Mimosa
the vertical farm
The mimosa building was prepared as an experimental, modular, open source facility. This means that the design is a set of principles and assumptions for the properly functioning vertical farm of a new generation, but it does not function as a finished object. The project located on a plot in Warsaw presents only one of the possible forms of the building, which could be transformed when it is adapted to the needs of any other location. All of the steps presented in the scope of full paper of this project shall ease the achievement of a fully self-adjusting structure for vertical farming.
Mimosa pudica reacts to the extermal conditions - it closes its leaves when touched to protect against damage. The design of a vertical greenhouse gets an inspiration from the plants’ behaviour. It remains open under environmental conditions comfortable for the development of vegetation inside, allowing the most optimal natural condition and pollinators near plants. However as soon as the conditions change into unfoverable for the plants to grow, the structure closes, thus cutting off the interior from the surroundings.
Singular module has been developed up to the most optimal sun conditions.
1. Dimensions of basic module dependable on sun. Sun can access up to 6m into the building through one side.
2. North facade will not access any sun. Therefore we can add there service zone.
3. Most sun can be accessed by intermidiate world directions. Walls are pinched to intromit as much sun as possible.
4. South facade will be the most sun-filled. To protect the plants from direct sunlight the facade becomes slanted on this side.
5. The top part of the structure is finished with the light chamber that collects the sun and distributes it indirectly to the deeper part of the buidling.
Every module has been developed as an independent small energy plant - that way individual modules can be used as a backyard greenhouse, providing food up to the needs of a standard family of 2+1 while staying fully zero-emissive
1. The sunlight access the double-surface structure located above the module, where it reflects into the middle part of the greenhouse. There it can be mostly collected by the central pots containing high-rise plants such as tomato or eggplant
2. To prevent heat lose, the suspended ceiling structure closes when the temperature in the lower part of the building turns lower than the temperature of the light chamber. The heat condenses under the ceiling and the condense steam that can additively water plants.
3. If the temperature on both sides of the suspended ceiling becomes similar, the ceiling perforation opens allowing the hot air to flow out of the module. What more, the side window panels open allowing the condensed ventilation of the module.
4. The water and snow accesses the structure through the gap on the top of the structure. Those can be collected through the piping system that transports them directly to concealed tanks located in the module that provides water to hydrophonic planting system.
External facade layering scheme
The structure has been developed in a way allowing all of the seperate modules to be stuck together into the superstructure. This kind of structure can later be adjusted to the local needs.
1. Attach - The roof of a single module should be dismantled and the module itself connected to the other units
2. Adjust - One module should be adjusted into the sanitary/BOH and transit needs. In the centre elevator shall be place
3. Layer - Layers of a vertical farm should be placed on top of each other to meet the requirements for the expected crop production.
The facade of each module is created with heat-exchanging windows on one side, and heat-insulating windows created from aerogel on the other. This way the structure can be adjusted to the climate in which it is set in.
Depending on the location the structure is set in its main function varies and adjusts to the local needs and conditions. As the additive modules can be stuck on top of one another or taken apart, the structure can also easily adapt to the current socio-politic state of the site's neighbourhood.
1. Warsaw - commercial mass food production variant
2. Ottawa - food and mass thermal insulation production
3. Singapour - social food development
One of the many places the structure can be located is the park near the Hala Mirowska in Warsaw - the local marketplace. As in many cases the marketplace is led by local citizens who grow their vegetation outside the city and need to transport them daily. This could contribute to a reduced carbon footprint in the area.
1. Marketplace - ground floor plan
2. Farming module - lower floor plan
3. Restaurant - top floor plan
4.Farming module - upper floor plan
section A-A
