The Vertical Farm Condo (VF condo) , Manhattan, New York (Thesis)

Description	New York city, nowadays, with its almost irreplaceable particular character, where’s the perfect grid is the element that determines the rules. Where’s the height is a factor that allows us, as architects, to think about different concepts of architecture but at the same time, limits us as planners, for a very precise margins. Where’s the society who lives in that city and its diversity , as happens in other cities in the western world creates the city`s magic. where’s different needs and approaches that exist in this city are an integral part of the every day living. All of these are factors that have formed and shaped this city to be what we all know today. In such a “built” city like New York, where it seems that there is no room for new creations, we must always look for innovative and creative solutions, in order to make the city more energetic , lived in a more pleasant, stimulating, comfortable, and most of all, more human way. Our cities are here to stay. We must know how to take advantage of them and use them in a more conscious and reasonable way to get results that can last for the next centuries. The following work is the result of a competition of ideas for students , organized by AWR ( Architecture Workshop in Rome ) . The competition involves the design of a Vertical Farm in a site which is located in Chelsea , a neighborhood in Manhattan . The site is located at the intersection of the 10th Ave and the West 18st and 19th St , where there is today a parking lot . the site is adjacent to the High Line , a linear park built on a section of New York`s disused elevated railway used to called the “West Side Line” , which is a very important factor that has a directly influence on the concept approach and the design of my project. The building`s uses and it`s functionality face an actual real problem of the world population growth and the increasing food demand . in fact, within the next 30 years , we will need an area of agriculture the size of almost the entire South America to feed the world’s population , which unfortunately, a land in that size is not available . This forces us to find alternative solution. Vertical farming has the potential to solve this problem . Moreover, the building provides residential and commercial parts that are integrated all in one building at Chelsea`s neighborhood, in Manhattan. The project addresses this multi-functionality , which has been one of the main challenges in its development , so as to satisfy both the residential part, with a maximum of privacy , and the farm with the commercial part that are also intended to be used as a visitor center . The project was also integrated citywide giving greater importance and taking advantage of the presence of the former railway which has become an urban park , with a solution that integrates the path along the linear park within the building. The project proposal , facing such a current thematic, researching for a design solutions in such a “ built “ city like New York . They are all the result of this thesis .

Description

New York city, nowadays, with its almost irreplaceable particular character, where’s the perfect grid is the element that determines the rules. Where’s the height is a factor that allows us, as architects, to think about different concepts of architecture but at the same time, limits us as planners, for a very precise margins. Where’s the society who lives in that city and its diversity , as happens in other cities in the western world creates the city`s magic. where’s different needs and approaches that exist in this city are an integral part of the every day living. All of these are factors that have formed and shaped this city to be what we all know today. In such a “built” city like New York, where it seems that there is no room for new creations, we must always look for innovative and creative solutions, in order to make the city more energetic , lived in a more pleasant, stimulating, comfortable, and most of all, more human way. Our cities are here to stay. We must know how to take advantage of them and use them in a more conscious and reasonable way to get results that can last for the next centuries.

The following work is the result of a competition of ideas for students , organized by AWR ( Architecture Workshop in Rome ) .

The competition involves the design of a Vertical Farm in a site which is located in Chelsea , a neighborhood in Manhattan . The site is located at the intersection of the 10th Ave and the West 18st and 19th St , where there is today a parking lot . the site is adjacent to the High Line , a linear park built on a section of New York`s disused elevated railway used to called the “West Side Line” , which is a very important factor that has a directly influence on the concept approach and the design of my project.

The building`s uses and it`s functionality face an actual real problem of the world population growth and the increasing food demand . in fact, within the next 30 years , we will need an area of agriculture the size of almost the entire South America to feed the world’s population , which unfortunately, a land in that size is not available . This forces us to find alternative solution. Vertical farming has the potential to solve this problem .

Moreover, the building provides residential and commercial parts that are integrated all in one building at Chelsea`s neighborhood, in Manhattan. The project addresses this multi-functionality , which has been one of the main challenges in its development , so as to satisfy both the residential part, with a maximum of privacy , and the farm with the commercial part that are also intended to be used as a visitor center .

The project was also integrated citywide giving greater importance and taking advantage of the presence of the former railway which has become an urban park , with a solution that integrates the path along the linear park within the building.

The project proposal , facing such a current thematic, researching for a design solutions in such a “ built “ city like New York . They are all the result of this thesis .