IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i5p1881-d1345516.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Residential Rooftop Urban Agriculture: Architectural Design Recommendations

Author

Listed:
  • Ehsan Daneshyar

    (Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, Faculty of Design, Arkin University of Creative Arts and Design, Sair Nedim Street, No:11, 99300 Kyrenia, Cyprus)

Abstract

It is evident that, due to population growth, future urbanization and urban growth are inevitable. It is estimated that the food supply demand of future urban centers will grow, which will place an additional burden on the agriculture sector to produce more food. It is projected that securing the food supply chain for future urban centers will be a challenge. Urban agriculture can be regarded as a remedy for possible future challenges that the global food system will face. It might be able to reduce the future burden on the agriculture sector. This research proposes that urban rooftop agriculture, as a subset of urban agriculture, can produce local fresh food in dense urban environments. The principal aim of this research is to suggest a series of design recommendations for architects interested in designing residential buildings capable of rooftop food production. This research attempts to highlight the specific design recommendations and the principal limitations regarding designing residential rooftop farms. To extract the data for developing the proposed design recommendations and limitations, a review of the literature within the fields of urban agriculture, building-integrated agriculture, and horticulture was conducted. Based on the literature review results, this research suggests that the following three types of farming methods can be developed on residential rooftops: (1) open-air rooftop food production, (2) “low-tech” rooftop greenhouses, and (3) “high-tech” rooftop greenhouses. In addition, factors that can be considered principal limitations are suggested. In sum, this research proposes that current and future residential buildings can be designed so that their rooftops are utilized as farms. In this way, such buildings can contribute to delivering local fresh food to current and future metropolitan dwellers.

