Greenection

Context

Coronavirus is continuing its spread across the world, with more than six million confirmed cases in 188 countries. More than 375,000 people have lost their lives. With one television announcement, life as we knew it changed dramatically. Commutes to the office, impromptu dashes to the shop, drinks at the pub, celebrating birthdays with friends, holidays, gym classes, family visits, hugs, and handshakes were all rescinded from our list of daily privileges. It is the biggest crisis that the world has faced in peacetime, so the response has been unlike anything most of us have ever experienced.

Vision of the future

Even for people, who are the most understanding and supportive of the lockdown, being separated from friends and family has been one of the hardest elements.

Though in some countries we are now permitted to see family and friends provided, it's no more than six people and is outside we still can't hug, kiss or get closer than two meters to our loved ones. As creatures of habit, we probably just go back to our old tactile ways once the threat of the pandemic is finished. But for now, we are trying to find a solution for people to interact and find support within safe area. Problem Framing

Because of COVID-19 a lot of people feel alone in their home. There are

trying to fulfill the emptiness inside of them both physically & mentally and the lack of interaction. They compensate with new habits, bad habits. They are stuck in a digital bubble. Somewhat something that can easily turn into negative space.

We decided to incline ourselves towards neighborhoods, in the search of a collective consciousness. How can neighbors connect in order to support each other and communicate during isolation to encourage each other to preserve common well-being?

Solution

Concept: “Greenection” is a greenhouses both esthetically pleasant and functional to grow veggies and greens, technologically connected, composed of a physical structure and mobile applicatin.

Creative Process / Low-Fi Prototype

“Greenection” aims to invite neighbors to connect, support each other during the quarantine. The goal is to make people feel comfortable while planting vegetables and greens together. Hence we must take into consideration how everyone might react. Not only do people lack physical interaction, but they are also afraid to be infected.

Prototype (High Fidelity Rendering)

The application: The initiative must be common. They must register by floors, in order to receive the device. When registered they receive the device. Through an algorithm, it will calculate time slots to interact with the device alone but with a common collective goal and will also fairly distribute the production to the community. Meaning avoiding direct interaction and creating a feeling of safety and community. The seeds will be shipped with communication flyers.

The device: Mechanically animated, the device is composed of greenhouses. It has movable construction and can be divided into several parts and then into one, it is irrigated by itself. The greenhouses will by a hook and a handle allowing all floors thus having access to all greenhouses. We are creating a safe environment, the idea of teamwork for the common welfare. There is interaction by growing food not for one but for the collectivity and also through technology.

Conclusion & Impact

In Europe and Asia, people are going to some kind of normal life now. They are allowed to go outside, see their family, and have a haircut. Even though we are still dealing with the consequences of the pandemic, it was for sure proved that in the face of the great problem we tend to connect. There have been so many social actions in support of medical workers, lonely people and just to show solidarity and support to each other. Our life will never be the same, but we can’t predict the way it will turn out. As students and young people, we are full of hope as our families. We are trying to stay positive and work even harder for a better future.

Great demand for pot plants in online and retail shops has proved the actuality of our concept. Based on the user tests we can say that Greenaction greenhouses idea could be implemented after the crisis and still will be