urban farmers.

urban farmers,

testing of public space, sydney

we want people to make a claim, to make the lane their own; therefore, our aim is not to be the authors of

the space, but to create a platform for people to build upon and to make the space - or what becomes of the

space - truly theirs.

we want people to occupy, to spend time in the space. for the moment,

knox lane is simply a shortcut into or out of Melbourne Central (for those

who know about it) and a delivery lane for Coles. we want to create a reason for people to stop. and then a reason

for them to stay.

knox lane,there is much potential for this space. the amount of people who pass just a few metres alongside this space on a daily basis is immense, but here the question lies... how do we, as designers, get people to claim this space?

an urban farming community, whereby one can learn the entire food process - from seed to the food on their plate. our proposition includes four main points, namely a garden, farm, kitchen and many, many events.

knox lane,there is much potential for this space. the amount of people who pass just a few metres alongside this space on a daily basis is immense, but here the question lies... how do we, as designers, get people to claim this space?

this is a public space.

it is yours to use.

The surrounding urban area of the location Knox Lane attracts a high traffic flow

and a variety of demographics. The State Library is parallel to the laneway, a meeting and learning place

for people of all ages and its front lawn and garden area lends itself to the idea of an urban interior one

a daily basis. This is also the gathering area of many rallies and protests. RMIT main hub lies across the

street from Melbourne Central, which itself surrounds the laneway. Besides adopting the laneway as a

delivery dock and rubbish dump, an entry/exit of Melbourne Central also backs onto the laneway. This offers the idea of a potential short cut and gathering

arena for the many people passing through this hub in Melbourne‘s CBD.

element,element instigated the project between RMIT and Melbourne Central in an attempt to bring more people through the hidden entry and also attract people to the laneway so they are able to temporarily claim the urban space as their own. the brand surrounds itself with natural foundations where their logo is modeled around a tree, the growth of that tree and the elements the tree may undergo. the four dashes above the tree in the logo represent earth, wind, fire and water. the rings around this tree signify the company’s past and future growth. we have taken the essence of the logo and designed a laneway that reflects the social and natural qualities of the company.

knox lane site plan

knox place

element

The surrounding urban area of the location Knox Lane attracts a high traffic flow

and a variety of demographics. The State Library is parallel to the laneway, a meeting and learning place

for people of all ages and its front lawn and garden area lends itself to the idea of an urban interior one

a daily basis. This is also the gathering area of many rallies and protests. RMIT main hub lies across the

street from Melbourne Central, which itself surrounds the laneway. Besides adopting the laneway as a

delivery dock and rubbish dump, an entry/exit of Melbourne Central also backs onto the laneway. This offers the idea of a potential short cut and gathering

arena for the many people passing through this hub in Melbourne‘s CBD.

ECObox Paris, 2006temporary garden constructed out of recycled materials

urban community gardens, are already grabbing attention around the globe.

their beginnings were as ‘Victory Gardens’ during WW1 and WW2, developed as a means of reducing strain on external food supplies while also building patriotism. they were started in any possible free space; front yards, lawns, back yards, flower gardens, and vacant lots.

recently urban gardening has re emerged more in terms of a response to the global social and ecological crisis. it provides opportunities for fresh healthy food, socialisation and education and regains a reconnection to the land and soil, allowing for a greater appreciation for our food once having grown it from seed.

well known modern examples include Cuba’s Havanna urban gardens. These came about after the 1989 Soviet Bloc collapse and the subsequent decentralisation of food production from large mechanised state farms to urban cultivation systems. More than 50% of Havanna’s fresh produce is now grown within city limits.

most importantly, urban gardens are a fantastic community building initiative. many people have taken interest in sustainability and in many urban gardens, volunteers are of a wide demographic, attracting people from a range of ages and backgrounds.

Juan-Carlo Tomas, secretary of the Glebe community garden in Sydney, takes note of this, with some members saying that,

“this is the only way they can really meet locals; we don’t

really congregate around our neighbourhoods like we use to.”

ECObox Paris, 2006temporary garden constructed out of recycled materials

Veg Out. MelbourneA successful local community

garden is situated in St Kilda, where the public is able to pick and grow

their own fruit and vegetables.

