This Skyscraper to be the World’s Largest Hydroponic Farm

Skyscrapers and farms don’t usually go together. But a 218-meter-tall skyscraper that will be the world’s largest indoor vertical hydroponic farm proves that they can

The plans for the “farmscraper” were recently unveiled by the design firm Carlo Ratti Associati were just recently unveiled, according to a company press release. The 51-story circular tower will incorporate large-scale farming, a Wumart grocery store to sell the produce, food courts, and a rooftop restaurant in one place.

The Jian Mu tower – the name comes from ancient Chinese culture about a mythical tree that connects heaven and earth –  in Shenzhen, China will be the first of its kind.

Benefits of Vertical Farming
Vertical farming is the practice of growing food indoors in tall layers usually using sustainable soilless farming techniques like hydroponics or aquaponics ( a closed loop system). These types of farms use significantly less water and take up less room than conventional agriculture.

This type of farming has been gaining in popularity and vertical farms are located in cities around the world in old warehouses, and even underground in an old unused WWII bomb shelter in London, England.

“Small-scale urban farming is happening in cities all over the world – from Paris to New York to Singapore. The Jian Mu Tower, however, takes it to the next level,” Carlo Ratti, founding partner of Carlo Ratti Associati and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said in the press release.

The farmscraper dedicates 10,000 square meters of space to growing food. It is expected to produce an estimated 270,000 kilograms of a range of produce per year that include vegetables, fruits, and salad greens, according to Deezen. That’s enough to feed 40,000 people.

“We worked alongside a company called ZERO, which specializes in innovative agricultural solutions,” Ratti told Deezen. “The ultimate solution we developed is an efficient one from a management perspective and it adapts traditional robotic hydroponic farms to a vertical facade.”

Urban Planning at its best
The Jian Mu Tower is about more than just sustainable agriculture, it’s also about environmental urban planning too. The greenery on the buildings’ façade could reduce the heat in the interior and reduce the need for air-conditioning. The humidity and precipitation in the city would provide water to irrigate the plants.

The farmscraper will also allow Shenzhen to be more food sufficient without having to bring food long distances from farm to table. This uses less energy and helps reduce greenhouse gasses.

But one of the biggest pluses, is that the buildings elements work together to bring nature into the building and the city, according to the press release.

The vertical gardens are double height and will surround the interior office space making the building feel like a natural setting. Indoor forests and sitting spaces for workers and visitors will provide the benefits of being in nature and truly connect heaven and earth.