FARMS FOR TO DAY AND TOM ORROW

Re s e a rc h a n d I n t ro d u c t i o n
The URBAN FARM will be world-changing innovation. Imagine a world where every town has their own local food source, grown in the safest way possible, where no drop of water or particle of light is wasted.
Smart farming makes a tremendous contribution for food sustainability for 21st century.

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OBJECTIVE METHODOLOGY DESIGN

AIM
• To inculcate green and
To design a Holistic Urban clean dietary habits in
Agro-Living Farm, in
local people.
urban mileau.
• To make sure the
uncountable damage by
conventional agricultural
practices, is undone in
near future,
infrastructurally.
 Study food security • Building typology will
and sustainability. be Residential-
 Study of technological Industrial Mixed-use
advancements in complex
agriculture industry • Previous ownership of
 Precedent study of land used it for
Urban vertical farms cultivation of
and greenhouses vegetables
 Determining site • Can be potentially used
selection criteria for similar purpose

Challenging Economics of Farming and the Pressures • Vertical farming is the practice of growing crops in
of the Real Estate Industry, vertically stacked layers.
Decreasing Farmlands

Reasons Effects • Current agricultural practices are neither

1. Urbanisation economically nor environmentally sustainable and
1. Housing issues| Slums
India's yields for many agricultural commodities
2. Population Growth 2. Unemployment are low.

3. Displacement due to
mining / Estate business
4. Industrialisation
5. Lack of Education and
Sanitary facilities
6. Poor quality of life
Increasing Urbanisation
3. Development of slums •
4. Water and sanitation • It often incorporates controlled-environment
problems agriculture, which aims to optimize plant growth,
5. Traffic congestion and soilless farming techniques.
6. Crime • It could affect obesity and chronic disease by
% Population Employed = 60%
7. Food Insecurity % Share in GDP = 17% making healthy options more available.

1. Reliable year-round crop • Will also help eliminate carbon footprint induced by
Food security, production
as defined by the United Nations’ Committee on World Food Security, means that all people, at all times, Animal Husbandry Industry
have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food 2. Unaffected by adverse
preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life. weather conditions • And urban farming could help feed a quickly
growing world population, because many of the
3. Better use of space
predicted 9 billion people on the planet (by 2050)
•Dietary needs FARM are increasingly headed to cities.
non-fulfilled •To cater to its 4. Minimise water usage
•Reduction in •No Making population
farm lands Growing Self dietary needs 5. Environmentally friendly
Declining urban compensation
Villages Reliant AGRITECTURE
•Reduction in population to •To establish
pasture lands “FARMLANDS” Cities agro- 6. No chemicals or
due to space Commerce BUILT pesticides
constraints ENVIRO-
NMENT
7. Reduce transport costs

8. Highly energy efficient

Urbanization is also associated with dietary shifts towards more processed and pre-prepared foods, in part in
response to long working hours and, for a proportion of the urban population, with reduced physical activity. 9. Safe for staff

10. Low labour costs

Falguni Kalraiya
HOLISTIC AGRO LIVING 5th Year | Thesis
SMMCA, Nagpur
 PRECED EN T STUDY | ROOF TOP GREEN HOUSE, AGROTOPI A L IV E CA SE STUDY- SAMAJIK

Precedent & Case studies

VANIKARAN , SEM INARY HIL LS, N GP
Reason for selection Design program
• Intensive vertical farming
• They grow, maintain,
• Involvement of community via education • Farming space (6000sqm), hydroponic growing pods. 5
and sell ornamental,
tours sections for fruit and vegetable section, mainly tomatoes and
medicinal and
• Research Center cucumbers.
commercial plants to
• Manageable scale for better • 12 m high greenhouse
various customers.
understanding • Offices, meeting rooms, and technical rooms for processing
products
• Falls under forest dept.
• Observation space and showroom to display company’s latest
of ministry and is
innovations
maintained by GOI.
Keywords- Agriculture, urban Farming, Self
reliant City
Design Firm- Van Bergen Kolpa Architects,
Meta Architects • INSIDES AND OUTSIDES
Client- Inagro and REO Veiling OF GREENHOUSE
Location- Roeselare, Belgium
Project area- 9500 SQM • Use of exhausts to
Budget- 10 M Euro release hot air, trapped
Yr. of const.- 2018-2020 in greenhouse, since
Nagpur is a hot climate
location
Building for research and education
• Use of water absorbing
• The 9,500 m2 building contains high-tech research facilities
sheet panels, which are
for the cultivation of fruit and leaf vegetables,
sprayed water to, to
• surrounded by an educational route for the general public.
maintain temp inside
• The cultivation of tomatoes and lettuce, but also pepper and
polyhouse.
strawberry can be experienced in four different climate zones.

