URBAN FARMING

Water surfaces

The actual role of water surfaces• Almost all cities has momentous water surfaces, most of them lay on

river banks.• They are usually the main source of water, these were originally the

main reason of the localisation of the settlement by its foundation.• They are used as the main canal of the city.• In case of greater water surfaces (rivers and lakes) shipping can be

important, the water can be used for transport.• The water surface is unbuilt.• The banks can be extremely important recreation sites.• The banks can be important industrial sites.• The banks can be ports with many purposes (recreation or

commercial)• The banks can be urban highways.• In case of rivers bridges are extremly important urban nodes.

• River as a raw water source.

Drinking water source.

• River as a raw water source.

Canal.

• River as a raw water source.

Shipping (recreation).

• River as a raw water source.

Shipping (industrial).

• Even in extremely dense downtowns the water surface is free from buildings. A surely remaining open space.

Unbuilt area.

• Even in extremely dense downtowns the water surface is free from buildings. A surely remaining open space.

Recreation zone I.

• Even in extremely dense downtowns the water surface is free from buildings. A surely remaining open space.

Recreation zone II.

• Even in extremely dense downtowns the water surface is free from buildings. A surely remaining open space.

Industrial zone (port) I.

• Even in extremely dense downtowns the water surface is free from buildings. A surely remaining open space.

Industrial zone (port) II.

• Even in extremely dense downtowns the water surface is free from buildings. A surely remaining open space.

Recreation zone (port) I.

• Even in extremely dense downtowns the water surface is free from buildings. A surely remaining open space.

Recreation zone (port) II.

The opportunities of water surfaces• Considering rivers, river deltas, and lakes the water can be directly

used up for irrigation.• The unbuilt feature provides a huge „free” area.• There exist current and historical examples that green areas can be

deployed onto such water surfaces.• From the point of view of food production the situation is more

advantageous.• Most of food productive plants have shallow root zone, but require

water in appropriate seasons, or in appropriate periods.• Due to these facts, food production on floating platforms is quite

simple and quite advantageous.• Among coastal cities there are some with appropriate climate

(monsoon, tropical rainforest, temperate rainforest), where the floating platforms can be also used on sea, without additional irrigation system.

• Old, abandoned ship in Georgia, covered by naturally grown shrubs.

An unwanted example.

• Capital of the Aztec Empire, founded on a salty lake (because of religious reasons). Greatest part of the city (gardens) is floating.

A historical example I.

• Floating settlements onLake Titicaca ,made entirely from cane, moreover there is some additional cane cultivation.

A historical example II.

• The root zone is in the water, but there exists also soil (Myanmar).

A traditional example.

Different types of floating platforms I.• There can be used many method for food production on floating

platforms.• The two main groups are those platforms, where the root zone is

directly in the water, while in the other group the root zone is spearated from the water.

• The first group can be separated again for two subgroups, in the first case there exist some soil among the roots, which is kept together by the roots themselves, while in the other subgroup there are only the roots in the water, similarly to the well-known hydroponic farming.

• The examples of Tenocthtitlan and the Titicaca lake floating village belong to the first subgroup.

• The second subgroup needs the smallest structure, becuse of in this case only the weigt of the plants must be kept over the surface.

• The members of this first greater group can be used only on sweetwaters (rivers, lakes, river deltas).

• Floating gardens on the River Seine in Paris, France.

The scheme of the first subgroup.

• Floating gardens on the River Seine in Paris, France.

A realisation of the first subgroup.

• Floating gardens on the River Seine in Paris, France.

A realisation of the second subgroup.

Different types of floating platforms II.• In the second group the root zon is separated from water.• In this case the floating structure must be greater and stronger, because of

the root zone must be in soil.• There are many ways for irrigation in this case and according to it can be

distinguished different subgroups.– In the first subgroup the irrigation is provided from outer source (not

sustainable)– In the second subgroup the irrigation is provided from rainwater. This is

appropriate by the mentioned climate zones (monsoon, tropical rainforest, temperate rainforest, oceanic) moreover, using the appropriate plants (wheat, barley) along with rainwater reservoirs it can be made appropriate for mediterranean climate.

– By the third subgroup irrigation is provided from the beneath water body, by using the principle of communicating vessels. On this way the level of „subterranean water” inside the floating structure is always on the same level of the outer surface, thus the ideal water supply can be provided.

• Floating gardens on the River Seine in Paris, France.

A contemporary example I.

• The root zone is separated from the water, considering the size and the simplicity, it is probably irrigated from outer source.

A realisation belongs to the second group.

• The root zone is separated from the water, considering the size and the simplicity, it is probably irrigated from outer source.

Contemporary idea I.

• Physalia: a concept for phitoremediation, not for food production. Such plant covered ships can clean the water of rivers through plants.

Contemporary idea II.

• LilyPad: a floating garden city concept.

Contemporary idea II.

• LilyPad: a floating garden city concept.

Contemporary idea III.

Thank you for your attention!