In Milan, the new Forrest in Town housing complex is aiming to become an important testing ground for "zero centimeters" farming. The Turin-based startup Agricooltur is, in fact, working on the building to develop a new line of aeroponic agriculture within the residential buildings themselves. Here, in fact, three rows designed for cultivation through an autonomous mechanism of plant root spraying that does not involve soil or pesticides will be placed.
"Agricooltur began as a production experience within a supermarket. From there, we developed the project by combining different skills that reflect the professional backgrounds of the three founding partners," Alessandro Boniforte, CEO of the company, tells us. "The world of real estate came somewhat as a consequence. Due to the small spaces we needed, our systems fit fully within existing buildings allowing for solutions to be placed inside restaurants or private spaces such as apartments, giving the possibility of being able to make a small home garden. In the case of Forrest in Town, our system was inserted into a specially prepared area."
It is an easily replicable project in existing buildings that are not actually designed to host this kind of system, but where the addition of an aeroponic cultivation module can be planned during renovation," says Alessandro Boniforte, CEO of Agricooltur.
Designed by the Building Group and DFA Partners, Forrest in Town, near Milan's Naviglio Grande canal, is thus attempting to build a new form of urban configuration with growing hubs within the city-a new design paradigm that will also help define consumption and nutrition.