Although China has the largest agricultural output in the world, supporting more than 20% of the world’s population, only 15% of it’s land can be cultivated, of which only 1.2% permanently supports crops.
The total land area used for farming is also set to fall as more and more land is used for development.
Spanish architectural firm Javier Ponce Architects has come up with an innovative solution.
Their design concept, titled ‘Dynamic Vertical Networks’ consists of 615-foot tall structures to be used as farms located in close proximity to urban areas like Hong Kong, in order to keep food distribution costs low.
The structures will be made of lightweight, recycled metallic materials, in a shifting floorplate design inspired by “traditional shifting terrace concepts in Chinese rice farming”.
Crops would be grown hydroponically, to create a soil-free environment. The plants will benefit from high levels of natural sunlight from the unobstructed, open design.
[via Inhabitat and World Architecture News]