mixing Room
1
-
Facilities /
Resting Deck With Tables
-
6m to 20m
Equipment
Sitting Area
-
6m to 20m
For Design
Water Dispenser
-
-
Enhancement
Barbeque Pit
-
6m to 20m
(Arrange
Playland
1
-
According to
Community Room
-
-
Importance
Open Gym
-
-
of Farmers
Cultivation Workshop
1
-
Perception)
Shared Kitchen
-
-
Jogging Track
-
-
Library
-
-
Resting and
Shared Area
-
-
Gathering
Area With Sun Shading Devices
-
-
Area Insect
Meshing/ Netting To Cover Up All Crops Cover
Protection
In Community Farming
the
whole
farming area
Organic Enzyme / Organic Pesticide To Be
-
-
-
10m to
Use If Without Netting Sanitary
Water Tap / Washing Area
Equipment
20m Toilet
-
20m to 30m
Ideal Space
Farming Mixed With Resting Area (Play
-
-
Arrangement
Area), Utility Area Are Seperated
GBI Design
Rainwater Harvesting System
-
-
Improvement
Photovoltaic Design For Lighting Purpose
-
-
99
Table 5.2 is produced as below after analysis of chapter 4 regarding the design strategies for community farming in high rise.
5.3
Types Of Potential Plants In High rise
There several potential plants to be use in high rise deduce from the current case study. However, the method of planting should be considered with the size and height of plants with the human ergonometric. The ideal raise up planter box is use as crop cultivation module. Table 5.3 Cultivation Module 500mm to 600mm Height Raise Up Planter Box
List of Potential Edible Plants For Community Farming In High Rise Suitable Plants Bigger and Taller Plants Size (Control in 2m to 4m height)
Name of Plants Mango
Description
Up to 30m (control below 4m) Papaya Up to 9m (Control below 4m) Star Fruits Up to 6m (Control below 4m) Avocado Up to 9m (Control below 4m) Belimbing Buluh (Averrhoa Up to 15m Bilimbi) (Control below 4m) Pink Guava Up to 4.5m Fig Up to 9m (Control below 4m) Averrhoa bilimbi Up to 15m (Control below 4m) Key Lime Up to 4m Citrus Medica Up to 4m Arabica Coffee Up to 4.5m Guava Up to 6m (Control below 4m) Kedondong/ Balonlong Up to 18m (Spondias Cytherea) (Control below 4m) Java apple / Syzygium Up to 12m samarangense (Jambu Air) (Control below 4m) Morinda Citrifolia Up to 5m Sapodilla (Chikoo) Up to 15m 100
(Control below 4m) Nangka/Jackfruit Up to 20m (Control below 4m) Miracle Fruit Up to 5.5m (Control below 4m) Bay leaves Up to 17m (Control below 4m) Kaffir lime Up to 4.5m Variegated Calamondin Limes Up to 3m Curry Leaf Up to 6m (Control below 4m) Mulberry Up to 8m (Control below 4m) Surinam Cherry Up to 8m (Control below 4m) 500mm to Climbing Gal Fruit Honeydew Fruits Plants 600mm Vine Long Bean Vegetable Plants Height Plants Passion Fruits Fruits Plants Raise Up with the Butterfly Pea flower/ Clitoria Flower Plants Planter Needs of ternatea Box Support Okra Bitter gourd Vegetable Plants Supported System Bitter Gourd (Ampalaya) Vegetable Plants With A (Control Frame Up to 3m Trellis Height) System 600mm to Medium Lady Finger Up to 4m 800mm Size (control in 2m tall) Height Edible Red Lady Finger Up to 3m Raise Up Plants (Control in 2m tall) Planter (Control Turmeric Leaf (Kunyit Leaves) Up to 1.5m Box in 1m to Cherry Tomatoes Up to 2m 2m Pineapple (Anana Comoss) 0.9m to 1.8m height) Organic Rosemary Up to 1.8m Black Pepper Up to 4m (Control below 2m) Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) Up to 2m Sayur Manis Up to 2m Brinjal / Eggplant Up to 1.5m 900mm to Small Peppermint (Mentha Piperita) Approximately 0.5m 1000mm Size White Radish Up to 0.5m Height Edible Purple Pepper Up to 0.6m Raise Up Plants Dutch Cabbage Up to 0.3m
101
Planter Box
(Control Capsicum annuum under 1m Bird Chilli height) Sweet Potatoes Cauliflower Pumpkin Kale Tulasi Thai Basil (Ocimum Basilicum Var) King Of Bitters (Andrographis Paniculata) Laksa Leaf (Persicaria Odorata) Thai Coriander Sweet Leaf (Stevia Rebaudiana) Apple Mint Fan Bak Choy Coriander Grapefruit Mint Chocolate Mint Osyter Plants (Trandesantia Spathacea) Bayam Merah (Amaranthus tricolor L) Big Leaf Tangoh Cai Xin Purple Cai Xin Water spinach / KangKung Aloe Vera
