The "living" Room

Stevie Meder, 2012

“This book is a compilation of the steps I’ve taken to get to where I am, at the finale of Senior Thesis, stage far center. It’s a big, giant book filled with frightening facts that we can no longer ignore. Here, you have a response.”

The“Living” Room

Table of Plants and Stuff Proposal 03,04,05,06,07, Stakeholders 10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19 Primary user groups 22,23 Research: global/local sustainability 26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35 Local moves 36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43 Hydroponics 46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59 Research: active hydroponic gardening 62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73 Design critera 76,77,78,79 Physical Design 82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99 User interaction 102,103,104,105,106,107,108,109 Community building 112,113 Conclusion 116,117

03 “The living room” is the term I am using to describe the room in which the product I am proposing to design will reside. This product is a response to a very real social and ecological problem concerning our agriculture industry.

There are a number of topics to tackle pertaining to this subject including agriculture’s wasteful and dangerous use of our natural resources, along with the majority’s disconnect with Mother Nature. This product will be designed to promote the creation of sustainable means for healthy, urban living and the growth of bonds within communities.

The product aims to be functional as living room furniture, such as a coffee table or a couch, while fulfilling its primary purpose as a platform for (primarily) vegetable growth. The targeted stakeholders vary, but are principally city-dwellers in high-rise apartment settings where sharing of crops becomes a liaison between rooms and floors. Families, especially with young children, young adults, and the elderly will all equally benefit as long as they invest a small amount of time and care into their product. A brief current market study suggests the idea

of urban gardening tools has been explored, but the reality is that the ideas are mostly that, conceptual ideas

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with minimal regard for realistic, multifunctional design.

Either the product is beautiful and less than functional, or highly functional, but less than presentable. Most existing products are made from plastics, completely disregarding the notion of preserving natural resources. I plan to create this product with as little economic impact as possible through specific use of materials and by applying technology appropriately.

The product in mind aims to foster flourishing relationships between neighbors, parent and child, and certainly plant and caretaker. The goal is to empower the user and cultivate her ego through a sense of accomplishment when reaping the benefits of an attractive in-home garden becomes easier than expected. With the joy of successful nurturing, along with the knowledge of this furniture system’s ecological advantages pertaining to environmental, global, and social issues, the user will gain a new sense of pride when dining at home.

05 Consequently, the home will benefit as well as the user.

Studies show that simply placing one plant in a room increases the quality of air, one plant in a classroom improves learning retention, and one plant in the office heightens feelings of happiness. With an entire gardening system integrated into typical living room furniture, the environment will transcend typical living space toward a sustainable, educational center of the future. “Tomorrow Land� comes to mind, but in a more agricultural term than the place of spinning space ships in Disney World.

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The idea is a less-than-typical, beautiful, functional piece of living room furniture that doubles as a classroom for natural awareness, triples as a host for tasty rewards, quadruples as a catalyst for children to eat their greens, and quintuples as the means to foster a more connected community who shares the benefit of this furniture’s ability to provide nutrients to the home and its neighbors.

It is time to rethink our reckless use of natural resources, shipping food the 50% of us who choose to live in cities has taxed our Mother Nature enough already. It is time to respect her, and in turn each other, by learning how

to take care of one another through the sharing of a sustainable food source. With creative application and continuing adaptation, this product will help initiate better awareness of our environmental, global, and social issues, enabling us to take part in a collective effort to reverse our relentless, negative impact on the planet.

You shall eat.

Read on, my friends, read farther.

Out of all the people in the world, “today nearly 50%of us choose to live in cities and surrounding suburbs.� (21, Despommier) 50 percent of our people, living in cities, constantly consuming and never producing.

Stakeholders 09

New York, NY

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8,213,839

Los Angeles, CA

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3,794,640

Chicago, IL

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2,824,584

Houston, TX

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2,076,189

Philadelphia, PA

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1,517,628

Primary user groups

Primary

The people my product will influence the most...

