Stripe Architects

vertical farm

Location: Cottbus, Germany
Type: Renovation

A former granary, built in the 1930s, is located in the city of Cottbus in eastern Germany. Its structure consists of a reinforced concrete frame, which made the interior easy to change. Brick outer walls have many small windows, which makes the building appear taller than it really is. Granary's pitched roof was made entirely out of concrete to protect the building from bombings. Next to the granary is a bakery, which is connected to it by an overhead passage.

We propose a new function for the building — a vertical hydroponic farm. The main project goal was not only to create an efficient way to produce food but also to demonstrate a process to the general public. For that, part of the building was converted into a single large space separated from the hydroponic farm by a glass wall. Products grown in the production area can be tasted at a rooftop restaurant or purchased from a store on the ground floor.

In addition to learning about the production processes, guests can get acquainted with the old building and elements preserved in it: brick walls cleaned of paint, mushroom-shaped concrete columns and a metal slide for delivering grain to the ground floor. New interior elements, as well as building's facade, are made of corten steel sheets, which emphasizes the contrast between old and new.

february 2019

Vertical Farm_01

Vertical Farm_02

Vertical Farm_05

Vertical Farm_Isometry_01

First floor

  • 1. Shop
  • 2. Lobby
  • 3. Coat check
  • 4. WC
  • 5. Barrier-free WC
  • 6. Storage room
  • 7. Staff entrance
  • 8. Office
  • 9. Loading dock
  • 10. Staff room

Vertical Farm_Drawing_01

Second floor

Vertical Farm_Drawing_02

Third floor

Vertical Farm_Drawing_03

Fourth floor

Vertical Farm_Drawing_04

Fifth floor

Vertical Farm_Drawing_05

Sixth floor

Vertical Farm_Drawing_06

Seventh floor

Vertical Farm_Drawing_07

  • 1. Viewing area
  • 2. Hydroponic farm
  • 3. Staff room
  • 4. Decontamination area
  • 5. Utility room
  • 6. WC
  • 7. Barrier-free WC
  • 8. Restaurant
  • 9. Bar
  • 10. Kitchen

Vertical Farm_Drawing_08

vertical farm

Date: February 2019
Location: Cottbus, Germany
Type: Renovation

Vertical Farm_01

Vertical Farm_02

Vertical Farm_03

Vertical Farm_04

Vertical Farm_05

Vertical Farm_Isometry_01

First floor

  • 1. Shop
  • 2. Lobby
  • 3. Coat check
  • 4. WC
  • 5. Barrier-free WC
  • 6. Storage room
  • 7. Staff entrance
  • 8. Office
  • 9. Loading dock
  • 10. Staff room

Vertical Farm_Drawing_01

Second floor

Vertical Farm_Drawing_02

Third floor

Vertical Farm_Drawing_03

Fourth floor

Vertical Farm_Drawing_04

Fifth floor

Vertical Farm_Drawing_05

Sixth floor

Vertical Farm_Drawing_06

Seventh floor

Vertical Farm_Drawing_07

  • 1. Viewing area
  • 2. Hydroponic farm
  • 3. Staff room
  • 4. Decontamination area
  • 5. Utility room
  • 6. WC
  • 7. Barrier-free WC
  • 8. Restaurant
  • 9. Bar
  • 10. Kitchen

Vertical Farm_Drawing_08

A former granary, built in the 1930s, is located in the city of Cottbus in eastern Germany. Its structure consists of a reinforced concrete frame, which made the interior easy to change. Brick outer walls have many small windows, which makes the building appear taller than it really is. Granary's pitched roof was made entirely out of concrete to protect the building from bombings. Next to the granary is a bakery, which is connected to it by an overhead passage.

We propose a new function for the building — a vertical hydroponic farm. The main project goal was not only to create an efficient way to produce food but also to demonstrate a process to the general public. For that, part of the building was converted into a single large space separated from the hydroponic farm by a glass wall. Products grown in the production area can be tasted at a rooftop restaurant or purchased from a store on the ground floor.

In addition to learning about the production processes, guests can get acquainted with the old building and elements preserved in it: brick walls cleaned of paint, mushroom-shaped concrete columns and a metal slide for delivering grain to the ground floor. New interior elements, as well as building's facade, are made of corten steel sheets, which emphasizes the contrast between old and new.