| Authors |
Aziz, M; Monticelli, M; Radwan, L; Abdelkader, S; Bellini, B; Buldrini, G; Coluccia, M; Carvino, A; Elkady, M; Signoroni, L; Orsini, F |
| Abstract |
From March 2020, the lockdown associated with the ongoing pandemic has constrained the lives of many within their houses or neighbourhoods. As a consequence, a greater awareness of the need to redesign urban spaces to make them more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable has evolved in civil society. The international student challenge UrbanFarm aims at rethinking vacant urban spaces, turning them into places for social innovation and food production. During the UrbanFarm2021 edition, the team Soul Farmers developed a project for Salus Space, a multifunctional hub in Savena district, Bologna. The main goal was to create an urban farm that could foster wellbeing and social inclusion while integrating innovative technologies. The project objectives toward the three pillars of sustainability are hereby presented. Social sustainability was addressed through tailored programs involving people who suffer from cyber-addiction. Accordingly, integrated landscape elements were designed to allow residents and visitors to reconnect with themselves and the environment. The environmental sustainability also plays a key role, thanks to the cultivation of a diverse plant species (from traditional vegetables to new and exotic crops, e.g., ginger and aromatics), as well as the inclusion of innovative growing systems (e.g., a rooftop greenhouse equipped with hydroponics, and a vertical farm inside a shipping container). Alongside, animal proteins are produced inside a versatile insect farm solution. Rainwater collection systems and constructed wetlands have been designed to recover water and ensure its efficient use. Furthermore, an integrated solid waste management system has been developed to recycle waste. Overall, the use of sustainable materials in construction and the minimization of the carbon footprint were the driving principles for the built elements. Finally, the project economic sustainability is tackled by a diversified set of income sources associated with a number of activities, toward the principles of circular economy. |
