Photography: Sasaki.com
With nearly 24 million inhabitants, Shanghai has a lot of mouths to feed. The decline in the availability of agricultural spaces due to urbanisation (123,000 square kilometres to be exact) over the past two decades is a fair cause for concern. So, in an effort to make our megacity self-sustainable, US-based architectural firm Sasaki has conceived an ambitious 20-year plan of constructing a 100-hectare urban agriculture complex right here in Shanghai - with construction due to start later this year.
Sitting between Pudong International Airport and Pudong's downtown area, Sunqiao Urban Agricultural District will be a welcome green addition to Shanghai's vastly metallic landscape. And like its neighbouring skyscrapers, Sunqiao is also going vertical, with buildings tailored to a range of urban-friendly farming methods including algae farms, floating greenhouses, green walls and seed libraries.
Envisioned as a 'dynamic living laboratory for research and education' to educate 'generations of urban children about where their food comes from', Sunqiao will feature interactive greenhouses, a sky garden, a science museum and an open aquaponics showcase, as well as other family-friendly events and workshops.
A far cry from the traditional, sprawling rural farmland, Sasaki's plans of building a public plaza, civic plaza, digital amphitheatre, commercial centre and office towers will turn the area into a true dynamic multi-use establishment. Talk about being an all-rounder - the project will also house a winery garden and a crocodile pond featuring 300 crocodiles introduced from Hainan province.
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