LOFT 2011 - London's Vertical Farming Competition

As citizens of a metropolis, Londoners feel everyday what population growth and urban centralisation mean. Two problems are the increased demand for real estate and for food. Looking for a possible solution, AWR organizes LOFT - an international architecture competition for the design of a new skyscraper on the Thames waterfront, a vertical farm. This means cultivating agriculture products in a vertical, energy self-sufficient structured inside our metropolitan. The concept was developed in 2000 by Dickson Despommier, in collaboration with various architecture firms.
LOFT requires the design of a vertical farm with residential use. As advanced as it sounds, the benefits of such a structure range from the continuous supply of agricultural products to the reduction of cultivated land,  generating its own energy and contributing to the ecosystem's balance. The new tower would be inserted in the City's skyline, an extremely strategic site for public transportation and a strong demand for housing. The competition represents a chance to build a real vertical city, which may well include a plaza, shopping areas, and restaurants. Early registration begins in May 2011 and the winners will be announced in September, after the summer.
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