Spiraling Plantagon vertical farms grow more food on a small urban footprint

Food insecurity is daunting, particularly in cities. And while industrial vertical farming offers a solution, the absence of chickens and may and other signs of farm life casts suspicion on this method of tech-based food production.

Plantagon aims to bridge that divide with a solution that can be implemented on just about any building, anywhere. Founded by Swecorp Citizenship Stockholm AB and the Onondaga Nation in New York, Plantagon International has nurtured an extensive network of researchers, governments, non-government organizations and other interested parties across the globe to develop a food-growing system that packs more quality food into a smaller urban footprint.

The basic premise is this: just about any building can be transformed into a productive greenhouse using various kinds of systems – either a facade that is clipped on to an existing building, a multifunctional greenhouse that allows the building to continue functioning as it with the addition of a food-growing system, or an entire building devoted to growing food.

The machinery to drive the operation is located in the basement, and a helix or ramp climbs up the building, circulating vegetable pots on trays throughout the building. A service corner allows access to each level from the basement to the crown of the building.

The helix maximizes light exposure and the footprint ratio (more plants when compared to a flat, horizontal plot), while minimizing water use and artificial lighting. Different systems would be implemented in different climate zones, depending on the light availability and the circumstances. One might choose to install a PlantaWall facade, which is 3-6 meters deep and offers shade for the offices while still providing sufficient daylighting.

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Spiraling Plantagon vertical farms grow more food on a small urban footprint

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