Suggested Citation

  • Ehsan Daneshyar, 2024. "Residential Rooftop Urban Agriculture: Architectural Design Recommendations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-34, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:5:p:1881-:d:1345516
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/5/1881/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/5/1881/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kubi Ackerman & Michael Conard & Patricia Culligan & Richard Plunz & Maria-Paola Sutto & Leigh Whittinghill, 2014. "Sustainable Food Systems for Future Cities: The Potential of Urban Agriculture," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 45(2), pages 189-206.
    2. Coma, Julià & Pérez, Gabriel & Solé, Cristian & Castell, Albert & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2016. "Thermal assessment of extensive green roofs as passive tool for energy savings in buildings," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 1106-1115.
    3. Abdul Munaf Mohamed Irfeey & Hing-Wah Chau & Mohamed Mahusoon Fathima Sumaiya & Cheuk Yin Wai & Nitin Muttil & Elmira Jamei, 2023. "Sustainable Mitigation Strategies for Urban Heat Island Effects in Urban Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-26, July.
    4. Jorinda Steenkamp & Elizelle Juanee Cilliers & Sarel Stephanus Cilliers & Louis Lategan, 2021. "Food for Thought: Addressing Urban Food Security Risks through Urban Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-29, January.
    5. Litt, J.S. & Schmiege, S.J. & Hale, J.W. & Buchenau, M. & Sancar, F., 2015. "Exploring ecological, emotional and social levers of self-rated health for urban gardeners and non-gardeners: A path analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 1-8.
    6. Guilherme Lages Barbosa & Francisca Daiane Almeida Gadelha & Natalya Kublik & Alan Proctor & Lucas Reichelm & Emily Weissinger & Gregory M. Wohlleb & Rolf U. Halden, 2015. "Comparison of Land, Water, and Energy Requirements of Lettuce Grown Using Hydroponic vs. Conventional Agricultural Methods," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-13, June.
    7. Majid, Maliqa & Khan, Junaid N. & Ahmad Shah, Qazi Muneeb & Masoodi, Khalid Z. & Afroza, Baseerat & Parvaze, Saqib, 2021. "Evaluation of hydroponic systems for the cultivation of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., var. Longifolia) and comparison with protected soil-based cultivation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    8. Aleksandra Nowysz & Łukasz Mazur & Magdalena Daria Vaverková & Eugeniusz Koda & Jan Winkler, 2022. "Urban Agriculture as an Alternative Source of Food and Water Security in Today’s Sustainable Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-21, November.
    9. Sarah Taylor Lovell, 2010. "Multifunctional Urban Agriculture for Sustainable Land Use Planning in the United States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(8), pages 1-24, August.
    10. Kathrin Specht & Rosemarie Siebert & Ina Hartmann & Ulf Freisinger & Magdalena Sawicka & Armin Werner & Susanne Thomaier & Dietrich Henckel & Heike Walk & Axel Dierich, 2014. "Urban agriculture of the future: an overview of sustainability aspects of food production in and on buildings," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 31(1), pages 33-51, March.
    11. Goodman, Wylie & Minner, Jennifer, 2019. "Will the urban agricultural revolution be vertical and soilless? A case study of controlled environment agriculture in New York City," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 160-173.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Giulia Lucertini & Gianmarco Di Giustino, 2021. "Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture as a Tool for Food Security and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: The Case of Mestre," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-16, May.
    2. Martina Artmann & Katharina Sartison, 2018. "The Role of Urban Agriculture as a Nature-Based Solution: A Review for Developing a Systemic Assessment Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-32, June.
    3. Shahin Keynoush & Ehsan Daneshyar, 2022. "Defining a Pedagogical Framework for Integrating Buildings and Landscapes in Conjunction with Social Sustainability Discourse in the Architecture Graduate Design Studio," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-27, April.
    4. Ahmad Bathaei & Dalia Štreimikienė, 2023. "Renewable Energy and Sustainable Agriculture: Review of Indicators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-24, September.
    5. Shingo Yoshida & Hironori Yagi, 2021. "Long-Term Development of Urban Agriculture: Resilience and Sustainability of Farmers Facing the Covid-19 Pandemic in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-23, April.
    6. Devi Buehler & Ranka Junge, 2016. "Global Trends and Current Status of Commercial Urban Rooftop Farming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-16, October.
    7. Luiza Vigne Bennedetti & Paulo Antônio de Almeida Sinisgalli & Maurício Lamano Ferreira & Fabiano Lemes de Oliveira, 2023. "Challenges to Promote Sustainability in Urban Agriculture Models: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-14, January.
    8. Muhammad Mumtaz Khan & Muhammad Tahir Akram & Rhonda Janke & Rashad Waseem Khan Qadri & Abdullah Mohammed Al-Sadi & Aitazaz A. Farooque, 2020. "Urban Horticulture for Food Secure Cities through and beyond COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-21, November.
    9. Jahrl, Ingrid & Moschitz, Heidrun & Cavin, Joëlle Salomon, 2021. "The role of food gardening in addressing urban sustainability – A new framework for analysing policy approaches," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    10. Garrett M. Broad & Wythe Marschall & Maya Ezzeddine, 2022. "Perceptions of high-tech controlled environment agriculture among local food consumers: using interviews to explore sense-making and connections to good food," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(1), pages 417-433, March.
    11. Shingo Yoshida & Hironori Yagi, 2023. "Effects of Sustainability Practices on Farm Continuity in Urban Agriculture: From the Creating Shared Value Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-20, October.
    12. Nicole Rogge & Insa Theesfeld & Carola Strassner, 2018. "Social Sustainability through Social Interaction—A National Survey on Community Gardens in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-18, April.
    13. Xuepeng Shi & Chengfei Shi & Abel Tablada & Xiaoyu Guan & Mingfeng Cui & Yangxiao Rong & Qiqi Zhang & Xudong Xie, 2025. "A Review of Research Progress in Vertical Farming on Façades: Design, Technology, and Benefits," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-46, January.
    14. Giordano Ruggeri & Chiara Mazzocchi & Stefano Corsi, 2016. "Urban Gardeners’ Motivations in a Metropolitan City: The Case of Milan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-19, October.
    15. Monica Allaby & Graham K. MacDonald & Sarah Turner, 2021. "Growing pains: Small-scale farmer responses to an urban rooftop farming and online marketplace enterprise in Montréal, Canada," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(3), pages 677-692, September.
    16. Evans, D.L. & Falagán, N. & Hardman, C.A. & Kourmpetli, S. & Liu, L. & Mead, B.R. & Davies, J.A.C., 2022. "Ecosystem service delivery by urban agriculture and green infrastructure – a systematic review," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    17. Chethika Gunasiri Wadumestrige Dona & Geetha Mohan & Kensuke Fukushi, 2021. "Promoting Urban Agriculture and Its Opportunities and Challenges—A Global Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-22, August.
    18. Aleksandra Nowysz & Łukasz Mazur & Magdalena Daria Vaverková & Eugeniusz Koda & Jan Winkler, 2022. "Urban Agriculture as an Alternative Source of Food and Water Security in Today’s Sustainable Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-21, November.
    19. Esther Sanyé-Mengual & Francesco Orsini & Giorgio Gianquinto, 2018. "Revisiting the Sustainability Concept of Urban Food Production from a Stakeholders’ Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-19, June.
    20. Renata Rapisarda & Francesco Nocera & Vincenzo Costanzo & Gaetano Sciuto & Rosa Caponetto, 2022. "Hydroponic Green Roof Systems as an Alternative to Traditional Pond and Green Roofs: A Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-27, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:5:p:1881-:d:1345516. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.