'Dragonfly' Vertical Farm Concept in New York

via Designboom - Weblog on 5/18/09


'dragonfly' vertical farm concept by vincent callebaut architectures
image courtesy vincent callebaut architectures

belgian firm vincent callebaut architectures have designed a vertical farm based 
on the wings of a dragonfly. located along the east river at the south edge of rooselvelt island
in new york city the tower is a true living organism being self sufficient in water, 
energy and bio fertilizing. spanning 132 floors and 600 vertical meters, the dragonfly 
can accommodate 28 different agricultural fields for the production of fruit, vegetables,
grains, meat and dairy. 


'dragonfly' vertical farm concept 
image courtesy vincent callebaut architectures


'dragonfly' vertical farm concept 
image courtesy vincent callebaut architectures

to ensure the social diversity and a permanent life cycle (24h/24) in the tower, 
the mixed programmation is mainly laid out around two poles of housing 
and work places. around housings, offices and research laboratories as well as 
the most private to the most public agricultural and leisure spaces are designed 
in gardens, kitchen gardens, orchards, meadows, rice fields, farms and suspended
fields. the distribution of flows is made around a true safe spine spreading in loop 
the numerous elevators, the goods elevators and stair wells serving all the levels 
by separating simultaneously the inputs and the outputs recycled from plants, 
animals and human beings.


'dragonfly' vertical farm concept 
image courtesy vincent callebaut architectures


interior view of gardenhouse between the two dragonfly wings
image courtesy vincent callebaut architectures


bioloft concept for the urban gardner
image courtesy vincent callebaut architectures

general info
program : a metabolic farm for urban agriculture / mixing uses
location : new york city, roosevelt island
surface area : 350.000 m≤
heights : antenna=700m; roof=600m; top floor=575m
floor count : 132
agricultural fields : 28
model studies : philippe steels
perspectives : benoit patterlini

Japanese Heart-Shaped Watermelons

via Gizmodo by Jason Chen on 5/11/09




Having mastered the art of making square watermelons and even pyramidwatermelons, Japanese farmers turned to making heart-shaped watermelons.

These 15,750 yen ($160) watermelons were grown by a couple and took three years to perfect down to the point where they were good enough to convince people to pay $160 for them. There's only 20 melons in this batch, but we're sure Mr. and Mrs. Hiroichi Kimura will grow more next season. [Asahi via Japan Probe via Inventor Spotvia Boing Boing]