UpOrganic
Restoring biodiversity is a prevalent issue across the world, and particularly in the UK. Its industrial past has caused fragmentation between habitats, and green spaces across the region have been appropriated by humans, thus reducing habitat qualities and food abundance for non-humans. Living conditions for humans are also bleak, with the cost of living crisis increasing pressures on food security, and a lack of energy efficient homes causing energy bills to rise, problems which will only continue to get worse with the larger issues of climate change and biodiversity loss.
Our project UpOrganic aims to ameliorate living conditions for both humans and non-humans in Bradford, Manchester, by stitching through the rich urban environment that already exists, thus promoting positive relationships between the two.
A prototype attaches to existing windows of buildings which not only facilitates smoother wildlife movement through the urban environment, but also acts as an insulating panel to help increase energy efficiency and alleviate the cost of energy for humans.
Simultaneously, a food hub is proposed within an existing gasholder frame, which grows its own produce both on the ground and within suspended hydroponic pods. This produce is manufactured into canned goods, which are then distributed out to the community, thus creating a self-sustaining food bank. Non-humans are provided with refuge and foraging opportunities, in return for their natural pollination of crops, which in turn increases food security for all species.