• In the facade conservatory on the ring road there is a double- • Fertilizers and irrigation
height conservatory for innovative vertical cultivation. pumps on site

• Vermi compost pits-

• The foot of the double-height 2’ x 5” each, 4 Nos, giving
facade conservatory is used to 500kgs of organic
store rainwater from the roof, fertilizer each, every 2
which is used to irrigate the crops. months

• Dilapidated
Greenhouse shed, stll
in use to plant
saplings.

• Site also has mist

rooms to promote
early plant growth.

Conclusion Architechtural Challenges

1. To integrate agricultural commerce and agriculture itself under one roof
• Flexible spaces in urban environment
• Incorporation of research facility with production unit 2. To provide space where people eat, live, and work al together, making built
• Spaces for urban dwellers to be part of farming processes, keeps them accountable too. environment, a self breathing live environment.
• Use of CEA ( controlled environment agriculture )
3. Provide agriculture facility in the center of the city, all with its traffic and people.

Falguni Kalraiya
HOLISTIC AGRO LIVING 5th Year | Thesis
SMMCA, Nagpur
 Site Study- Sunpath & Windflow Soil Type- Clayey Soil, Highly arable Land
FARMS FOR TO DAY AND TOM ORROW
Views from / of site
• Previous ownership of land used it for
Site selection criteria and requirements -

Site Selection & Analysis

cultivation of vegetables

•Stability Shadowplay - No built form casts shadow • Can be potentially used for similar
• Protection from Rain, Snow, and Wind on site
purpose
BASIC •Presence of Sunlight and Shade
•Utilities, Fences, and Accessibility
•Additional Factors to Consider

• Un-used, abandoned, buildings that are giving 0

returns from the land

•Rooftops of public places that have potential of

SPECIFIC commerce in Agriculture

•In the middle of city common din, so as to that its

part of urban city fabric

Site Location -
Plot adjacent to St. Xavier’s High School, Hiwari
Nagar, East Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.

NAG RIVER

GREAT NAG ROAD

SITE

Site Slope
• Max Slope - 8.5%
• Av. Slope – 2.1%
• Variations between 3-4 m
Neighborhood Context-
• Site is adjacent to Xavier’s high school, Hiwari- Nagar Branch, besides
nag river
• Site is comparatively a flat land SWOT Analysis -
• Encroachment towards the frontal part- shops like shoes, sweaters,
garbage dumps, heavy vehicle parking etc Design Considerations-
• The daily vegetable market is set up throughout the site line
S W O T • Site FSI- 1.5 Can be extended upto 2
Travel Distances - • Site Setback- Min. 9 m from at road frontage
• No particular height Restrictions for the site
• Main Railway Station STRENGTH WEAKNESS OPPPORTUNITY THREAT
• Building typology will be Residential- Industrial Mixed use complex
• Easy accessibility- • Extensive wild • Can make use of Nag • Presence of School
7 km (10 min Drive) • Development of
Located on Main road, vegetation on site- Nadi to a beautiful
middle of common din shrubs majorly extent extensive housing
• Nearest Metro Station- Vaishno Devi Metro Station, East Nagpur • Major amenities are • Encroachment on site • Establish a market in Projects nearby • Use of light colored materials, since site will have extensive heat
situated in vicinity fronts towards road East Ngp exposure
2.1 km (5 min Drive) • Site surrounded by • Site faces S-W • Neighboring places are
Residential, commercial • Varied undulations on seeing much • Building orientation has to be taken into consideration.
• Babasaheb Ambedkar Int. Airport Institutional Spaces site development • Use of landscaping along the side to school, to block noise and
• Presence of water body
17 km (20 min Drive) residential activities.