Families with children -Easily maintainable garden -Education/awareness platform -Healthy lifestyle -Local suppliers/retailers -Natural connection

Urban/hobby gardeners -More accessible/maintainable garden -Longer growing seasons -Local suppliers/retailers -More presentable garden -Stronger community base

Community (gardeners or not) -An easy way to join the movement -Education/awareness platform -Healthy lifestyle -Natural connection -Organization

especially: Educators -Education/awareness platform -Healthy lifestyle -Local suppliers/retailers -Natural connection -Organization

Health providers -Education/awareness platform -Healthy lifestyle support system -Local suppliers/retailers -Natural (medication) practice

Stakeholders

Secondary

Mother Nature/ Earth

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Sustainability

Research Global/Local

1950

2.5 billion people

2010

6.8 billion people

2050

9.5 billion people

One of the biggest dangers with agriculture today, is really about people tomorrow. Only 60 years ago the world

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population was only a little more than a third of what it is today. In 2010 we hit 6.8 billion people on the planet. In the next forty years, by 2050, we are projected to have 9.5 billion people.

“We continue to urbanize without buildings that are equipped to handle their populations. Most evolutionary biologists agree that continued failure to live within our means will relegate the human species to the fossil record.” (10, Despommier).

“It is time to accept out connectedness to the rest of the

Population

natural world. There is only so much natural capital out there, and we are on the verge of exhausting it. Building self-sustained cities now will allow the land to heal itself, thereby restoring balance between our lives and the rest of nature.”

(11, Despommier)

With enough agricultural malfunction as it is, how will we possibly feed all these people?

Currently, in order to feed the majority of people, humans

already cultivate a land mass the size of South America. In

order to compensate for population growth in the next 40

years, another land mass the size of brazil will be needed to

grow enough food. This amount of arable land does not exist

on our planet or any other.

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this much...

We’re hitting capacity with our arable land.

...more does not exist

In order to get food to our plates every day, our agriculture

system is the culprit for using a whopping 20 percent of

all available fossil fuels on the planet. Fossil fuel use is not

limited to the miles our food travels to reach our plate, but it

is also used for heavy, inefficient farm equipment, herbicides,

pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals used in growing.

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: inefficient farm equipment

: long-distance food distribution

70 percent of all fresh water on earth is used for irrigation of farmland. Resulting run-off from inevitable flooding is laden with salts, herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. When this chemically-contaminated water reaches the coastline it eliminates the oxygen levels in the area. This oxygen depleted environment is called an anaerobic or hypoxic environment.

Fish, plants, and all other life living when an environment becomes hypoxic soon die of suffocation.

If we are to continue agriculture in such irresponsible methods, not only will we not have enough plant produce to eat, but we will greatly deplete our accessibility to seafood. (As we already are, but this is another story.)

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The negative results from commercial agriculture...

effect more than just the land.

“Another solution we are to avoid and armed by the scarcity resources like

is required if massive starvation

77. Despommier

conflicts caused of essential food and water.�

...and fossil fuels

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Local Moves

“Lay’s potato chips has a billboard campaign showing a farmer standing in front of his potato field.

Yes, potatoes are grown by a farmer in a field but usually on a multithousand-acre farm somewhere in the world, not necessarily in your community or even your state.”

EDIBLE BOSTON Ilene Bezahler Publisher/Editor

Although there have been great advances since 2007, when the magazine was first established, Ilene illustrates that though it is true the message of the local food movement is getting across, the messages are being wildly distorted.

If people really believe that Lay’s potato chips are produced in their backyard and that the now often used term “farm fresh” means locally produced, these messages will ultimately be a disservice to true local food communities.

The solution to this problem will be entirely an upward battle, but Ilene suggests, “It’s time to focus on the producers.”

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“If I can identify a place to improve, it’s my responsibility as a community member to improve. If I can get two different kinds of wheat berry, barley, spelt, and triticale then I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t eliminate rice.”

