The role of vertical farming in re-thinking and re-designing cities within a circular perspective

Abstract

One of the key issues of the contemporary city is “urban voids”, characterized by disused buildings. Such spaces can be the starting point for a new urban setting, where the city reconnects to the rural environment. Vertical farming can be a new paradigm connecting these often-opposed concepts, bringing several advantages. This paper presents an experimental case study about a typical situation in a peripheral context of the city of Trento. An industrial building under decommissioning is restored as a vertical farm through a circular economy perspective, combining natural resources with ICT, consumption, and reuse processes.