The Most Innovative Retirement Living Idea Yet – The Urban HomeFarm
Category: Green Retirement Communities
November 30, 2105 — We have just seen the most interesting idea for productive, sustainable retirement living yet. The idea is from an architectural firm called Spark, which won first prize for Future- Experimental Project at the 2015 World Architecture Festival held in Singapore. Their winning project, HomeFarm, is a sustainable residential development for seniors with these clever features:
– Urban apartments in sizes that allow multi-generational living
– Vertical aquaponic farming on the building’s exterior walls
– Curvilinear building with central courtyard
– Soil based garden plots on staggered terraces and rooftops
– Use of collected rain water and grey water for farming purposes
– Fruits and vegetable marketplace where residents can sell their wares
– Fish waste as fertilizer
– Agricultural waste is fed into an onsite biomass power plant
Spark hopes to have the first HomeFarm up and running by 2030 in the crowded urban nation of Singapore. The productive garden feature provides a modest income for its elderly residents. HomeFarm was designed to keep its residents connected to the wider community through its public facilities that include a clinic, nursery/child care, farm shop and food court. It also intends to provide a familiar caring family environment for those who require medical care in their later years. It aims to provide a cross section of accommodation for single residents through to
Comments on "The Most Innovative Retirement Living Idea Yet – The Urban HomeFarm"
Jan Cullinane says:
The United States has a somewhat related concept: agrihoods, where the central “amenity” is a working farm. Here’s an article from the NY Times about this concept: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/12/dining/farm-to-table-living-takes-root.html?_r=0
Jan Cullinane, author, The Single Woman’s Guide to Retirement (AARP/Wiley)
DeyErmand says:
Our neighborhood has a neighborhood garden, where young and old plant vegetables and tend to their own little plots. It has been quite successful and a lot of fun. So why not a commune of people, living and working together for the greater good.
ella says:
I LOVE this idea! Mainly because i don't want to maintain a lawn, but want to have enough open space around me that i can enjoy beautiful views. I also love gardening. However, once again, i don't want to live crowded. That implies suburbia to me, and i've had enough of that! There are so few communities that don't crowd the homes together without catering to millionaires. (This is meant literally, not figuratively.)
ella says:
Sorry, i should have stated (above) that living in the woods provides a lawn-free environment, but no views.
Tony says:
Not a fan of this concept my wife would go bonkers. All the bugs, snakes, and rodents it would make my life a full time job again LOL.
Victor says:
So where ARE there some agrihoods in the U.S. Already?
Jan Cullinane says:
Hi Victor,
A good website for agrihoods: http://www.shareable.net/blog/12-agrihoods-taking-farm-to-table-living-mainstream
Jan Cullinane, author, The Single Woman's Guide to Retirement (AARP/Wiley)
ella says:
Jan,
The community in VA looks amazing; but i want to live in a more rural area. Anything like that in SW VA or any of the other Blue Ridge States? Thanks!
Jan Cullinane says:
It's a growing movement, but there doesn't seem to be one in the vicinity you desire - I know the one in Ashburn didn't fit the bill for you. There is a brand new one that is in the planning stages in a rural area of Florida, but it is encountering, as do most new developments, opposition from neighbors.
Here's the link: http://www.mymetrocity.com/agrihood-planned-near-ucf/
And, even if this area doesn't appeal to you, you have to love the phrase "edible walking trails" in the description!
Jan Cullinane, author, The Single Woman's Guide to Retirement
ella says:
Sounds delicious!
Admin says:
this request came in by email:
I'm looking for a community that has gardening growing your own food greenhouse
Here is our response:
Hmm, that is a pretty specific request. you can try using our Search http://www.topretirements.com/Browse.html
and select "Gardens for Communities". They wont all be food gardens, but it is a start.
Good luck