Aquaponic Brewery

Taking back control of food production

The proposal focuses on how architects can be involved in and take back control of food production within cities. This can be done by engaging with the urban farming community to make a statement and contribute ac change of values around sustainability and food production.

The site is located in Pintsch Brache, with approximately 20,000 m2 of relatively large open and unused space within central and former East Berlin.

The proposal includes multistoried greenhouse housing an aquaponic system connected to a tower housing a vertical brewery. The form of the linear multistory greenhouse was chosen because of its ability to over time occupy more of the large site. A south facing double skin façade will help control the indoor climate. Lowering the ground floor into the ground will moderate the temperature of the greenhouse. Water can be collected on the roof of the neighboring “living
factory”.

A mechanically joint post and beam system of glulam will make up the load bearing structure of the multistory greenhouse and the brewery tower. Without any metal fittings for the joints, the material thickness of the knots is enhanced to provide strength. The wooden elements are pre-fabricated and the joinery is CNC-milled. The structure is easy to disassemble and could be taken down and rebuild elsewhere.