Thesis Project 1, James Varas UC Berkeley.
Figure 5.1.1. Urban Sec tion, Repair & Reuse
Re-Making The City With Urban Agriculture
Figure 5.1.1. Demonstrative Urban Room
Osaka, Japan Figure 5.1.1. Masterplan, Dotonbori Distric t.
CONTEXT Japan has been implementing a Compact City approach for the last 18 years, densifying what is known as the Tōkaidō Belt; a region of fifty million people in the core of the country. This approach has jeopardized communities, agriculture and ecosystems in peri-urban areas. Osaka is considered the “Kitchen of Japan”, however food production has been affected by the national compaction process, importing 61% of the food. Dōtonbori is an iconic part of the city of Osaka, it is a man-made canal that was built in order to extend the commercial activities to the southern area of the city, becoming an entertainment center. Today is a worldwide recognized food district.
Figure 5.1.1. Projec t Transept
PROJECT
Figure 5.1.1. Proposal A xonometric view
DU Building
VF Urban Room
Urban Forest
The project redevelops 9.8 Acres in Dōtonbori, using vertical farming typologies in an urban repair proposal. The central idea is making the food district totally self sufficient, and by doing it; making a meaningful downtown where dwelling units and working spaces are integrated in the farming activities. Introducing wooden buildings that have a programmed life and small dwelling units near productive spaces. The new food production district can produce the same as 1,700 Acres of traditional farming, feeding more than 600,000 people with locally produced Food.
VF VF VF VF VF VF Aquaponics
Housing Housing Housing Housing Office Retail
VF VF VF VF VF PDR
Office Retail PDR Retail SUB
Parking
Office VF VF Retail SUB
SUB
Parking
Housing Housing VF VF VF PDR Aquaponics
Figure 5.1.1. New Produce Market
Figure 5.1.1. Proposal bird’s-eye sketch
VF Building
Freeway Re-use
PV Panel Canopy
2 | Minding the City
Chapter 6 - Thesis Project | 3