TerraViva is a vertical farming tower designed to address urban food security, climate resilience, and ecological integration within the dense urban fabric of Algiers. The project responds to the increasing demand for sustainable food production systems by proposing a hybrid high-rise that combines agriculture, research, and co-living functions. TerraViva redefines the architectural response to environmental challenges by merging built form with biological processes.
Rising 112 meters over 30 floors, the tower is structured as a parallelepiped and features a double-skin façade composed of high-performance glass integrated with discreet photovoltaic panels. This envelope supports passive environmental strategies such as natural ventilation, solar control, and daylight harvesting. Integrated vertical gardens, operating through a closed-loop hydroponic system, transform the building into a living infrastructure that produces fresh food year-round with minimal resource input.
The program includes a variety of functions: agroecological laboratories, training centers for urban farmers, food market spaces, and co-housing for researchers and students. At its base, the project integrates the FarmBox concept — mobile urban farming modules made from recycled shipping containers. These units can be deployed across different neighborhoods to activate underused spaces and promote local food systems.
Rooted in biomimetic and regenerative design, TerraViva draws from North African environmental strategies such as rainwater harvesting, passive cooling, and the use of locally sourced materials. The project envisions architecture not only as shelter but as a productive ecosystem — one that educates, nourishes, and regenerates the urban environment.
Source: World Architecture