The Harlem Edge, Finalist Entry by PRAUD

We just published the winners of the design ideas competition, The Harlem Edge / Cultivating Connections, organized by Emerging New York Architects (ENYA). One of the finalist entries was the proposal Greenhouse Transformer by Dongwoo Yim and Rafael Luna of Boston firm PRAUD. The concept received an Honorable Mention.

Project Description from the Architects:

The Greenhouse Transformer is a typology for urban farming with the purpose of creating environments for learning year round within the community of West Harlem. The main goal is to integrate life cycle components of food production into a building that is also a catalyst for activity in the area and allows visitors to engage in the program in a more efficient way.
To achieve this goal, we introduced a transforming system that can provide various environments as nature. One of the things that restricts farming in a city the most is climate condition. Unlike in a farm land where developed irrigation systems are, urban farming should stricktly depend on natural climate conditions. Together with mechanical means, the system allows different types of climate so that climate conditions for urban farming can be more controlled.

Food Production:
The building allows for year round farming through hydroponics, greenhouse transformation, and exterior farming.

Education:
The building provides spaces for teaching and learning about urban farming in a direct matter, where people interested can see the process first hand.

Processing and distribution:
Goods grown in the farms can be collected and sold to raise funds for the Learning program.

Consumption:
During summer months, the open deck plaza allows for farmer’s markets, where the products can be sold, and used by local food vendors.

Entertainment:
The building itself provides new settings that demonstrate different environments and settings for social mixing, and creates new recreational activities for the community.

Project Details:

Project: Emerging New York Architects Competition 2012 (The Harlem Edge; Cultivating Connetions)
Result: Honorable Mention
Year: 2012
Team: PRAUD (Rafael Luna, Dongwoo Yim)
Area: 2,475 m2

Find more plans, sections and elevations of Greenhouse Transformer in the image gallery below.