102
Up to 1m Up to 0.8m Up to 0.5m Up to 0.2m Up to 1m Up to 0.6m Up to 0.6m Up to 0.6m Up to 0.7m Up to 0.35m Up to 0.1m Up to 0.6m Up to 0.1m Up to 0.2m Up to 0.6m Up to 0.6m Up to 0.6m Up to 0.3m Up to 0.15m Up to 0.25m Up to 0.2m Up to 0.2m Up to 0.3m 0.6m to 1m
Summary and Findings: The most favourable height for farmers will be avoid the chance of bend over when harvesting edible plants where they have to farm for a long time under the sun. Hence, the height of edible plants proportional to human height will be above 800mm to 2m according the human ergonometric scale. The best cultivation module as according to chapter 4 will be raise up planter box located at the building roof top which mainly because of the most traditional way and ease for the public to maintain the community farming where everyone know how to plants. A frame trellis or trellis support system may use to support climbing plants. Table 5.4
Sectional Illustration For Community Farming In High Rise
Cultivation Sectional Illustration module 500mm to 600mm Height Raise Up Planter Box
Types and Size of Plants Bigger and Taller Plants Size (Control in 2m to 4m height) Examples:
Mango
103
Papaya
500mm to 600mm Height Raise Up Planter Box Supported With A Frame Trellis System
Climbing Vine Plants with the Needs of Support System (Control Up to 3m Height) Examples:
Long bean
600mm to 800mm Height Raise Up Planter Box
Passion fruits
Medium Size Edible Plants (Control in 1m to 2m height) Examples:
Lady Finger
104
Brinjal
900mm to 1000mm Height Raise Up Planter Box
Small Size Edible Plants (Control under 1m height) Examples:
Water spinach
Cai Xin
Based on table 5.4, different size and height of plants is adjusted to suit with different height of planter box based on the best human ergonometric scale. Planter box can be made with materials of lightweight concrete planter box layered protected by waterproof membrane with 600mm skirting all round.
105
CHAPTER 6
CONCLUSION AND FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS
6.1
Introduction
Malaysia such a tropical country is enriched with a lot of tropical fruits and a variation of vegetables. However, Malaysia is slowly facing the issue of land scarcity and food security problems. As the population increases, the needs of land deforestation for infrastructure is causing a lot of environmental problems. The need of agriculture will further increase the burden of land deforestation issues. Hence, this design improvement for community farming in high rise are mainly to encourage the practice of making spatial place in high rise for cultivating vegetables and fruits. This design is yet to be adopt in Malaysia as they are common in Singapore which enjoy the same gift with Malaysia of being located in a tropical mother earth with all year round favourable tropical climate.
6.2
Problem Statement and Research Objectives
Nowadays, world population is continuously increasing and expected to reach 10.9 billion by the year of 2100 (Anthony Cilluffo and Neil G, 2019). There will be soon a limitation of lands due to high population which lead to the land scarcity issue towards agriculture field. Other than that, inappropriate use of chemical substance in agriculture will lead to food insecure and cause health problem towards the consumers. In term of social perspectives, there are lack of social interaction in between today society. Hence, community farming should be introduce in high rise to improve social integration and solve the issue of land scarcity.
106
At the beginning of this research, the objectives are as follow: I. II.
To investigate the potential plant for urban farming in high rise building. To identify suitable spaces and design strategies for community urban farming in high rise building
6.3
Summary of Findings and Conclusion
Referring to subtopic 6.2, the method used to approach the objective could be summarized as below.
