PROTOTYPE FOR INDOOR FARMING

AGRICULTURE: URBAN WHOLESALE MARKETS

Okla Mandi is th one of the biggest vegetable wholesale
markets in Delhi. It was developed by DDA (Delhi Devel-
opment Authority) and is called the "fruits and vegetable
market sub yard•Okhla''.
Farmers from all adjacent villages come here to sell their
produce to the retailers and also to consumers. All the
areas around Delhi get their supply of vegetables and
fruits from Okhla Mandi, especially South Delhi, Ghasia-
bad, Noida and Gurgaon.

58% of Delhi’s waste directly dumped into river

Source : Food Systems (Re-Centering Delhi Research
elhi Rese Catalog) - The Yamuna River Project

B.Arch Thesis 2019-20

Site and its Nirbhay Singh
neighbourhood
AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT IN URBAN METROPOLIS OF DELHI 15110016
 CULTURE ROOM
The following steps are taken by workers entering the
culture room:
(1) enter the changing/locker room
in the operation room,
(2) take off all clothing,
(3) take a hot water shower or air shower for the
whole body including hair/head washing,
(4) put on clean underwear, overalls, cap, mask, and
gloves,
(5) wash the hands while wearing the gloves using a
disinfectant for sterilization,
(6) put on clean
boots and sterilize the boot soles,
(7) take an air shower again, and
(8) enter the culture room.

“CLOSED-LOOP AGRICULTURAL” ECOSYSTEMS

Seeding for Trimming damaged weighing and pack- Shipping “Closed-loop agricultural” ecosystems intend to mimic
germination leaves aging natural ecosystems that treat waste as
a resource. Similar to aquaponics, the waste of one part
of the system becomes the nutrients for the other. The
closed-loop system recycles and reuses nearly every
element of the farming process—dirty water, sewage,
Growing germinated Harvesting/removing Labeling backs cooling and nutrients. Food waste can also be converted to
seedings in light roots compost. In a closed-loop system, everything remains
in the system, leading to a zero-waste outcome.

ANAEROBIC DIGESTER
“Closed-loop agricultural” ecosystems intend to mimic
2nd transplanting Packaging Labeling boxes natural ecosystems that treat waste as
1st transplanting
a resource. Similar to aquaponics, the waste of one part
of the system becomes the nutrients for the other. The
closed-loop system recycles and reuses nearly every
A typical flow of operations in the plant production process focusing on the movements of plants. element of the farming process—dirty water, sewage,
COMPONENTS OF A VERTICAL FARM
and nutrients. Food waste can also be converted to
Vertical Farms can be very diverse, both structurally and compost. In a closed-loop system, everything remains
technologically. Some farms rely solely on artificial light- in the system, leading to a zero-waste outcome.
ing for plant growth, whereas others grow plants verti-
cally, still utilizing some of the sun’s light. Also, plants can
either be grown in soil (potted) or using hydroponic
methods, which are much more common. Usually, a
commercial Vertical Farm relies on an artificial, ware-
house-like structure, thermally insulated, in which venti-
lation is kept at a minimum, and artificial light is used as
the sole light source for plant growth [9]. In such Vertical structure and
Farms, the environment for plant growth can be con- Air conditioning
growing system
trolled as precisely as desired, regardless of the outside
weather. In addition to the recirculating nutrient solution
in a hydroponic or aeroponic system, the water trans-
pired by plants can be condensed and collected at the
cooling panel of the air conditioners and then recycled
for irrigation.
Environmental
Vertical farm
control units CO2 supply unit
NUTRIENT FILM TECHNIQUE (NFT) DEEP FLOW TECHNIQUE (DFT) components
In the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), a thin film of water Deep Flow Technique (or Deep Water Culture), as op-
continuously flows through the pipe/gutter, so it is posed to NFT, always has some amount of nutrient solu-
always in contact with the roots. This ensures constant tion at some depth. More nutrient is periodically pumped
availability of nutrients to the plants. NFT also supplies in and through the overflow pipe and the excess nutrient
ample oxygen to the plants, since the roots are exposed solution goes back to the reservoir and is recycled.
above the thin film. Even when there is a power outage, or other problem Nutrient supply &
This system requires the nutrient solution to be continu- preventing the pump operating properly, there is always Lighting
control
ously in circulation, which results in no stagnant water in some water to keep the plants alive. This system allows
any point of the system. more control over water temperature when compared to
N F T .

VERTICAL FARMING SPATIAL DESIGN

Schematic diagrams of DFT (left) and NFT (right) hydroponic systems

Source : GROWING POWER VERTICAL FARM - Building Systems Integration Structural Systems

B.Arch Thesis 2019-20

Components of Nirbhay Singh
vertical farming
AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT IN URBAN METROPOLIS OF DELHI 15110016