Cuisine en Locale JJ Ganson Creator

Produce like rice, bananas, olive oil, and sugar are all, in the Northeast, inevitably long-distance produce. Being well aware of this, Ganson eliminated them from her kitchen. Although carbon footprint is a basis idea for her policies, for her, investing in entirely local produce is “more about building local systems that have been damaged very deeply by a very flawed food system.�

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“In contemporary society the oftidealized self-contained farm is neither practical or desirable. Instead doing one thing well and trading with someone who does another thing well is a better option�

Public Market Places in Society Morales* leading Thinker

“Food swapping” is newly-emerging-from-long-ago unification of local food culture and local “foodie” culture.

Around 30 people a month are drawn to specifically the Boston food swap. It is run like a silent auction.

Participators arrange their product, which they have specifically produced for the swap, on tables with index card descriptions and a sheet of paper for interested bargainers to post their bid(s). Events like these promote business associations and inevitably the accessibility of locally, passionately created goods and market places. Creating revenue from using every resource available in less than a 10 mile radius, whether paper notes or artichokes. “It Breeds a little more self-reliance.”(Belluci) 43

Hydroponics

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3/6/12

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3/19/12

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4/11/12

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4/11/12

53 The concept of hydroponics is nowhere near new, but is recently begging to emerge. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, is considered to be the first implementation of hydroponic technology recorded, dating back 2,600 years. Since then, there have not been too many advances, leaving hydroponics to be a primitive method of plant growth with the potential to sky-rocket in the (hopefully) near future.

Hydroponics

At first the term “hydroponics” referred to the act of growing directly in water. Now the term has been expanded to cover a wide range of “hydroponic” techniques of growing plants without soil. (6,Laura Perez E.)

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Soil: Time spent on maintenance per week

Takes less time Hydro: time spent on maintenance per week

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Soil

Hydro

smaller roots/bigger fruits

Hydroponics has a huge range of benefits. The illustration on the left demonstrates the difference in root growth between a hydroponic system and soil-based growing.

In soil, root systems grow throughout the soil spreading far to increase surface area and the potential to absorb nutrients or water that may percolate throughout the soil. In a hydroponic system, the nutrients are present throughout the reservoir mixture reducing the need for roots to spread. This allows the plant to dedicate more energy in growth above the surface, resulting in faster plant growth. It also reduces the amount of space needed in-between plants, making hydroponic gardens more space efficient.

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Hydro

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Soil

Although it may seem counter intuitive that “hydro”

Uses less water

ponics uses less water than soil based agriculture, it’s true! Hydroponics uses ten times less water than planting crops in soil. Which means that by replacing soil gardens with hydroponic gardens we could save up to 90% of the fresh water we would use. Imagine if we even reduced that more by collecting rainwater to use instead of fresh water, or treated sewage water even. What if we even reused the water the plants didn’t collect...

Gardening

Research Active

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Throughout the process for this project, I exploited myself as a huge portion of my target demographic; the absolute beginner gardener and hydroponics user. The upward slant of my garden cognition increased exponentially and continues to increase everyday by tending to my own plants. Most of the useful information I learned was, with minimal guidance from experienced growers, derived from in-context experimentation and failure.

The goal is to break down the barriers between functional hydroponic systems and great-looking living room furniture.

My methods unconventional, rate of failure astronomical, I learned through each and every rookie mistake. Each experiences I used as a precedent to establish design criteria.

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4/20/12

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5/04/12

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05/22/12

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07/06/12

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07/10/12

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08/01/12

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08/01/12

Design criteria

Design simplicity within the product to lead the user to satisfaction when in-home gardening becomes easier than expected.

Design for limited space, creating a balance between the requirements for hydroponic gardening and the restrictions of an urban dweller’s space

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Design simplicity within the product to lead the user to satisfaction when in-home gardening becomes easier than expected.

Design for limited space, creating a balance between the requirements for hydroponic gardening and the restrictions of an urban dweller’s space

Design accommodation for different and changing experience levels so all may grow what they want to.

Design responsibly.

