URBAN SKYFARM

The vertical farm, located within the city’s heavily populated central business district, would support local food production while simultaneously contributing to the improvement of environmental quality through water, air filtration and renewable energy output.

Through elevating the primary source of food production, vegetation gains more exposure from sunlight and air, freeing up open public spaces at ground level.

Conceived as a giant tree, comprised of four major components – the root, trunk, branch and leaf – the structure’s lightweight form has many environmental advantages and is capable of hosting a diverse range of farming activities. The lower sections of the tree, enclosed by the design’s structural skin, provide more controlled environments for solution based productions.

The Urban Skyfarm uses hydroponic systems as substitution of soil-based agricultural extensions. By using the hydroponic system, the Urban Skyfarm can provide hundreds of light-weight farming decks which can be conditioned with supplementary heating, lighting and moisturising, while having the natural sunlight as the main resource.

In order to gain maximum exposure towards sun light, the vertical garden lifts the main outdoor vegetation area higher up in the air, which is called the leaf portion, where mostly medium based hydroponic fruit trees and larger scale vegetables needing more exposure toward outside air and sunlight can be produced.

The lower portions are controlled indoor environments using solution based hydroponic farming with artificial lighting which are more suitable to indoor products such as basil, arugula or bok choy etc.

The Urban Skyfarm provides 44,000m² outdoor farming deck space in the leaf portion and 28,000m² for the indoor farming on the lower portion along with 3,200m² solar photovoltaic panel area for renewable energy production.

The Urban Skyfarm creates its own mini ecosystem which brings balance back to the urban community.

The tree-like form creates a strong iconic figure in the prominent location, standing as a symbol of sustainable development. Together with the adjacent Cheonggyecheon Stream, the Urban Skyfarm will become a destination where local people, as well as visitors, can find fresh food in an oasis at the heart of the city.