The P.S 216 Edible Schoolyard project by WORK Architecture Company in NYC is a new kitchen classroom for up to 30 students to participate in meal preparation and dining. The classroom is designed as a series of "Interlinked sustainable systems," which work together to produce energy, heat, collect rain water and compost.
A large butterfly roof collects rainwater, while a large mobile sliding greenhouse covers 1600sf of soil in the winter months for extended growing. The project also includes a "Systems Wall" which houses water cistersns, composting, waste sorting, solar battery storage, dishwashing and chicken coops.
This smaller scale schoolyard is a great example of how urban agriculture can engage a community, in this case children, to learn about and participate in the processes of food. Besides being a very accessible and engaging space, the projects systems are intriguing in there implementation, especially the systems wall, which serves as a kind of living organ which both services and stores the building's engergy and "nutrients."
The idea of a movable greenhouse shell which moves to cover an area of ground is fascinating as well. Implementation in a climate like Syracuse could be a great way to extend the growing season by a couple of months. I wonder kinds of technical challenges have to be overcome in order for this mechanism to both operate and function as a greenhouse.
Edible Schoolyard
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