LITERATURE REVIEW

4.3 LITERATURE REVIEW

The literature assessed is the writings of John Turner, Dr Dickson Despommier and the academic papers of Neri Oxman. It will also contain previous architectural buildings and studies as ll as online articles and libraries. The research will consult these sources for their relevance to the fields and the design project. The knowledge obtained will then be compared to the current typologies found within the local area of study and assessed how they could be applied beten the already existing typologies of Atteridgeville and the remnants of the NE51 housing scheme.

In his papers, author and architect Turner (1972) writes about housing for the poor and its inaccessibility due to enforced building codes and standards. Turner also mentions that the material used is separated from human satisfaction and, in many cases, frustrations. If these two re to have some correspondence, the problem of building standards and codes would soon be alleviated. South Africa experiences many of the same issues Turner describes in his writings. What is the correlation then beten these problems and the difference in conditions? Turner provides a possible solution by arguing that open building systems be applied to housing. The open building system was first popularised by n. John Habraken in the late 1960s. Open building systems, explained by Ian Killpatrick (2014), is an alternative approach to residential design, financing, construction, fit-out, and management that investigates the potential for modification and adaptability. These systems are contrasting compared to the standardised NE51 housing scheme implemented during Apartheid. How can influence or adjust these housing typologies to allow for an open building system to take effect and form part of the typology of Atteridgeville? One of the leaders in research and most significant advocates of vertical and urban farming is Dr Dickson Despommier. His writings on vertical farming and validity to the urban food security problem give critical insight into the conceptual possibilities of these urban farms. He also critically analyses the food production industry and proposes a possible solution to mitigate the growing population and its problems.(Despommier, 2010) When looking at food, it is not only production costs that determine price, but also food miles, storage, etc. Dr Despommier highlights the benefits of vertical farming on his bsite (www.verticalfarm.com, 2015) as being less reliant on fossil fuels and indirectly decreasing the carbon footprint of a “farm”, but also the reduction in storage needed as fresh produce should be available and consumed daily if planned correctly.

Looking at literature with regards to architecture and agriculture, literature or precedence combining these typologies re assessed. Most notably, the projects and writings of Oxman (2018), the architect and head of the mediated matter research group at MIT. Her research focuses on the science of synthetic biology and material ecology. She uses material research and digital fabrication to create structural components using natural and organic matter materials. The connection beten edible housing and the ability to create an environment that positively influences its surroundings also relates to the materials use and how their physical characteristics influence the environment. One of the most notable projects of Neri Oxman is her Hybrid Living Materials project, where she looks at how bacteria and cells react to nature as a way to produce colour and materiality in her exhibitions. Materials that are sourced naturally but still offer the aesthetic and safety of industrially produced products. Can incorporate these into our own and urban farming services to benefit the user as ll as the urban farm? For example, having our water pipes lined with natural nutrient-rich materials to create a healthier, more potable water source that is not filled with chemicals to “clean” the water drink daily.

The most influential writers in the respective sections of architecture and agriculture are Turner (1972) and Despommier (2010), respectively. Their writings focus on the emporment of the resident within the structure by creating more opportunities and a better living environment through layout design. Despommier highlights the viability of vertical farming within the urban framework from a user standpoint and reinforces his arguments through comparison to rapid urbanisation and how need to find alternative solutions to benefit food security in the future. From these themes, the concepts of edible housing and vertical farming in the urban framework emerge. An edible housing structure can empor its residents in securing employment or increasing financial stability for those currently unemployed but seeking accommodation. These ideas are then used to create a new typology to fulfil the