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sign

Physical Des

THIS IS WHERE THE GIANT TEXT GOES there should be vertical letters in that column

This concept was the first to intrigue me, the first that began solving problems, and the first that started to look really unique and thesis-worthy. This design features an alligator-lookin’-open-type mouth, allowing the plants to be hosted in what I’ll call it’s throat. The mechanics would be hidden in the rear curvature, while the controls sat in the glass case above. Problem areas include inevitable leaking, cost/material inefficiency, and no room for modification.

Alligator Reasons for shape: -Case in the table top allows for organization, easily accessible controls -Extruded side-view design allows space to hide pumps and blocks light from the user’s eyes on three sides.

-Inside surfaces are matt white eliminating light

Volume of gallons of water

loss for the plants.

-Sideways growth maximizes plant height to 24,� (encompasses most typical garden vegetables, herbs, and even fruits like strawberries)

Challenges

Massing

-Construction cost/inefficiency -Inevitable leaks -No room to expand/modify -Water management/weight (no good place for tanks of water)

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Since its predecessor could not fulfill my design criteria, I continued to iterate the same “alligator mouth� form. This time I chose to think more about it’s construction. This included how I could make it more material efficient and also how I could make it modular, without feeling like it. My solution came with the above slat construction where the table would made of repeated side-view cuts held together by beams. This type of construction created a very spacial piece, something that became important in figuring out where I could hold tanks, tubes, timers, etc.

Crocodile Reasons for shape: -Case in the table top allows for organization, easily accessible controls -Sideways growth maximizes plant height to 24�

-Slat construction creates pockets of space for tanks, tubes, etc.

-Slats provide means for expanding the system, moving the system, and shipping the system

slat structure...

efficiently. (Cut files can also ne licensed to your local furniture maker for even less ecological impact)

Challenges

creates compartments

-Tolerances/ size of table -Water management/weight -Where can the plants grow?

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Ahhh, this is where things got too complicated. I was over compensating for the needs of the plants and not the user. The table got weird, and wide, albeit it would have been an efficient machine. The table top is on hinges and rests upon the tops of the vertical columns. This allows for the user to easily access the lights and controls. Also, when the table top is lifted the grower is provided with three bays for harvesting, each hosting two plants in a rectangular tank tanks. These tanks were held on shelves made by the table’s own structure. They could be easily removed for cleaning and when filled with water, only weigh 16 lbs. (opposed to 45 lbs in a standard deep water culture system). The lower-white surface would reflect light and serves as a slide for falling crops to the gutter.

Crocodile Continuation Reasons for shape: -Allows three separate nutrient-water reservoirs -Easily accessible water tanks -Hinged table top allows controls and lights to be under the table top. It also lifts to allow the user to harvest.

-Sideways growth maximizes plant height to 24”

Lights under the hood

Challenges

three tanks fit into “shelves”

-Less efficient material use -Unfriendly and unfamiliar -Too far into the appliance route

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I took a step back from the previous design. It was “all business,� and no fun. This design is lighter, has less parts, and all of those parts are widely produced making for easy construction. This is great for the user who, as most hydroponic venturers normally do, may have a tendency for DIY products. It allows users to modify the product on their own if desired. It also will ship better and be much easier to put together once it arrives to the home. Not to mention it is way more fun!

Almost...

Reasons for shape: -Operable table top allows all controls to be hidden, lights to be out of eye-line, and the user to harvest or prune without getting on their knees.

-Very simple, repetitive construction allows for easy modification, shipping, and moving.

-Cylindrical tank provides utmost structure for the table while also providing enough room for five

Lights underneath

plants and a shelf for the air pump.

-Sideways growth maximizes plant height to 24,� which encompasses most typical garden plants, as well as fun exotics.

Challenges

Tank fits through the legs

-How to hinge

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A few revisions were made for the final design. End pieces were doubled up with a heightened piece to cradle the bamboo top. Pipe end caps are designed with “MAX” written on the side. Max fill, yes, but also the identity of the first family member in SIM| BIO | SYS, a family of Simple Biological Systems. Gas hinges come into play also to hold up the top for the user’s convenience and safety. Chalk board paint will cover the tank, so as one can keep track of which pot has which plant as well as how long it takes to grow. This table just got a lot more fun is all.

