What would happen if urban agriculture was incorporated into architecture?

At the symposium, Master of Architecture (Professional) student Ami Wallis presented iterative solutions for a hydroponics system that grows food indoors, specifically within apartment buildings.

Ami says most hydroponic systems with mixed crops use 85-90 percent less water than standard farming methods and can be grown in high-density units with controlled conditions, enabling consistent harvests year-round.

Her research also focuses on healthy and sustainable production methods and equipment, primarily for use in apartment buildings.

“The system uses a timber or metal structure and 3D-printed ceramic planters to reduce the risk of toxic PVC and metal components leaching into the growing solution and the implications that this may have on edible plants. The second phase of my research is to eliminate all plastics from the design."

Ami says urban agriculture provides people with better access to nutritious food—and reduces the carbon footprint of fresh produce caused by transportation.

“Apartment buildings have been my focus, as they will likely become the predominant building typology in our cities, and urban agriculture adds to a sense of connection to the natural environment that can improve wellbeing and health among urban communities.”

Challenging the traditional approach to food production and notions of what is suitable within an urban environment was integral to her research approach.

”My research asks what would happen if urban agriculture interventions were incorporated into the architecture and became an integral part of the home and city?”

Ami’s creative approach to sustainability was inspired by her family’s off-grid lifestyle block on the South Island.

“We had a huge garden back home, so I tried to start veggie gardens at my various flats when I moved to Wellington. I found it hard to grow food; especially when you end up moving flats often and typically in summer.

“My personal observations of the urban disconnect from the natural environment and food production have influenced my interest in the field of urban agriculture.”

Ami found support for her sustainability research in the university courses offered at Te Wāhanga Waihanga-Hoahoa—Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation.

“For an elective sustainability paper in the third year of my undergraduate degree, I did a case study on Kaicycle Urban Farm in Newtown. In the fourth year, our project involved a social housing design with integrated food production”.

Senior Lecturer in Sustainability in Design Dr Emina Petrovic supervised Ami’s research during her Master of Architecture (Professional).

"Dr Petrovic’s speciality in material toxicity played a role in developing my project, as I have aimed to minimise toxic materials in the design of hydroponic systems, such as plastics and metals, and we also co-authored a conference paper,” Ami says.

Encouraged by Dr Petrovic, Ami learned how to 3D print ceramic planters with the robotic arm in the faculty's workshop to reduce plastics in the design.

“This is definitely not what I had envisioned myself doing at the start of the year. It has been exciting to just follow where the research has taken me.”

Her creative approach to sustainability will continue to influence the Wellington region and New Zealand once she graduates in December.

“After finishing my thesis, I plan to work as an architectural graduate at Aonui Architecture, a local firm in Wellington that has a strong focus on sustainable architecture. I have worked there part-time through my last couple of years at university and am excited to be working for a company that aligns with my values on sustainability.”

The symposium was held at Te Aro campus and included presentations from a range of Master’s and PhD students from the Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation.