ECO2 is 213 acres of self-sustaining buildings and landscape that are designed to encourage creative pursuits in the innovation of research and scientific advancement for agricultural products and processes in sustainable food technology. A new type of development is created on the environmental edge of increasing temperatures and water shortages. It is imperative that future growth consider food and water security a priority.
This project looked to accomplish several goals. Become an education and neighborhood resource center for the advancement of new ideas and the production of agriculture in extreme environments. Strengthen the surrounding communities providing a bespoke link to future ideas along the Rio. Represent and showcases a Holistic Net Positive approach to create a mixed-use, dynamic, active environment far removed from the sprawling Phoenix we see today.
Arizona will face many challenges in the future. We need to build an Arizona that embraces technological advancements and acknowledges the challenges of living in a warming climate where water and sustainable strategies are determining factors in development. As contemporary cities and deserts grow, a common issue is how to repurpose underutilized land/resources for urban development. ECO2 provides an insurance policy for the region while showcasing how urbanity and agriculture can be interwoven to enhance the relationship to people and the land.
The heart of the development is GrowHaus 2.0, a community-driven food system serving as a hub for distribution, production, education, and economic opportunity. A place where we can view the challenges of a changing climate, social issues and food access to the region.
The plan for ECO2 offers an approach which shows that agriculture can coexist with development, that sustainability can be timeless, that water can be re-used and harvested, that it’s hot and getting hotter and the space between buildings belongs to the pedestrian, not the car.
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