Falguni Kalraiya
HOLISTIC AGRO LIVING 5th Year | Thesis
SMMCA, Nagpur
 D e s i g n P ro g r a m & C i r c u l a t i o n
AREA STATEMENT
• WEIGHBRIDGE • RACK STACK • WORKPLACE FOR • SCHEME FOR A
AGRICULTURE MARKET

OFFICE & EXHIBITION SPACES

HOUSING
VERTICAL FARMING SPACES
• AUCTION • LABORATORY/ A TEAM OF 10-15 TOTAL OF 70~80 • Site area – 58,415.8 sq. m = 14.43 Acre
PAVILLION RESEARCH PEOPLE – [5 NOS] FAMILIES, PURELY • TOTAL Built Up [as per design program] = 88,906 sq. m
• MANDI MARKET • GREENHOUSE FLATS • Road Area = 7,500 sq. m [~ 4.7% of site area]
• SHOPS • POLYHOUSE • ADMINISTRATION • Future Expansion area on site = 8000 sq. m
• EXOTIC FOOD • GARDEN SPACES • Open Spaces on site = 15% of site – 8700 sq. m
cafe • MIST ROOM • LOBBY • RECREATION
• PARKING • RECREATION • FSI [Considering 2] – 1.52 Consumed
• STORAGE • SEEDLING • LUNCHROOM • SAHUKAR NIWAS
• WAREHOUSE GROWING SPACE • CAFÉ [FOR 20 PEOPLE] Building Footprint can be 1,16,830 sq m – either unitary or as different blocks
• GODOWN • LOUNGE
• SERVICES • NURSERY • RESTHOUSE
• OFFICE • [FOR 20 PEOPLE] • Sewage treatment Plant, Water catchment area, Transformer rooms etc, will be decided in
• OFFICE • SPACE FOR
process.
• TOILET • BIO GARDEN KRUSHI MELA
• STUDY SPACES • MOTHLY
WORKSHOPS
• Waste water
treatment
• Site sewage

Total Population- that of 1 ward- 44,935 people 5. EXHIBITION SPACE – 50~70 SQ M

1. INDOOR FARMING / PRODUCTION AREA 6. CAFÉ [for 50 pple]

• Vegetable req. per person per day – 400gm 360 sq m , inc. kitchen
• For 44,935 people, 18,000 gm per day Lounge +co-working space- 100 sq. m
• Considering tomato, 1 kg requires 0.8 sq m space, so 18,000
kg will require 2400 sqm space 8. SHOP FOR PROCESSED ORGANIC PRODUCE
[ considering stacking upto 6 layers] • 200 Sq m
Shops can be mini outlets or a supermarket clubbing
2. GREENHOUSE – 300 SQ M AREA other general selling items.

3. OFFICE SPACES & TECH DEPT 9. HOUSING

• Cabins – [18 nos] – 3x4.5 = 245 sq. m • For 70~80 families, 5-6 members each
• 15% circulation space = 37 sq. m • Each apartment would be of 80~ 100 sq. m
• Toilet space – 60 sq m • Making 75,000 sq m for living space
• 15% for circulation = 11,250 sq. m + 60 sq. m
4. PACKAGING AND LABEL service tower
• Packaging – 300 sq. m • Amenities floor – 1000 sq. m
• Storage – 1. cold- 100 sq m • Total 83,370 sq, m
2. Normal – 200 sq. m
3. storage for appliances – 500 sq. m 10. PARKING [Multi Level]
4- Wheeler Car parking – 150 Nos
• Control room – [5x2x6]= 60 sq. m Area on ground - [ (15+15) x 16 sq.m ] = 380
• Laboratory – 100 sq. m Total ground area = 400sq. M
• Workshop area – 100 sq. m
• Meeting room – [2x3x4]= 24 sq. m 2- Wheeler Car parking – 200 Nos
• Conference room – [8x10] = 80 sq. m Total Ground area covered = 600 sq. M

Falguni Kalraiya
HOLISTIC AGRO LIVING 5th Year | Thesis
SMMCA, Nagpur
 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT & CONCEPT
CONCEPT From linear to circular

• The circular economy is a model of production and consumption,

which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and • By shifting our mindset, we can treat waste as a design
recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this flaw.
way, the life cycle of products is extended. In practice, it implies reducing • In a circular economy, a specification for any design is that
waste to a minimum. the materials re-enter the economy at the end of their use.
• By doing this, we take the linear take-make-waste system
• In our current economy, we take materials from the Earth, make products and make it circular.
from them, and eventually throw them away as waste – the process is
linear. In a circular economy, by contrast, we stop waste being produced • Many products could be circulated by being
in the first place. maintained, shared, reused, repaired, refurbished,
remanufactured, and, as a last resort, recycled.

