COMPLEX TYPOLOGIES

ARC4012

TOWNFARM
(URBAN FARMING)

TANIKA PRABHAKAR
16BAR0040
Site
The site is located in sector-21, Budanpur, Panchkula, Haryana. The 2.14 acres of
land is in the residential area of sector-21 with nearby basic amenities and a
renowned school diagonal to the site. Site can be accessed through three roads with
the main access being from 30m wide road on the East side.
Concept
The main objective was to bridge the gap between urban dwellings and our agrarian
roots, due to which the concept of urban farming was incorporated in order to solve
three major problems prevailing in our society:
Mass Urbanization
Housing and Urban Green Space
Adequate food production
Urban farming is an attempt to grow alternative, local food in a more sustainable way
and to achieve the symbiosis between human and nature. The basic idea was to
create a building that lives and breathes and reconnect the cities with agriculture.
Design Development

The design started off with a basic idea of having staggered form creating voids to
incorporate the gardens that won’t only produce food but also allow natural light and
ventilation in the building, creating a sustainable, eco-futuristic building. Another
feature to be incorporated was a central courtyard providing a platform for interaction
as well as enhancing the essence of the building with natural aesthetics.
Final Form
Exploring various forms, the final form was a basic cube with additive and subtractive
elements in order to create the built form and the voids to accommodate the farms.

The two five-storey blocks accommodate 48 apartments in total witch each one
having their own private garden. The top floor has the provision of a common multi-
purpose space and grow bags have been planted to practice common farming
activities.
Site Planning
The main access gate is the east gate that is accessed through the 30m wide road.
There is another access gate on the west and a service exit on the north side. The
central plaza has a restricted vehicular movement and is made pedestrian friendly.
The central plaza is landscaped in order to provide shade for the pedestrians and it
acts as a common interactive space for the users of the two blocks.
The site has 20 surface parking stalls for the short-term visitors and 90 car parking
stalls in the basement for the residents or long-term guests. The access gate has the
incorporation of the concept of green wall and green roof which enhances the whole
essence of the space.
Floor Plans

Floor plans repeat on alternate floors creating type A and type B layout alternately
which creates a staggered form. Each floor accommodates four 2BHK units and two
3BHK units.
Details
Urban farming promises a self-sustaining society and addresses the nutritional
needs of the urban cities by enabling food production with less resources. The
system followed in townfarm is aeroponic system that requires very little soil and less
water as compared to the conventional systems. These are basically of two types
Vertical and Horizontal. Vertical systems are used for growing leafy vegetables such
as Basil, Coriander, Lettuce, Thyme, Spinach, Gerbera etc. Horizontal systems are
used for growing climbers and shrubs such as Vine Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Bell
peppers, Gourds, water melon. The dividing trellis between to gardens incorporates
the vertical system that is used to grow cucumbers, vine tomatoes, bitter gourd etc.
as per the user’s requirement. The whole system creates miniature eco-system and
micro climate inside the premises.
Views