The Cook, the Farmer, his Wife and their NeighborAmsterdam, 2009 community garden and community kitchen

community kitchens, are another way of enforcing this community aspect of a garden, while also being a popular form of reconnecting the more basic aspects of food. groups come together to cook on a regular basis, where among group members they allocate and share duties, recipes, cooking tips. On the whole, people are able to learn from one another, eat healthier and live a more sustainable lifestyle based around a global interest - food.

elevated pallet garden,

plants on average need six or more hours of sunlight per day, making the ground level of the laneway not so suitable for gardening. the main garden, where most of the veggies will be grown in pallets, bottles and containers, will therefore be elevated to four metres above ground level where more sunlight is caught throughout the day. more space for the garden will also be available once elevated.

knox lane elevation, west (above) and east (below)

2 d research nature claiming back the city

growing charts giving information on how requirements for different plants, giving people the opportunity, given the correct information, to start gardening on their own. creating a platform for people to take independence, initiative.we have chosen plants, since we are all gardening amateurs, a fact possibly also true for many Melbournians) which are easy to grow, and also well-suited to Melbourne’s climate. we have decided to grow, at least as a starting point, capsicum, carrot, lettuce, mushroom, peas, raddish, strawberries and tomato. as more people join the club and the garden grows, more vegetables can be added as time passes by. Herbs are also fairly easy to grow, and are good plants for small spaces for example our ‘bottle gardens.’ We have chosen herbs which, like the vegetables, are suited to Melbourne’s temperate climate. These include coriander, chives, dill, garlic, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary and thyme.

growing charts,

growing charts giving information on how requirements for different plants, giving people the opportunity, given the correct information, to start gardening on their own. creating a platform for people to take independence, initiative.we have chosen plants, since we are all gardening amateurs, a fact possibly also true for many Melbournians) which are easy to grow, and also well-suited to Melbourne’s climate. we have decided to grow, at least as a starting point, capsicum, carrot, lettuce, mushroom, peas, raddish, strawberries and tomato. as more people join the club and the garden grows, more vegetables can be added as time passes by. Herbs are also fairly easy to grow, and are good plants for small spaces for example our ‘bottle gardens.’ We have chosen herbs which, like the vegetables, are suited to Melbourne’s temperate climate. These include coriander, chives, dill, garlic, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary and thyme.

growing charts,

Self-watering containers work great on a balcony, fire escape or any other space that doesn’t have soil.

They made up of two containers of the same size called a reservoir and planting container and a pipe.

You water the self-watering container by pouring water into the pipe, which will allow the water to get down to the reservoir container. Since there are holes in the container with the soil, it will soak up the water and allow the plants roots to drink up the water as needed. This is a more natural way for the plants to soak up water as opposed to watering them from the top.

Farmers will appreciate working on the elevated garden - the planting pallets are at hip height - easier for gardening and no getting on hands and knees. It also contains storage space for hand tools and supplies.

pallet garden

Self-watering containers work great on a balcony, fire escape or any other space that doesn’t have soil.

They made up of two containers of the same size called a reservoir and planting container and a pipe.

You water the self-watering container by pouring water into the pipe, which will allow the water to get down to the reservoir container. Since there are holes in the container with the soil, it will soak up the water and allow the plants roots to drink up the water as needed. This is a more natural way for the plants to soak up water as opposed to watering them from the top.

bottle gardens are vertical, modular, low-energy hydroponic farming systems using low-impact or recycled local materials. it can be a method for year-round growing as it can be built to sit in a window - a fantastiv platform for growing your own veggis and herbs in a limited space.

To extend the surface for gardening use

the pallets as a vertical garden. You are going to be covering the bottom, back, and sides with landscape fabric, leaving the spaces between the slats and the top uncovered (you’ll be planting flowers in the uncovered spaces).

Farmers will appreciate working on the elevated garden - the planting pallets are at hip height - easier for gardening and no getting on hands and knees. It also contains storage space for hand tools and supplies.

pallet garden

growing methods,

laneway stairs,opening up and integrating Knox Place and Knox Lane, allowing people to see into the laneway and the activities within. this is the public area of the garden, where people can sign up to look after a pallet. in this front section, flowers will be the main attraction, as well as space for a water tank and compost (with carbon filter to minimise unpleasant odours!).

knox lane and knox place stairs, plan

occupation project, testing navigation, melbourne central

claiming space,by becoming an urban farmer, people are literally making the space their own, by nurturing and caring for it and spending time in it. they are learning the overall process of growing and then cooking and eating, whilst also building a social network and a platform for events.

kitchen, foodbringing gardening to a social platform, where people can learn how to prepare and cook fresh vegetables and herbs from one another. we want to create a platform for a community where information is shared freely and openly.this ‘platform’ is completed with devices for preparing and cooking food, such as a sink, fridge, utensils, stove and working area.

