A Switzerland-based design group is bringing back the geodesic dome in a big way with an aquaponic greenhouse that can be placed on just about any flat roof, Zak Stone reports.
For all the press it has received, urban farming is often portrayed as a practice consisting solely of elbow grease and some vacant land. And while it may not require any more than that at the bare minimum, promises of truly land-efficient urban food production come most often in the form of forward-thinking structures that are designed to make good use of limited space. Where, then, can grassroots and high design find common ground to grow on?
Enter the Globe / Hedron, by Zürich-based Conceptual Devices. The geodesic dome "would house an aquaponics system," Stone writes – "a mini-ecosystem in which plants clean the water where fish swim and fish waste fertilizes the plants – capable of feeding 16 people year-round. The unique structure of the dome... would support the weight of the fish tank, enabling installation on flat roofs without adapting the structure of the building."
"Panels on the dome's exterior would provide both shade and insulation, allowing the the structure to adapt to local environments, while the compact size and easy assembly would enable it to be shipped around the world."
FULL STORY: A Geodesic Dome Promises Fish from the Sky
America's Largest Indoor Vertical Farm Opens in Chicago
Chicagoans sure take their urban agriculture seriously. While the city focuses on converting vacant land to farms in some of the city's struggling neighborhoods, entrepreneurs are doing the same indoors.
New York Becomes a Global Leader in...Farming?
Only a decade after the last family farm in the city closed, commercial agriculture is mining "the last slice of untapped real estate in the city" to reap a bounty of benefits - from locally grown basil and bok choy to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Urban Farming Addressing Hunger (and More) in Pittsburgh
Urban farming provides opportunities to increase food security in addition to other benefits.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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