The project proposes a space for self-sufficient cultivation as a solution to produce food and energy in cities and move towards the Zero Emissions city model proposed by the EU for 2050. The result is an advanced greenhouse that uses solar energy, sustainable materials, and advanced cultivation technology that can be installed in the field or on urban rooftops, effectively contributing to food self-sufficiency.
The impact of the production, processing, and distribution of food on the environment can be reduced with new solutions that bet on the cultivation of KM.0 and advanced agrological techniques. In this sense, the Solar Greenhouse is presented as the next step towards the transformation of this global condition, to propose a new, more efficient agricultural format, which could be applied both at the rural and urban levels in any part of the world.
Description of project by IAAC
A KM.0 project to reduce the ecological footprint.
From its construction to its final use, the Solar Greenhouse project responds to the km0 philosophy. Water, substrate, and building materials are obtained from the surroundings, while the food grown goes directly from production to consumption, bypassing the distribution chain.
The structure of the greenhouse has been built with pine from sustainable extraction, collected, and processed in the Valldaura area. The greenhouse also has a nutrient supply system that is distributed in storage tanks, nutrient inlets, and pipes to feed the plants. Furthermore, a matrix of LED light strips facilitates growth cycles with the help of Black Light.
The roof of the greenhouse has been created with glass and is arranged in a "diamond" shape to allow a total capture of sunlight, which enters directly into the solar panels and allows the plants grown inside to receive direct light.
The distribution consists of two floors. On the ground floor, there is an area for germination, while the crop is distributed on the upper level. The result is a considerable harvest that is achieved, among other things, thanks to advanced hydroponic techniques, which allow plants to grow without using agricultural land. In this case, the substrate of the planting beds contains recycled sawdust, a waste product from the Green Fab Lab, another of the IAAC laboratories in Valldaura.
The ultimate objective is that the knowledge and systems obtained locally can be applied on a global scale and, in this sense, the Solar Greenhouse is a valuable advance.
