The Ultimate Green Building
In collaboration with ZERO, Carlo Ratti Associati has defied the laws of farming by putting in place a plan to build...





In collaboration with ZERO, Carlo Ratti Associati has defied the laws of farming by putting in place a plan to build a 218-metre-tall skyscraper in China that would not only include offices, a supermarket, and food courts, but also grow crops with hydroponics, thus disregarding the necessity of soil and replacing it with water-based, mineral nutrient solutions. The firm has also taken into account innovative methods of distribution and consumption of these crops, all within the same building.
The Jian Mu Tower boasts 51 floors and is expected to provide270 tons of food per year, which could feed around 40,000 people and complete the entire cycle of a food chain, from cultivation up to consumption, without producing gas emissions that result from the distribution process of goods. In addition, being located in Shenzhen, the greenery spread across the building is irrigated by the humid climate and in turn reduces heat gain and the need for air conditioning.
With the advanced technology that this tower is built upon, your usual gardener is replaced by a virtual agronomist who manages daily farming tasks. However, not everything about this tower is modern, its shape and name are inspired by traditional Chinese folklore. Its name originates from the Jian Mu tree that is believed to connect heaven and earth, while its shape is inspired by the ancient Chinese philosophy of Tian Yuan Di Fang.
- date publishedSeptember 16, 2021
- categoryArchitecture
- original sourceDezeen↗