The Homefarm concept allows seniors
“We designed this concept for Singapore,”
between producers and consumers,
live in a garden environment created
says SPARK Director Stephen Pimbley,
and contribute to the perpetuation of
by a vegetable farm, where they may
“but there is the potential for it to be
Singapore’s ‘City in a Garden’ vision in a
also find employment. The concept
applied in any location that would support
productive capacity.
introduces vertical aquaponic farming
the growth of leafy green vegetables
and rooftop soil planting to the realm of
on building facades and rooftops.” He
SPARK believes it is the duty of the
high-density and flexible housing that
continues, “We are keen to see this project
architectural profession, through its
has been designed to cater to the needs
materialise at some point in the future. The
capacity to imagine and shape both the
and preferences of seniors. Residents
concept is a realisable solution to real and
city and the ways in which we live, to
may combat the financial stress that is
pressing problems faced by many of the
contribute to overcoming the challenges
often faced post-retirement by working
world’s growing cities.”
of urban life. Homefarm is the second
conceptual project to emerge from
part-time at the farm under the direction
of a professional vertical farming
The gardening activity would offer
SPARK’s Singapore studio this year,
implementation team. Facilities catered
numerous benefits beyond personal
following the Solar Orchid floating hawker
to the needs of an older population
income generation, including community
centre. Homefarm is part of a growing
are provided in the lower levels of the
connectivity and the promotion of health.
portfolio of research and visionary design
development (and are also open to the
Simultaneously, beyond boosting the
being undertaken by the studio in the
public), while the housing is stacked
resiliency of Singapore’s food supply, the
interests of imagining untried responses to
above in a curvilinear terraced formation
production of food in the heart of the city
real urban problems.
reminiscent of land contours.
could provide a platform for community
20 Landscape & Urban Design Issue 17
education, help lower Singapore’s high
For more information:
carbon footprint by closing the gap
www.sparkarchitects.com