credits: Architectural Design by Rolf Mohr; Modeling and Rendering by Machine Films; Interiors by J. Van

Inside a skyfarm

Dr. Despommiers design for sustainable production in a utopic tower of glass

Treehugger brings us word of the new vision of Dr. Dickson Despommier, “a cluster of 30-story towers on Governors Island or in Hudson yards producing fruit, vegetables, and grains while also generating clean energy and purifying wastewater.” According to a spread in New York Magazine, Despommeir estimates that 150 such towers could feed all of New York for a year.
Despommier says the Capitol Records building in Los Angeles inspired his design for the skyfarms. Each tower would have solar panels to generate power, wind spires for an alternate power source, and a control room with scientists to monitor the cultivation of crops. The towers would be built out of glass and covered with a clear coat of titanium to filter pollutants and prevent rain from beading to allow maximum sunlight penetration. In addition to fruits and vegetables the towers could sustain fish, poultry and even pigs.

Since “local” is the new hotness in terms of food production, Despommier’s design appeals to New Yorkers who would like to be able to count on fresh citrus to rival California and Florida.