The first design was Randolph Ruiz’s ‘Stead (Sustainable Technology Experimental Agricultural Dwelling) which featured a unique sun-shading façade, a photovoltaic array, as well as an enormous rooftop hydroponic farm. The six-acre industrial building (which actually exists in the San Fernando Valley) collects millions of gallons rainwater a year, which is then used to produce a variety of crops by urban farmers who live on-site. The adaptive re-use of an existing structure provides a unique alternative to the “vertical farming” trend that requires excessive amounts of new building materials.
LEAVE A COMMENT