Growing tall

Architectural wonders

Climate-positive vertical farm design encompasses everything from sustainable solutions such as rainwater collection and renewable energy to sourcing local and recycled materials. "Resource availability, embodied carbon (of the materials used) as well as vertical farm lifespan will be crucial at the building level," notes Gianni Talamini, associate professor and leader of City University of Hong Kong's Master of Urban Design and Regional Planning program.

"Integrating other functions and articulating open space will be of primary importance at the urban design level. Considering transportation necessities and holistic integration with existing food systems will also be essential to planning. Vertical farming requires specific technical knowledge that's typically not delivered within conventional architecture programs worldwide," Talamini says, adding that such a gap opens up possibilities for a new interdisciplinary field.

Being able to integrate and manage the technological systems critical to controlled environmental farming is one of the major challenges vertical farms are faced with. "Technology that allows flexibility of use while resulting in quality space that can be retrofitted for other functions in the future is critical," Talamini affirms.

Against the backdrop of rapid urbanization and an ever-expanding global population, vertical farming has the potential to bring greater productivity and innovation as well as sustainable solutions with far-reaching benefits for future generations.