Project
Vertical Farm in Northeast Brazil

Category 
Best Project of Building or Facility by Student

About the project
In «The Vertical Farm», Dickson Despommier discusses the urge to approach the global food production in a more environmental oriented way, especially in a climate crisis context. His proposal, to conceive an eco-city, was the starting point for this project. Aiming for a global-local understanding of the matter, the project adopts high-end technology — such as evolutive parametric design, LED illuminated indoor farming, hydroponics and aeroponics — to propose a vertical farm in Northeast Brazil, a tropical, humid and hot location where the food supply chain is still very dependent on oil-based transportation. The building's twisted shape was assumed as a strategy to increase performance through direct solar radiation parameters. Besides farming, other complementary programs are proposed, such as restaurant, a management unit and market. Furthermore, the project uses moving automated photovoltaic panels and rainwater harvesting for subsequent reuse.

Location
Praça do Derby, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

Project design year
2020

Extra visual materials (photos, videos etc.)
https://www.behance.net/gallery/101234985/Fazenda-Urbana-Recife-PE

Applicant and author of the project
Breno Silva de Sá Leitão, student of Federal University Of Pernambuco (Universidade Federal de Pernambuco — UFPE), young Brazilian architect whose production mainly focuses on themes of contemporary world — climate crisis, material development, adaptability and new technologies. Having completed his bachelor in the past years, the architect has been part of two of the best architecture offices of São Paulo (Brazil) according to Archello, Estudio Guto Requena and Reinach Mendonça Arquitetos. Breno has also received some awards for academic production and as outstanding young architect.