PS1 Public Farm Grows

It's been a well covered and wonderful example of some ephemeral architecture installation with an urban ag twist - the Public Farm at PS1 is now up and running - and it's an interesting transformation from idea to reality. Seen on Treehugger, the project now has it's own website at Public Farm 1, showing construction photos. For those whom forgot, here's another image of the project.


:: image via Public Farm 1

There are some new project photos, and I was pretty amazed by a few things. The scale of the tubes was significantly larger than I thought... perhaps this is just due to some misinterpretation of the graphics, but I imagined perhaps 6-12" tubes... and these are substantially larger scale. Here's an image of the project and water feature.


:: image via Treehugger

Treehugger also has a number of photos from the opening day party, with Work AC's Amale Andraos and Dan Wood on-hand (she's in the dress, he's in the skirt).




:: images via Treehugger

A few new features, such as the solar-powered phone charger, and the periscope - are nice touches. I'm interested in seeing how a summer of weather, soil, and water wear on the waxed tubes - it's probably safer than a NYC tower crane. Very cool ideas.




:: images via Treehugger

Plus, the picking skirt is really going to be this years must-have accessory. Throw out the kilt, get the skirt. That's hot.


:: image via Public Farm 1

Battersea Power Station

A good amount of buzz about Rafael Viñoly and his new Battersea Power Station development master plan. A comprehensive look from WAN shows a range of images and some descriptions of the features of the development. "The masterplan, unveiled today by Treasury Holdings UK on behalf of REO, will regenerate an area of London that will provide approximately 8 million square feet (750,000 square metres) of residential, office and retail space. There will be a six acre public park, a riverside walk and an urban square."




:: images via WAN

The use of rooftop spaces is an important aspect of the development. An example of a cool but very 'architectural' space offered up as one of the examples:


:: images via WAN

There are definitely a number of questions, but the overall idea is laudable. The objectives, again via BDonline:

• The sensitive regeneration of Battersea Power Station
• The creation of a zero carbon environment
• The delivery of a sustainable mixed-use development which will ensure marketability and strong demand
• To act as a catalyst for regeneration of the Nine Elms Corridor
• To ensure that the project is totally deliverable
• To facilitate a sustainable public transport solution

This is definitely a far cry from the old use of the site - sort of penance maybe, for the industrial heritage. Guess things have evolved a bit since WWII (see image below) and I assume we will see more about this soon, as there is already a battle brewing on this one with some grumbling about the proposal from the establishment. Fun!


:: Battersea Power Station (1944) - image via Vaux Hall Society

Blanc on a Budget

Some living wall pre-fab via Apartment Therapy , which showcased a new Patrick Blanc project/product, in collaboration with Alexis Tricoire, designer of the Folies Végétales 2007 exhibition for the Espace Electra in Paris. A modular system, scale for the home, offers everything one needs for interior landscape, including tray/reservoir, green screen, lighting, and plants.






:: images via Apartment Therapy

Additional info from AT: "A Blanc-Tricoire prototype for a free-standing vegetal "wall" was shown at this year's Milan furniture fair. ... The Green Screen is a rust-colored lacquered metal structure with integrated irrigation and lighting systems that can be set up indoors or outside. Units are designed to work on their own or to be joined together to form a seamless wall that mimics Blanc's work, without his design fee."


:: images via Apartment Therapy

I'm wondering how much, and what shipping costs from France?