experiments in urban farming    urban design project in Hazelwood, Pittsburgh, PA

The Urban Farming project proposes a series of farming experiments at the global, regional, urban, and local scales. The project aims to revitalize the local neighborhood of Hazelwood by providing community opportunities and easy access to the site. We focused on providing farming gardens and giving back to the community of Hazelwood.

Proposed masterplan for the entire farming project.

Our project program includes additions to the Hazelwood site and neighborhood at varying scales. Global scale − farming research, simulation farm cells. Regional scale − experimental greenhouses, industrial farming, biofuels strip. Urban scale − retail strip, locally grown restaurant, urban farming, riverfront park, public plazas, roads, paths. Local scale − housing, public facilities, greenhouses, community gardens, elevated catwalk circulation.

Concept diagrams, site conditions, and farming research.


Photomontage showing elevated circulation path above a farming "container".

Our main area of focus was the system of farming “containers” which were derived from the existing site conditions. These are 100’ by 100’ plots of land that will be used to produce fruits, trees, vegetables, herbs, grasses, and flowers. Their function, placement, elevation, and access routes were important factors in developing the farming system.

Diagrams showing farming "containers", remediation "containers", and user circulation.

Three public plazas with different charactertistics emerge in areas where different users cross paths across the farming system. An office plaza is located between the two major office and research buildings. A farmers' market plaza in an area densely populated with farming "containers" and community gardens. A large promenade plaza acts as a divide between the proposed housing and farming areas. This plaza also acts a large ramp leading to the waterfront park and is lined with translucent light boxes at night.

Physical model of the promenade plaza.

Fall 2007. Collaboration with Laura Horton.