T H E V E RT I C A L G A R D E N S LEXIE BURGESS - THESIS II
T H E P RO B L E M : How can the lack of quality food in an urban setting be improved through youth empowerment, urban farming, education, and exercise to create a sociological impact on the local community?
S I T E A N A LY S I S :
P RO G R A M :
BUILDING BREAKDOWN:
CONCEPT:
Detroit, Michigan
W h a t I s G ROW D e t ro i t ?
3 Buildings, 1 Program
Assembly Line
After filing bankr uptcy in 2013, the “Motor City” is
GROW Detroit is an after school progr am dedicated
back on its wheels, slowly recovering from what was
to empowering youth culture while educating the
t h e l a r g e s t m u n i c i p a l b a n k r u p t c y i n A m e r i c a ’ s h i s t o r y.
community about an agricultural revolution that has
This par ticular site once saw the hustle and bustle of
the ability to improve the overall well-being and
thousands of factor y wor ker s gravitating to the success
success of Detroit. In this program, kids living in food
of Ford’s Model T assembly line . Being the ver y fir st
deser ts are given the responsibility to r un and teach
v e r t i c a l p r o d u c t i o n f a c i l i t y i n t h i s n a t i o n ’ s h i s t o r y,
the public about an urban farming experience while
these buildings revolutionized Detroit for year s to
ser ving as tour guides, chefs, and ver tical farmer s.
This concept par ti resembles the ver tical movement between all interior makeup. While still making an ode to its past historical progr am, GROW Detroit concentr ates solely on the function of
Greenhouse
its user s while keeping the historic memories alive.
Wo r k s h o p
c o m e . N o w k n o w n a s t h e “ C o m e b a c k C i t y,” D e t r o i t i s
T h e Ve r t i c a l G a r d e n s
slowly emerging from debt with enormous potential,
A four stor y, interactive urban far ming exper ience led by s t u d e n t s - i n c l u d e s “ G r e e n T e d Ta l k s ” , p o p - u p s t y l e s h o p s , a rooftop garden, and numerous levels of learning
but is still lacking the proper resources needed to achieve success.
INTENDED USERS: Detroit Community 78,000 abandoned homes through the metro area
60% of children live in poverty
63% population decrease over the last 50 years
High School Students Future Educators
the architectural and theoretical elements that reside within the
T h e Ve r t i c a l G a r d e n s
Greenhouse A one stor y community style dining area, supply shop, and home to a living machine
Wo r k s h o p A four stor y commercial initiative where future educators and students come together to build GROW Detroit through cooking and urban farming workshops
S E C T I O N O F T H E V E RT I C A L G A R D E N S :
T H E V E RT I C A L G A R D E N S :
M Y S T O RY :
E VO L U T I O N O F G ROW D E T RO I T:
E N T RY P E R S P E C T I V E COMMUNITY
F L O R E N C E , I TA LY
G R O W, D E T R O I T !
F O O D D E S E RT S
C O L L A B O R AT I O N
CURIOSITY
F A R M - T O - TA B L E
D E T R O I T, M I
I N N O V AT I O N
E D U C A T E
E M P O W E R
S T I M U L A T E
Low-Income Neighborhoods Agrarian Revolution “Post-organic” Sustainable Future
Individual & Community Leadership Psychology Reverse Mentorship Regenerating
Sparking Curiosity Forward Thinking Promoting Healthy Living Creating a Chain Reaction
M A K E YO U R O W N ! Understanding the loss of nutrition and flavor in produce through a food mile exhibition
1
O B S E RV E : Stimulating sensor y activities through auditor y and visual information
2
C R E AT E : Pick the freshest fruits from GROW’s ver tical far ms to create your own smoothie
L E A R N P RO C E S S WO R K :
B Y
D O I N G
3
MOVE: Hop on a bike and spin until you work up an appetite. Fuel your mind and body!
E M P O W E R T H R O U G H E D U C AT I O N
F A R M - T O - TA B L E D I N I N G :
“ G r e e n ” Te d Ta l k s Yo u t h F o r u m s Farm 2 Chef - Cooking Channel Build a Hydroponic Garden
E M P O W E R T H RO U G H E M P L OY M E N T
D I S C O V E R
Y O U R
G R E E N
P E R S P E C T I V E O F “ R E N T- A - R O W ” : H a r n e s s i n g P o t e n t i a l o f Ve r t i c a l F a r m i n g
S U STA I N A B L E P R AC T I C E S
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
ACCESSIBILITY
LE ARNING BY DOING
I N T E R A C T I O N W I T H N AT U R E
T H U M B