Almost...

“tinker-toy” construction

Cap for a cylindrical tank

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User interaction

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The system comes in an as-flat-as-possible pack in multiple pieces for the user to assemble. Somewhat like furniture from IKEA, or grown-up tinker toys. This allows the furniture to be easily shipped, moved, and expanded. User’s can chose their desired length rods and number of leg pieces to make a piece that fits their home. They can also choose based on how big their garden wants to be.

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Planting is simple. One can start directly from seed by using a starter plug and a small dome to keep heat and moisture in, or simply transfer a pre-started seedling. Seedlings may come from local hydroponic retailers, farmers markets, or garden supply centers. Even Home Depot or other hardware supply stores will carry seedlings. The best option, in my research, is to purchase a propagation dome. A very cheap contraption with a heater and some starter plugs where one can start many plants at one time and even store them for long periods.

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This table top is operable. By allowing the table top to open and close the gardener can access the lights and plants.

There become two bays for pruning and harvesting, each hosting its own light.

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When the plants begin to mature they will fight gravity and grow upward toward the light. This is a fun and useful aspect. To watch it grow toward the light source, and to have the plants popping upward at you when the top is lifted will both be very satisfying. Amazingly, regardless of how big a plant wants to get, plants will never extend beyond the light source for there is no food in the dark. This will keep the plants contained and your living room happy.

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Although there could have been many opportunities for fancy water management systems, I was inclined to keep it as close to familiar soil based gardening as possible. For this reason, plants should be watered at the base of the stem, directly into their “pots�. This is intuitive and eliminates the need for extra materials. When water is to be evacuated, look for the spout beneath the tank and bring a bucket you can carry!

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Children and adults will love the results of this product alike. Harvesting crops will be exponentially rewarding, albeit it does take patience. Children will learn the beauty of nature and learn to wait for a good reward. Red strawberries taste better than green ones, of course. The tank itself is finished with a chalk board coating which will allow them to count the days, track which plants they are growing, and even draw pictures of how weird the plants look before they turn into fruits!

Magnetic trellises can be implemented for any plants that may seem like they need a little support as they mature.

Held in place with lots of strength from small neodymium magnets, vine plants or heavier fruiting plants will find great comfort in this feature. It will also help reduce the possibility of any plants falling toward the floor if left neglected for extended periods of time.

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Community building

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SIM | BIO| SYS is the business model that encompasses this product. SIM | BIO | SYS, or Simple Biological Systems, is a means through which one can track personal plant growth, update friends and family when the best time to come over for home-grown caprese is, share advice and knowledge, and also find other growers in the area. By allowing users to find out who else might be growing provides a platform for a growing community, quite literally in every sense.

It is inevitable that sooner rather than later your basil plants are going to get out of control, or your beans sprouting beyond belief. This is where the mobile app. comes into pay. Users will be able to post where and when these abundance of crops occur, creating a network of sharing. Call it the unpredictable CSA (community supported agriculture), where instead of paying for a predicted shipment of crops, the SIM | BIO | SYS community can set up trades on a need by need basis. The goal is to create a form of currency between floors and buildings while also spreading a desire for tastier, fresher vegetables (a commodity large monocultures could never provide.)

Conclusion

In conclusion to this six month endeavor for global sustainability the product I’ve designed is ready to start making an impression. Though, it may not be perfect, my ultimate goal is to share an idea. The idea that we are consuming more than we are producing, that this life of luxury cannot last forever. If we do not find ways to provide basic life for ourself, sooner or later someone or something (the depletion of fossil fuels or natural disasters due to rapid climate change, maybe) will stop doing it for us. My thesis is designed to spread knowledge and aid in finding more resourceful/efficient means to support our growing population, especially in the cities.

As a designer I truly believe that we will be the ones held responsible to make society livable once our consumer tendencies have perished all our natural resources. We will be the ones who can translate between high technology and the layman. I am a language maker, and I hope you understand it.

Thank you

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I hope you can begin to understand...

how important it is to do a little more and use less.

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To be continued...