Short description
Description
The Jellyfish Barge project was coordinated by a multidisciplinary team consists of Professor Stefano Mancuso (University of Florence), director of the International Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology (LINV), and executed by by the architects Antonio Girardi and Cristiana Favretto from Studiomobile. Constructed with wood and recycled materials, this lightweight greenhouse relies primarily on solar energy to bring an affordable and easy-to-build solution to communities vulnerable to water and food scarcity. Adaptability was also a concern for the architects, so they incorporated a means of extending the greenhouse into several connected units. It is estimated that a single Jellyfish Barge will be capable of supporting two families, and can also be easily expanded with additional modules to support a larger community.
Sources
Photos
Data
Phase:
Active
Starting date:
31-10-2014
Qualitative Analysis
Description of the Process
History
Result of project
The working prototype was realised by LINV (University of Florence) with the contribution of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze and Regione Toscana, has been installed in the Navicelli canal between Pisa and Livorno and had been inaugurated on October 31, 2014 at the headquarters of Navicelli Spa, Pisa. The floating farm has already produced a bumper crop of lettuce and radicchio.
Spatial quality
Jellyfish Barge is relatively small in dimension, as it is sized to provide food for about two families. It supports 70 sqm of stacked hydroponic grow racks. The structure is modular, so a single element is autonomous, while multiple platforms can guarantee food security for a whole community. The octagonal shape of the platform allows combining different modules by connecting them with square floating bases, which may become meeting places for a small water community. The connection platforms can become outdoor markets, areas for social gathering where to buy, sell, and enjoy crops.
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