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Matthew Kuhl, Karin Lucas, Amy Struckmeyer, and Shwetha Subramanian of DeStefano + Partners, Chicago; Dan Rappel of Valerio Dewalt Train, Chicago
Project
Mobile City Farmstead
Location
A nonprofit urban farm located at the corner of Division and Clybourn, next door to the Cabrini-Green housing project. The architects and client intend for the design to serve as a prototype for other urban farm sites.
Program
There are over 90,000 vacant lots in Chicago, representing more than 6,000 acres of underutilized land. With the simple introduction of a layer of nutrient-rich topsoil, Ken Dunn, head of Chicago’s Resource Center, a nonprofit organization with recycling, composting, and education programs, has created productive farms on several vacant lots on Chicago’s South Side, providing fresh, organic produce to local residents, farmers markets and restaurants. Each farm employs 1 to 3 persons, usually homeless or unemployed individuals whom Dunn trains. The Mobile City Farmstead is designed for Dunn’s newest urban farm, located at the corner of Division and Clybourn, next door to the Cabrini-Green housing project. The facility will provide tool and produce storage, sheltered workspace, an office, and a small farm stand. The Farmstead will also provide a place from which to conduct educational classes, tours, and summertime dinner gatherings. The architectural components that make up the Farmstead are salvaged, cheap, degradable and, especially, easily transportable: for instance, shipping containers, chain-link fencing, canvas, and straw bales. The idea of mobility is critical since City Farm must be able to relocate quickly when the site is sold or ready for redevelopment.
