The Architects’ Journal Architecture News & Buildings
About the School of Civil Engineering
Location Leeds LS2 | Courses MEng/BEng Architecture | Head of school Carlo Prato | Full-time tutors 7 | Part-time tutors 10 | Students 160 | Staff to student ratio 1:18
Undergraduate
Rachel Derricut
Course MEng/BEng Architecture
Studio/unit brief Design Studio 4.2
Project title Mabgate Urban Farm
Project description The brief called for a community resource building in the Mabgate area close to central Leeds. The project proposes a series of vertical food towers with high-density hydroponic growing facilities producing salad and soft fruit. A food hall is the main internal space, focusing on food preparation, cooking and eating. Its radial symmetry responds to the machine imagery of the towers, as does the use of ETFE translucent coverings. The site is organised within a grid, with each component set off a combined axial route and gathering space – but also responding to its technical food production process.
Tutor citation This project shows a strong interest in sustainable living in a city edge-of-centre setting and has used the brief to explore an unusual and novel approach. The basic idea of urban food growing by and for a community has been developed into a radical response. Food production is proposed as a high-volume, highly technical process using the most advanced hydroponics techniques. Justin Lunn