The
F.A.R.M (Futuristic Agricultural Regeneration Management) is a luxury service
apartment and organic health clinic concept fablab and my client. The idea is
to promote and support farming community in the Guilin Provence of China in
order to maintain and sustain traditional agricultural practices and also
promote the benefit of organic products to Chinese people. This mixed used
building serves as a high end living concept which is also sustainable in
renewable energy and resources. All food supply is grown by exclusive farmland
within the complex and is completely organic. There will also be living
quarters for farmers who will produce crops for the apartment guest’s
consumption. This merging of exclusive clientele with local framers allows
maximum understanding on the diversity of Guilin farming practices to visitors
which will hopefully induce financial
support not just for farmers/handicraft practitioners that work for the
apartment, but also along this region of china. Farmers can promote and interact
with guest on their chosen production crop as well as farming technique while
sustainable organic agriculture can be promoted in the vicinity since mass
production management does not apply here. The site for the complex has not been
finalized but it will be next to the Li River and phased my mountainous
landscape. The dwelling’s design is inspired by many traditional Chinese
elements that constitute luck towards a very superstitious society. The elongated
placement of solar panels on the bridge are inspired by a dragon (a Chinese symbol for luck, majesty and prosperity) while
the tower’s floor plates are based on lotus
leaf structure (again a symbol of peace and longevity in china). The building
itself maximize on renewable energy source where wind channels, solar cell
panels, rain water regeneration cycle and locally available materials are
utilize upon the whole design. Most of the cladding and surface of the building
are weaved with locally available bamboo fibers. The technique itself is a
traditional handicraft practice but now adapted in a much larger scale for this
project. Sustainability is the key to the whole existence of the building and
the project enables the unique merging of farmers and guest, which is a first
in the world of luxury living. Sustainable buildings are a relatively new
concept in china as well as organic product knowledge so hopefully this concept
will bring more influential political aid to the understanding of Guilin farm
culture where farmers can benefit from a healthy crop supplication management; without
the constant pressure of over-farming soil erosion issues that predominantly
exist in china’s hugely commercial agricultural market.