Urban Agriculture Activities, Research And Design Strategy

Urban agriculture is an agricultural activity in and around the city, which abounds in the domestic and international cities. A multitude of theory research suggests that urban agriculture has become an important tool, to address environmental crisis in metropolises, economic recession and other social issues. To focus on activities in the reality related to urban agriculture is the basis of the above research. Recent years, practice and research in this area are paid more and more attention to abroad. On contrary, as a consequent of still lack of basic concern about urban agriculture, theory research and design explorations in this area have not been launched yet in China.In this work, problems are found and proposed and methods are summarized in the process of practical survey on urban agriculture, related theory research and specific design practice. Apart from the above, how to integrate the residential design into urban agriculture, related theory and technology are also researched and solved.Preface elaborates the concept of urban agriculture in combination, types and multi-functional characteristics, the inevitability of the emergence and development of urban agriculture, and its important role in urban landscape and residents'life. Moreover, the international development trend of urban agriculture in history and the basic law of the phenomenon of urban agriculture in nations are summarized briefly. On this basis, an preliminary understanding of urban agriculture in China is taken shape.Chapter II researches the reality of urban agriculture in metropolises of China by practical survey, which consists of sub-urban agriculture and folk agriculture activities in cities. Sub-urban agriculture research are carried out mainly in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing's high-tech modern agriculture parks; the residential area of Jinan City are the main research object of folk agriculture activities. Survey includes the ordinary public's attitude on urban agriculture, residents'planting as well as urban managers'attitudes toward urban agriculture. Chapter III and IV focus on the possibility of the development of urban agriculture and propose alternative method and filling method, to integrate agriculture into public and non-public space of the residential area. Respectively for a variety of space forms, such as the residential green area, roof, balcony and etc., the corresponding recommendations for design are proposed, which afford the future architecture and urban design a reference. Based on the ecological cycle of settlements, Chapter V and VI discuss the technical feasibility of urban agriculture, combined with the well-established eco-technology measures and success cases at home and abroad.Through the above research, this paper concludes as follows:In the settlements, the majority of public green areas, roofs, balconies and other space forms can be utilized to develop urban agriculture. In addition, other related technologies, such as the integration of water, waste and energy, have also quite possibilities.