• Food and other biological materials that are safe to return

to nature can regenerate the land, fuelling the production
of new food and materials.
“ Taking help” • With a focus on design, we can eliminate the concept of
“Staying Rooted”
In order to grow internally, external waste.
Emergence from core, Growing
help/energy is required

“Randomness”
Series of confused thoughts, still
MY DESIGN
line up for greater good.
• Thinking upon this idea of “circular” practices,
TANGENTIALLY, and getting inspired in the process by
Dave [artist] , I worked on various designs and patterns
that helped me think through the concept.

• I tried giving form to the overall talk behind Circular

economy, and came up with these.

• Few of these were then taken into building design as well.

“Finding way out” “ Focus”

Circles can collide, to help make Let the core energy grow outward
way and then inward again

“Distortion”
Line of action can sometimes be
bumpy, but worth finishing.

3 Principles of Circular design

• The first Principle is - To eliminate waste and pollution.

• Currently, our economy works in a take-make-waste system.
• We take raw materials from the Earth, we make products from them, and
eventually we throw them away as waste.
• Much of this waste ends up in landfills or incinerators and is lost. This system can
not work in the long term because the resources on our planet are finite. RE-Thinking
• The second Principle is - Circulate products and materials
• In the technical cycle, products are reused, repaired, remanufactured, and
• There's a world of opportunity to re-think and re-
recycled. design the way we make stuff.
• In the biological cycle, biodegradable materials are returned to the earth through
processes like composting and anaerobic digestion. • 'Re-Thinking Progress' explores how through a
“Spread & align”
change in perspective we can re-design the way our
Organise well, reach out, be
present, aesthetically economy works - designing products that can be
• The third Principle is - Regenerate nature, let nature regenerate. “External force” 'made to be made again' and powering the system
• Instead of continuously degrading nature, we build natural capital. Sometimes driving energy isn’t with renewable energy.
• We employ farming practises that allow nature to rebuild soils and increase within, its still okay.
biodiversity, and return biological materials to the earth.
• Currently, most of these materials are lost after use and the land used to grow “ Taking help”
• It questions whether with creativity and innovation we
them is depleted of nutrients In order to grow internally, external can build a restorative economy.
help/energy is required

Falguni Kalraiya
HOLISTIC AGRO LIVING 5th Year | Thesis
SMMCA, Nagpur
 2

2.5
1.52

39
1.

0 10 50 100

SCALE
1:450
 MULTI-LEVEL PARKING
SHAFT SYSTEM FOR 1–8 PARKING LEVELS WITHOUT WALLS OR COLUMNS BETWEEN THE PARKING SPACES

ADVANTAGES OF MULTI-LEVEL PARKING

• For a working module, up to 8 parking levels can be

provided.
• This can Automatically be operated for parking systems
for 10 to more than 100 cars.
• Variable system length available
• Multiple row arrangement with up to 3 parking rows
behind each other
• Well adaptable to individual project requirements Control unit
• Safe for user and cars ( no narrow ramps, dark stairs,
• No damage caused by theft or vandalism) For the control unit, space
• Customizable arrangement of transfer area (at least length 240 cm x width
* Overall height (cars with roof racks,
• Fast access times roof rails, antennas etc. should 160 cm x height 220 cm) must
• No ramps and driving lanes not exceed the mentioned overall be available near the transfer
• No costly illumination and ventilation necessary height).
area.
• Different car heights possible, e.g. Vans, SUVs ** Clearance underneath the gear
• Easy operation with several control options, e.g. case
transponder Transfer Area
• chip or remote control [Shown in Red] SECTION
• Suitable for public parking
• Following the idea of "Green Parking" • This is the pallate where cars
will be sat upon and turned
Parking Requirements and lifted to desired space.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRANSFER ROOMS AND DRIVE WAYS
• 4-Wheeler Requirement • Turning device is kept here.
No. of Families = 80
1. Transfer area directly above the storage and retrieval unit No. of Resident cars = 120 • The number of parking
No. of Visitor Cars = 30 spaces depends on number
Total 4-Wheelers = 150 nos. and arrangements of transfer
areas.
• 2- Wheeler Requirement
No. of Families = 80
No. of Resident bikes = 160
Central arrangement for transfer area. Entry Drive-through transfer area, with entry and No. of Visitor Cars = 50
and exit from same direction rear exit. Total 2-Wheelers = 210 nos.