6.3.1
Summary of Findings Toward Objective I
Case study is carried out at Singapore roof top community farming which are Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub. Different type of edible plants are identify based on the current roof top community farming in Singapore. Other than that, questionnaire is also carried out to identify the common type of edible plants planted by Malaysia and Singapore farmers. An interview is conducted with roof top community farming manager of Singapore Our Tampines Hub. Based on the interview, it is concluded that big size tree can be planted in high rise as well if they are able to maintain with a size up to 4 meters to avoid the over growing of stem underneath the soil. The harvested fruits and vegetable product are able to obtain within the size up to 4 meters is classified as suitable edible plants in high rise. A guideline of potential planting species is produced in chapter 5 table 5.3 with the adjustment of best human ergonometric scale as shown in chapter 5 table 5.4. An improvement crop cultivation module with different height of planter box is produced in table 5.3 as well.
107
6.3.2
Summary of Findings Toward Objective II
Based on finding and discussion in chapter 4, the most suitable transitional spaces is identified as roof top to be the community farming area in high rise. As community farming is carry out by volunteers who willing to take responsible of the farm as nonprofitable return. The most common and convenience farming method is choose by all categories of farmers which consist of full time farmer, leisure time farmer, community farmer, and urban farmer from Singapore and Malaysia by using their most familiar method for community farming. Roof top is concluded to have community farming in high rise as the place which having most direct sunlight for cultivating plants. There is no artificial lighting required if farming is located on roof top. Table 6.1
Scale Range of Five Likert Scale
Not Relevant
Less Relevant
Neither
Relevant
Very Relevant
1.00 – 1.80
1.81 – 2.60
2.61 – 3.40
3.41 – 4.20
4.21 – 5.00
Table 6.2
Ranking of Importance of Suitable Spaces for Community Farming
Elements
Average Index
Scale Response
Roof Top
4.94
Very Relevant
Balcony (Private Area)
2.41
Less Relevant
Podium (Middle Level)
3.29
Neither
Void Area (Middle Level)
2.71
Neither
Corridor (Middle Level)
3.29
Neither
Lobby (Ground Level)
2.49
Less Relevant
According to table 6.2, roof top is voted as the best transitional spaces for community farming in high rise where there is only positive response shown with the elements of “roof top”. Other elements is all classified as negative response with the scale response of “neither” and “less relevant”.
108
Figure 6.1
Roof Top Community Farming at Funan Shopping Mall, Singapore (Source: https://www.pa.gov.sg/our-network/our-tampines-hub/hub-info)
Figure 6.2
Roof Top Vertical Farming on Multi-storey Car Park located at Ang Mo Kio, Singapore
(Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/spore-to-grow-high-tech-farming-with-18ha-facility-at-sgkadut)
In Singapore, community garden is found in school, offices, housing estate and even shopping mall as shown in figure 6.1 and figure 6.2. Most of the existing community garden in high rise is found on roof top. It can see that community farming and urban farming of Singapore has been moved into a high technology phases long time ago as Singapore had crucial issues regarding land scarcity and high population. According to chapter 4, most suitable farming method for community farming is traditional soil as growing medium with planter box. A list of necessary community farming facilities and equipment, space to be provided by the architect is determined. Design enhancement based on farmer’s perception in terms of resting area, leisure and entertainment space is analysed to improve the social context of community farmers. With the case study on Kampung Admiralty and Our Tampines Hub in Singapore,
109
design of roof top community farming is analysed and further enhance to be adopt in Malaysia high rise.
6.3.3
Conclusion
In conclusion, site visit for case study and questionnaires toward respondents of Malaysia and Singapore farmers are used to achieve both objectives. Architect plays an important role in designing a well-planned farming spaces with required system in high rise for farmers to farm in an comfortable situation. From design context of architectural perspective, there is a potential for rainwater harvesting system to be install in a high rise if the circulation of rainwater catchment area is well-planned by the architects. The water inside the rainwater harvesting tank is available to use for toilet flushing and irrigation purpose. In term of material selection, recycled materials are able to use for planter box to enhance environment sustainable purpose. Photovoltaic panel is recommended for installing on roof top for artificial lighting when there is less daylight and crops cultivation room.
