The potential role of water bodies in urban farming

1. URBAN FARMING
Water surfaces

2. The actual role of water surfaces
• Almost all cities has momentous water surfaces, most of them lay on
river banks.
• They are usually the main source of water, these were originally the
main reason of the localisation of the settlement by its foundation.
• They are used as the main canal of the city.
• In case of greater water surfaces (rivers and lakes) shipping can be
important, the water can be used for transport.
• The water surface is unbuilt.
• The banks can be extremely important recreation sites.
• The banks can be important industrial sites.
• The banks can be ports with many purposes (recreation or
commercial)
• The banks can be urban highways.
• In case of rivers bridges are extremly important urban nodes.

3. • River as a raw water source.
Drinking water source.

4. • River as a raw water source.
Canal.

5. • River as a raw water source.
Shipping (recreation).

6. • River as a raw water source.
Shipping (industrial).

7. • Even in extremely dense downtowns the water surface is free from
buildings. A surely remaining open space.
Unbuilt area.

8. • Even in extremely dense downtowns the water surface is free from
buildings. A surely remaining open space.
Recreation zone I.

9. • Even in extremely dense downtowns the water surface is free from
buildings. A surely remaining open space.
Recreation zone II.

10. • Even in extremely dense downtowns the water surface is free from
buildings. A surely remaining open space.
Industrial zone (port) I.

11. • Even in extremely dense downtowns the water surface is free from
buildings. A surely remaining open space.
Industrial zone (port) II.

12. • Even in extremely dense downtowns the water surface is free from
buildings. A surely remaining open space.
Recreation zone (port) I.

13. • Even in extremely dense downtowns the water surface is free from
buildings. A surely remaining open space.
Recreation zone (port) II.

14. The opportunities of water surfaces
• Considering rivers, river deltas, and lakes the water can be directly
used up for irrigation.
• The unbuilt feature provides a huge „free” area.
• There exist current and historical examples that green areas can be
deployed onto such water surfaces.
• From the point of view of food production the situation is more
advantageous.
• Most of food productive plants have shallow root zone, but require
water in appropriate seasons, or in appropriate periods.
• Due to these facts, food production on floating platforms is quite
simple and quite advantageous.
• Among coastal cities there are some with appropriate climate
(monsoon, tropical rainforest, temperate rainforest), where the
floating platforms can be also used on sea, without additional
irrigation system.

15. • Old, abandoned ship in Georgia, covered by naturally grown shrubs.
An unwanted example.

16. • Capital of the Aztec Empire, founded on a salty lake (because of
religious reasons). Greatest part of the city (gardens) is floating.
A historical example I.

17. • Floating settlements onLake Titicaca ,made entirely from cane,
moreover there is some additional cane cultivation.
A historical example II.

18. • The root zone is in the water, but there exists also soil (Myanmar).
A traditional example.

19. Different types of floating platforms I.
• There can be used many method for food production on floating
platforms.
• The two main groups are those platforms, where the root zone is
directly in the water, while in the other group the root zone is
spearated from the water.
• The first group can be separated again for two subgroups, in the first
case there exist some soil among the roots, which is kept together by
the roots themselves, while in the other subgroup there are only the
roots in the water, similarly to the well-known hydroponic farming.
• The examples of Tenocthtitlan and the Titicaca lake floating village
belong to the first subgroup.
• The second subgroup needs the smallest structure, becuse of in this
case only the weigt of the plants must be kept over the surface.
• The members of this first greater group can be used only on
sweetwaters (rivers, lakes, river deltas).

20. • Floating gardens on the River Seine in Paris, France.
The scheme of the first subgroup.

21. • Floating gardens on the River Seine in Paris, France.
A realisation of the first subgroup.

22. • Floating gardens on the River Seine in Paris, France.
A realisation of the second subgroup.

23. Different types of floating platforms II.
• In the second group the root zon is separated from water.
• In this case the floating structure must be greater and stronger,
because of the root zone must be in soil.
• There are many ways for irrigation in this case and according to it can
be distinguished different subgroups.
– In the first subgroup the irrigation is provided from outer source
(not sustainable)
– In the second subgroup the irrigation is provided from rainwater.
This is appropriate by the mentioned climate zones (monsoon,
tropical rainforest, temperate rainforest, oceanic) moreover, using
the appropriate plants (wheat, barley) along with rainwater
reservoirs it can be made appropriate for mediterranean climate.
– By the third subgroup irrigation is provided from the beneath
water body, by using the principle of communicating vessels. On
this way the level of „subterranean water” inside the floating
structure is always on the same level of the outer surface, thus the
ideal water supply can be provided.

24. • Floating gardens on the River Seine in Paris, France.
A contemporary example I.

25. • The root zone is separated from the water, considering the size and
the simplicity, it is probably irrigated from outer source.
A realisation belongs to the second group.

26. • The root zone is separated from the water, considering the size and
the simplicity, it is probably irrigated from outer source.
Contemporary idea I.

27. • Physalia: a concept for phitoremediation, not for food production.
Such plant covered ships can clean the water of rivers through plants.
Contemporary idea II.

28. • LilyPad: a floating garden city concept.
Contemporary idea II.

29. • LilyPad: a floating garden city concept.
Contemporary idea III.

30. Thank you for your attention!