in many houses, the kitchen becomes the centre for social activity, especially when set in an ‘open plan’ and integrated with living spaces. often social activity is brought forward around the preparation of food. everyone has (and likes to) to eat!

it is also about taking a step back - back to cooking basics. cooking habits have changed in the last few decades, due to the introduction of conveniences such as frozen meals and other pre-prepared or ‘fast’ foods. many people are therefore spending less and less time in the kitchen and more and more time on the run. cooking, instead of being another item on the to-do list, can become a time for leisure and a pleasurable activity.

kitchen, foodbringing gardening to a social platform, where people can learn how to prepare and cook fresh vegetables and herbs from one another. we want to create a platform for a community where information is shared freely and openly.this ‘platform’ is completed with devices for preparing and cooking food, such as a sink, fridge, utensils, stove and working area.

in many houses, the kitchen becomes the centre for social activity, especially when set in an ‘open plan’ and integrated with living spaces. often social activity is brought forward around the preparation of food. everyone has (and likes to) to eat!

it is also about taking a step back - back to cooking basics. cooking habits have changed in the last few decades, due to the introduction of conveniences such as frozen meals and other pre-prepared or ‘fast’ foods. many people are therefore spending less and less time in the kitchen and more and more time on the run. cooking, instead of being another item on the to-do list, can become a time for leisure and a pleasurable activity.

mcintyre elevation, south

mcintyre alley kitchen (inside), south

mcintyre alley kitchen (inside), south

As the urban farmers community we wish to bring back the tradition of growing and harvesting our own food, where we are able to sit and eat the produce around the dining table. This tradition uses the kitchen and sharing of food as a platform for social activities and communication.

Everybody is invited to join our community. You can sign up at www.urbanfarmer.org and become a registered member. You´ll get your own pallet, have access to the platform and the kitchen around the clock and also have the opportunity to organize events and workshops.

website,only the more basic information is given here, such as a map, upcoming events and contact details. our incentive here is to

entice people into the laneway itself - you would actually have to go to the laneway to raise questions and to find out more. thus it becomes a medium to create curiosity,

a link connected to other websites or which can be given on advertisement materials.

mcintyre plan, kitchen

occupation project birthday party in front

of flinders station

getting people involved

seedpacketsa way of capturing curiosity. the seeds were placed around the city, with the intention of creating a moment of intrigue with whoever would be passing by. it is something unusual to see stuck on a traffic light post, a bench, so would be ‘double-take’ material. people who found the packet information interesting would then, on their own terms, come to the laneway to find out more.simply sticking up the seed packets aroused interest, with people coming afterwards to see what we had stuck down.

events, creating opportunities for people to

come together. chefs with special interests can share tips and the public are also given the

opportunity to create events themselves, but most importantly people are able to learn from

each other based on their own experiences

‘octoberfest’

‘cold christmas’

lighting,

solar fairy lights will be placed under the garden, within the scaffolding and visible from ground level at Knox Lane. inspired by the concern of dripping water from the scaffolding area we have designed a light that acts partly as a net to capture any loose soil that may fall from the second story of the laneway. these will be switched on at night, casting shadowy figures of the structure and the garden. in main areas of activity, such as the garden and the dining and kitchen, larger solar lights will illuminate the space.

The Nokero Solar Light bulb is an all-in-one solar system that is already completely and successfully replace kerosene lamps and paraffin candles in places all around the world without access to electricity. A Nokero light is rainproof. It charges by day and brings 6 hours of light each night.

giving light to a space can give much

warmth, and therefore make the space exceptionally more inviting. a trickle of light will be the starting point of a path into the laneway; a path of light and warmth from either end of the laneway leading inwards towards McIntyre Alley. this will be a guide to the heart of the laneway - the ‘social’ area of cooking and dining - the area for night gatherings around food.

solar fairy light net

inspirational images,ABC Home & Carpet, NY

Eyebeam Center for Art and Technology, NY

the city is a space many of us pass through on a regular basis. it is a gathering space for work, education

and liesure. however it is often a space we take for granted - how often do we fervently observe our surroundings and question how the urban landscape is put to use?

often we don’t consider putting these spaces to a use other than a passageway from origin ‘A’ to destination ‘B’.

this is public space. of course, there are particular limitation abundant opportunities for the individual and the community. blending the private and public sectors.

how can we better encounter people in this space? how can we make the space ours? how can we claim and occupy urban space?

claim the

city,

Anne MuschikHayley TaitIris ArnoldRyla Jakelski

urban farming and cooking: an invitation for use

of public space by the public