6.4
Limitation of Study
There are a few limitations are faced when doing this research. First, the results obtained from this research is only obtained in the nearest neighbour country which is Singapore. Although Singapore having the almost similar climate with Malaysia but there is a still a need to find the case study of other foreign country to achieve the research objective. Fortunately, Singapore is considered having an advanced technology in the field of community farming, vertical farming in high rise which located at urban area.
110
Second, data collected from questionnaires covered both respondents in Malaysia and Singapore. Malaysia is considered a developing country where there are many uncertainties on the potential of implementing community farming into the high rise. Thus, data collected from Malaysia farmers might be questionable where there is a lack of knowledge towards the sustainable friendly technology of turning roof top transitional zone into a lively community farming area for enhance the integration in between the public. Questions directed to the respondents are based on author limited knowledge regarding community farming in high rise. However, there is an interview with the professional of community farming in high rise, Singapore and data collected from Singapore community farmers.
6.5
Recommendation of Research for Future Work
With the above limitation on subtopic 6.4, the present research had made important contribution regarding the design strategy towards community farming and potential edible plants in high rise. Potential plants to be cultivated on roof top high rise by using traditional soil as growing medium are identified as well by producing a guideline of potential edible plants which listed out in table 5.3. This research of design strategy for community farming in high rise are identified with the most favourable transitional zone, need of spaces, facilities, equipment, and types of system suitable to be adopt in Malaysia. Future research can be carry out in exploring potential spaces other than roof top community farming in high rise such as podium, void area by using other growing method. Other than that, a various field of typologies of high rise like supermarket, office, shopping mall are yet to be explored for implementing the farming techniques in the transitional space.
111
CHAPTER 7
REFERENCES
A. Pitts and J. Saleh. (2006). Transition Spaces and Thermal Comfort –Opportunities for Optimising Energy Use. The 23rd Conference on, (pp. pp. 6–8). Penang. Ableman, M. (2016). Sole Food Street Farm. Retrieved from Urban Farming Challenges and Advantages. Ableman, M. (2016, March 1). The Ecology Center. Retrieved from 10 Ways Urban Farms Benefit The Community: https://www.theecologycenter.org/10-waysurban-farms-benefit-the-community/ Anthony Cilluffo and Neil G, .. R. (2019, June 17). Fact Tank. Retrieved from World Population growth. Baharuddin, Z. B. (June 2017). TRANSITIONAL SPACE DESIGN IN HIGH RISE RESIDENTIAL FOR. Johor, Malaysia: Issuu. Baskoro, H. H. (2018, May 26). Land8: Landscape Architects Network. Retrieved from What's the Problem with Urban Agriculture. Buyeye, Z. (2018). DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF HYDROPONIC VERTICAL STRUCTURES FOR PLANT GROWTH TO EVALUATE THEIR PERFORMANCE AGAINST TRADITIONAL FIELD PLANTING . KwaZuluNatal Pietermaritzburg: School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2017, June 21). Retrieved from United Nation: https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/worldpopulation-prospects-2017.html Designing Buildings Wiki. (2019, November 8). Retrieved from Office: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Office Envirolgenuity. (2018). Retrieved from The Vertical http://www.enviroingenuity.com/food_verticalfarming.html
Farm:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2019, December 4). Retrieved from Agriculture Land Use Indicator: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/EL/visualize Future Direction International. (2013, November 1). Retrieved from Feeding the Cities: Is Urban Agriculture the Future of Food Security?: http://www.futuredirections.org.au/publication/feeding-the-cities-is-urbanagriculture-the-future-of-food-security/ Goh, Ai Tee and Ahmad, Yahaya. (2006). PUBLIC LOW-COST HOUSING IN MALAYSIA : CASE STUDIES ON PPR LOW-COST FLATS IN KUALA 112
