The project takes the Ohio feeder ramp and turns it into - literally - a ramp that feeds. It magnifies and exposes the important aspect of food production as a necessity for urban living. The project combines a series of highly productive hothouses, gardens, and landscaped areas exploiting the underutilized open space of highway interchanges. It offers a useful and productive gateway architecture that reinvigorates Chicago as an urban habitat.
The loss of adjacent farmland to development bordering the city means that food must be transported further and further to reach our dense population in Chicago. It takes 12.5 acres of land to feed one person for a year with traditional farming. Hothouse production feeds 36 times more people on the same amount of land.
The hot house gives school children a new understanding and a stronger connection to the production of food we need. These hothouses and gardens will be used by individuals, restaurant owners, food pantries, recreational gardeners, educational and research institutions, and, of course, commercial hothouse farmers.
The loss of adjacent farmland to development bordering the city means that food must be transported further and further to reach our dense population in Chicago. It takes 12.5 acres of land to feed one person for a year with traditional farming. Hothouse production feeds 36 times more people on the same amount of land.
The hot house gives school children a new understanding and a stronger connection to the production of food we need. These hothouses and gardens will be used by individuals, restaurant owners, food pantries, recreational gardeners, educational and research institutions, and, of course, commercial hothouse farmers.
Architect: STUDIO GANG ARCHITECTS
Published/Exhibited:
2005 Visionary Chicago Architecture
