Upward Machine

The theme is the redefinition of a new role for the former building, reflecting on current issues such as land consumption, driven by population growth, which in turn increases the demand for resources, leading to actions like urbanization and intensive agriculture. Starting from this premise and extending these considerations on a global scale, we approached the topic of vertical farming, which assumes that agriculture becomes an architectural issue and, in our case, specifically a matter of repurposing existing structures.

The building will undergo modifications and additions to ensure its survival in a contemporary context, following the historical process of additions and demolitions that have shaped it over time. Structured as a stable framework, the factory functions as a dynamic system in continuous transformation, adapting to evolving production demands. The project reconnects a part of the city through the introduction of a pedestrian path and a renaturalization strategy. The former parking lot will be depaved, allowing spontaneous vegetation to reclaim the space and transform it into a park. Pre-existing structures, once integral to the brick production process, will undergo a transformation, harmonizing with the new urban park. The furnace will be partially emptied at its extremities to create two access points leading into newly assigned functional spaces within the existing structure. One of these hubs, housed within the elongated building, will accommodate the productive function of the vertical farm, along with a covered market, a dining area, and an exhibition space. A second hub will be dedicated to a library, study rooms, and a literary café. The third and final intervention on the pre-existing structures involves establishing a research center within the former drying room adjacent to the furnace, where a direct, covered connection between the two spaces is planned. The vertical farm will be centrally positioned and enclosed by glass partitions to enhance visibility and stimulate public interest in the activities taking place inside. This design strategy highlights the contrast between this new, automation-driven productive function focused on experimental research and the furnace’s historical identity as a cathedral of manual labor.