2. Lift or transfer area lateral to the storage and retrieval • GROUND FLOOR
unit Total number of cars = 10

• FIRST + CONSEQUENT LEVELS

Total Number of cars = 14

• TOTAL NO. OF LEVELS = G+ 5

Transfer area arranged frontal on one side, Transfer area can be arranged above any
with entry and exit from parking space.
one direction.
GROUND FLOOR PARKING PPLAN

Transfer area can be arranged above any

parking space.

3. One with the Turning device

Parking on site plan

By use of a turning device inside the transfer area, access is possible at any angle. Thus, narrow driveways Maximum dimensions are
View
are no problem. considered

Falguni Kalraiya
HOLISTIC AGRO LIVING 5th Year | Thesis
SMMCA, Nagpur
 2.5
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SERV
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BLOC E
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APARTMENT TYPE 1

5 4
6
6
5
4
3

2
3

1
2

APARTMENT TYPE 3

APARTMENT TYPE 4

APARTMENT TYPE 2

SOUTH – WEST SIDE ELEVATIONAL VIEW
SOUTH – EAST SIDE ELEVATIONAL VIEW
VIEW FROM RESTAURANT FLOOR TO PRODUCTION SPACE
HOLISTIC AGRO LIVING
CONCEPTUAL ELEVATION Tempered Glass for exterior Curtain wall
ELEVATIONAL VIEW & MATERIAL
• Storefront walls, walls of production Unit are provided with this
Various patterns were type of glass
worked out to decide the • Insulated double layered glass, with
blades orientation and style Advantages – enclosed inert air space, from Saint Gobain
• Recyclability • “REFLACTASOL” Series help reflecting
• Daylighting
Fig shows: harmful sunrays back.
• Noise Control • A newer tech to trap this heat, and rather
• Energy Efficiency use to facilitate building energy needs is
HELIX TYPE ROTATION • Transparency also present.
• Greater ROI
PERIPHERY LANDSCAPE
• 3M Wide band, at the circumference of floor plate is proposed at edible landscape.
• Kitchen Plants such as Eggplant, Capsicum, Chillis, Spinach, Corriander, Mint etc will be grown.
• Access to this band is provided from each apartment kitchen.
• There is pathway as well, for residents to have a stroll.
• The Water seepage will be carried out via walls, columns to the ground floor, where it will seep into
the ground
Water absorbing Concrete
Sculpt-form Blade Façade system
• The fine crushed sand is left out during
• Louvres as Feature Blades, will be used as Sun hood on South West Direction making, thus resulting in a material, porous
• Provides a perfect solution to efficiency cooling the building while also adding style to the exterior. enough to accept large amounts of water.
• Spanning 5 floors, the aluminium vertical battens of the are installed on a 45° angle with a 90mm • A layer of Topmix Permeable concrete is
gap between blades and a 150mm pitch. installed on top of an aggregate sub-base of
• The key to the system is the mounting rail on one level and bolted plates on other, which is fixed to crushed stone, which generally sits on top of
the structure at the required spacing and has pre set locations for the blade sequence. the soil.
• Prefinished blades are then easily connected to the mounting rail. • Rainwater drains through the top surface,
• Available Sizes- 50 X 150mm, 50 x 200mm, 50 x 300mm collects in the aggregate layer, and is slowly
• Characteristics Easy installation, durable, low maintenance, technical assistance available, released into the ground.
acoustic performance, curved facades
Falguni Kalraiya
5th Year | Thesis
SMMCA, Nagpur