NAIROBI
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RESIDENTIAL
Kenya
DISTRICT
R E L I E V I N G R U R A L A G R I C U LT U R E o f U R B A N D E M A N D S a n d PROVIDING FLEXIBLE HOUSING for THE PEOPLE of NAIROBI INCREASED POPULATION creating FOOD SHORTAGES
A majority of characteristics that define how many urban regions function have failed to adjust to the complexity of exponentially increasing populations. Hunger, sanitation, transportation, poverty, and education reflect only a few of the problems arising in places like Nairobi. The vertical farming structure as well as middle-class housing address some of these issues. Young adults are migrating into urban areas like Nairobi unable to find housing or jobs. Faced with little or no choice of settlement, many are forced to purchase small plots of land in slums like Kibera, where opportunity for growth is in continual conflict with poverty and violence. In addition to the housing problem, Nairobi is faced with a food crisis as a result of increasing population rates. Rural agricultural ‘food baskets’ for Nairobi are facing stressful demands, depleting the soil of their farmland. A vertical structure that houses middle-class residents and utilizes surface area to grow hydroponic and aeroponic produce begins to acknowledge the current and growing demand for both housing and nurishment. The folding structure of the tower incorporates continually developing farming techniques to produce the highest yields using minimal area. The fold utilizes both its interior and exterior surfaces. The fold acts as a conceptual ripple of the rural landscape transforming itself into a high-efficiency urban farm, providing housing, garden space, and crop yields 2-6 times higher than average soil crops. The housing provided within the folds offers potential flexibility in space as well as personal design. The flexible opportunities allow a range of social classes to live and interact within the tower.
CBU
DISTRICT
POPULATION DENSITY and FOOD DEMANDS ‘39
‘44 ‘48 ‘55
‘57 ‘60
‘62 ‘65 ‘69
‘79 ‘89 ‘95 ‘99 ‘05 ‘09
INDUSTRIAL
DISTRICT
TRANSPORT
ROUTES
POPULATION
(|
| in hundred-thousands)
YR
FIG || 001 The above graph describes the exponential population growth of Nairboi, beginning with the year 1939 and continuing to present. The growing demand for jobs in rural communities around Kenya have resulted in mass emigration to the urban centre, where misconceptions of job opportunities are revealed. With a population exceeding 3 million people, Nairobi is faced with food shortages illustrated in the curved mass above. The far left bar illustrates the change in population growth from each time interval.
AGRICULTURAL
DISTRICT
Calafornia Cookies Inc. Kenya Farm Centre Ltd. Wakulima Market mkulimabora online
SCALE OF PLACE
KENYA sits along the mid-eastern coast line of Africa. Recent mass immigration to Kenya has contributed to many rising conflicts in the country. Nairobi, one of Africa’s largest cities has greatly been affected by the population shift and is home to some of the world’s largest slums, including Kibera. Many of the incoming populous consist of refugees from poverty stricken countries that surround Kenya. This has caused a shortage of housing, and has forced many to resort to living in the slums. The site maps to the right describe site adjacencies with emphasis on the agricultural industries within the heart of Nairobi.
Modern Fishing Industry Kenya’s Farmers Association Ridge Coffee Brokers and Auctioneers Orange Farming Nairobi
C.K. Farm & Hardwares Flippy Farm Produce (site) Coffee Board of Kenya
Agricultural Development Co. M-Pesa Agriculture Finance Co. Kyanzavi Farmers Co. Ltd.
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