LUMPUR. Kuala Lumpur: Department of Architecture, Faculty of the Built Environment, University of Malaya. Graff, G. J. (2011). Skyfarming. Waterloo, Ontario, Canada: University of Waterloo. Gregory, L. (2019, October 22). Apartment Guide. Retrieved from Apartments vs. Condos: 6 Ways They are Different: https://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/apartment-vs-condo/ High-Rise Building Definition, Development, and Use. (2009). In P. Johnson, HighRise Security and Fire Life Safety (p. 26). Elsevier Inc. Industrial Building. (2016). INLAND REVENUE BOARD OF MALAYSIA. Jan Willem Erisman, Nick van Eekeren, Jan de Wit, Chris Koopmans, Willemijn Cuijpers, Natasja Oerlemans. (2016). Agriculture and biodiversity: a better balance benefits both. (pp. 157-174). Netherlands: AIMS Agriculture and Food. Johnson, P. (2009). High-Rise Building Definition. In P. Johnson, High-Rise Security and Fire Life Safety (p. 26). Elsevier Inc. Kim, S. (2017). Urban Farming. CENTRAL AVE, SUITE 1550, PHOENIX: Vitalyst Health Foundation. Marmot, A. F. (1978). The Legacy of Le Corbusier and High-Rise Housing. Alexandrine Press. Max Roser, H. R.-O. (2019, November 11). Our World in Data. Retrieved from World Population Growth. Niu H, Clark C, Zhou J, Adriaens P. (2010). “Scaling Of Economic Benefits From Green Roof Implementation In Washington,”. Dc. Environ Sci Technol, (p. 44). Washington. Pesantez, G. (2018, May 16). 68% of the world population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, says UN. New York, United State. R.V., T. (2002). OFF THE SHELF HYDROPONIC GARDENS. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc, 159-160. Robert McDougall, Paul Kristiansen, and Romina Rader. (2019). Small-scale urban agriculture results in high yields but requires judicious management of inputs to achieve sustainability. Australia: PNAS. S. C. M. Hui and J. Jie. (2014). Assessment of thermal comfort in transitional space. Change in building Services for (pp. pp. 1–13.). Joint Symposium 2014. STEELE, K. (2017). URBAN FARMING. CENTRAL AVE, SUITE 1550, PHOENIX: VITALYST HEALTH FOUNDATION.
113
Sustainable vs Conventional Agriculture. (2015, February). Retrieved from Environmental Topics and Essays: https://you.stonybrook.edu/environment/sustainable-vs-conventionalagriculture/ Suzanna. (2017, February 11). Retrieved from Built space for the future: https://lakberendezde.cafeblog.hu/2017/02/11/epitett-ter-a-jovoben/ Tim Health, Yiming Shao. (2014, July 21). The Conversation. Retrieved from Vertical farms offer a bright future for hungry cities: https://theconversation.com/vertical-farms-offer-a-bright-future-for-hungrycities-26934 VM, P. (2014). Study of the sustainability issues of food production using vertical farm methods in an urban environment within the state of Indiana. Purdue University, Lafayette, USA: Unpublished Dissertation Thesis. Wilby, M. (2019, Jan 22). The Conversation. Retrieved from Francis Bacon: the 17thcentury philosopher whose scientific ideas could tackle climate change today: https://theconversation.com/francis-bacon-the-17th-century-philosopherwhose-scientific-ideas-could-tackle-climate-change-today-108228 Zuo, Y. ( 2015). Study on Design of High-Rise Commercial Residential Complex. Baotou, China: International Conference on Applied Science and Engineering Innovation (ASEI 2015) .
114
APPENDIX A:
QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RUL 674 RESEARCH PROJECT
APPENDIX B:
SEMI STRUCTURED INTERVIEW
RUL 674 Research Project Design Strategy For Community Farming and Potential Edible Plants in High Rise Prepared by Tan Yong Xin (P-RM0066/18) School of Housing, Building and Planning Interview Questions: 1) What is the best transitional space do you think a community garden should be in the building?
2) What is the time for you to cultivate the vegetation and fruit plants in Our Tampines Hub roof top community garden?
3) What type of fertiliser and soil that you use for farming?
4) How do you cultivate the seedling? How long do you harvest your vegetation?
5) What are the necessary facilities in community farming in high rise?
6) What is the further design enhancement for community farming in high rise?
7) Do you use pesticide for community farming? How to avoid insects from destroying the crops?
8) How do you cultivate the big size edible plants and maintain on roof top in high rise with such a limited space?