Romses Architects: Harvest Green Project, Vancouver

via Designboom - Weblog on 5/6/09

harvest green project, vancouver by romses architects
image courtesy romses architects

the 'harvest green project' by romses architects was a winning entry in
a recent competition held by the city of vancouver 'the 2030 challenge'
to address climate change plans and to guide greener and denser development, 
reducing carbon emissions for the future.

the concept of 'harvest' is explored in the project through the vertical
farming of vegetables, herbs, fruits, fish, egg laying chickens, and a
boutique goat and sheep dairy facility. in addition, renewable energy
will be harvested via green building design elements harnessing geothermal,
wind and solar power. the buildings have photovoltaic glazing
and incorporate small and large-scale wind turbines to turn the
structure into solar and wind-farm infrastructure. in addition, vertical
farming potentially adds energy back to the grid via methane generation
from composting non-edible parts of plants and animals. furthermore,
a large rainwater cistern terminates the top of the 'harvest
tower' providing on-site irrigation for the numerous indoor and outdoor
crops and roof gardens.


while the harvest green project supports the city mandate for compact
mixed-use communities in and around transit hubs, it further enhances
the mixed-use programming to include urban farming as a reaffirmation
of the importance of the connection of food to our culture
and daily life. in addition to food and energy harvesting, the proposal
purposefully incorporates program uses for residential, transit, a large
farmers market and supermarket, office and agricultural research and
educational facilities, and food related retail/hospitality. the result will
be a highly dynamic synergy of uses that compliment and support
each other.


harvest green project
image courtesy romses architects


harvest green project
image courtesy romses architects


harvest green project - sections
image courtesy romses architects



harvest green project - sections
image courtesy romses architects