Way back in April 2007, we unveiled a radical new idea that would transform skyscrapers into vertical agriculture land. The benefit of layering farms in this format minimizes the footprint of a given farm, thereby allowing for more usable green space. Additionally, it shortens the distance between cities and mass cultivators of produce. This idea of greening the urban environment was the boldest concept of 2007, which has overshadowed other projects that aren’t as exciting or grand. That said, when I came across Work AC’s Public Farm 1 (PF1), I couldn’t help but get excited about a project that actually exists, and is more than flashy renderings. A time lapsed video shows the construction process that took about month to complete, from May 15th to June 18th at the PS1 Gallery at Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City.
The structure itself is comprised of a sloped formation of construction grade cardboard tubes, which house 6-foot columns of soil for growing crops in NYC. Some “picking” tubes were intentionally left empty, so to allow access to the surrounding growing tubes, which are seeded with everything from herbs to strawberries, and pumpkins. Equipped with irrigation, the urban farm concept was built with inexpensive and sustainable materials recyclable after their use at PF1, including swings, fans, sound effects, innovative seating areas, and a refreshing pool at its center. Thus, in addition to biodiversity, the farm also serves as the social gathering place du jour, where people in the know can meet up and enjoy a variety of musical and artistic performances all summer long.
