The packing plant

The Packing Plant is an urban farm like no other, seamlessly integrating planting, irrigating, growing, harvesting and eating.

The Packing Plant increases food production, without increasing agricultural footprint- all in the heart of Manhattan. This vertical farm project combines residential dwellings, intelligent water management and recovery, a fish farm, small livestock production, energy generation, and a market facility for distribution of products. All of these elements combined create a modern, inner-city micro ecosystem. This ecosystem is organized as a Fordian factory. The means of production and distribution are interdependent- they are physically positioned and linked in an optimal manner within the building.

The Packing Plant has a unique honeycomb-like façade, which houses a vertical glass carousel-like structure. It is this irrigated carousel that sees the plants slowly scale the building, maximizing natural sunlight. Seeds are planted and harvested in a dedicated laboratory, which is directly connected to the carousel. Residents of The Packing Plant truly feel part of the urban farm- from their balcony, observing trays of plants slowly scaling the building through the glass-encased carousel. From the High Line passersby can observe the urban farm at work- carousels rotating, livestock grazing, while patrons of the restaurant can sample the produce firsthand. Residents and the wider community alike can inform themselves, on the workings of The Packing Plant, in the information center. Fresh non-seasonal produce, harvested onsite, ranging from fruit and vegetables, herbs, eggs, cheese, honey and fish can be purchased daily in the marketplace. The Packing Plant truly is a vertical urban farm, paving the way for sustainable, self-sufficient metropolitan communities.

Location
New York - United states

Client
The meatpacking district

Architect
olijf.fr

Program
Design an urban farm,
shop and housing

surface
132.331 sqf

Time-table
competition : april 2015