Ben Craven Architecture + Design Portfolio

Year | 2016
Location | Sheffield Sheaf Valley

 

What is the potential for the Sheaf Valley to produce enough food to provide for the City of Sheffield?

 

Exploring the role that food production and distribution could play in the remediation of our Urban Landscapes. Is there a future typology to facilitate the exchange of knowledge & skills, to create a community led productive landscape of wealth?

 

“On average, people spend 20% of their income on food and the global food market is the domain of a few large companies, gaining increasing control over people’s everyday diets and expenses.”

 

SCENARIO

 

I am interested in exploring the role that food production can play in the remediation of our urban landscapes. Is there a future typology to facilitate the Exchange of Knowledge and skills to create a community lead productive landscape of worth.Why grow your own food? There are many bene ts both individually and to the collective.

 

This project sets out to highlight the potential value in Sheffield’s Sheaf Valley. It considers how the cities existing assets could be harnessed and brought together in a physical architectural manifestation that could act as catalyst for change in Sheffield’s post-industrial landscape.

 

The proposal will create a hub that becomes a pivotal point within the community, for the sharing of knowledge and resources, creating a community that is less dependent on imported produce, as well as reducing the amount of food they waste.

 

The project will propose designs for a Centre for growing food within the community. Located in the city, it will form a part of the Sheaf Urban Growing Network, a wider network of green spaces and facilities that the project sets out plans for, providing space to grow food to feed the city.

 

The building will have four main functions: as an education resource, as a growing centre, as a production centre for locally grown and recycled food, and as an events space.The functions will occupy the site in a manner that encourages different user groups to interact with one another, form connections and share knowledge. The aim of the building is to give encourage people to grow their own food, providing them with the knowledge and resource to do so.