Core77

While urban farms in Detroit are making use of reclaimed land to grow crops, Israeli architecture firm Knafo-Klimor is designing that process into new buildings. The firm's "Agro-Housing" concept (which recently won the International Architecture Competition for Sustainable Housing) combines an apartment building with low-maintenance greenhouses: "[The resident] has to plant the seeds and that is all," says architect David Knafo. "The irrigation is automatic, the greenhouse is sealed against insects and there is no need for pesticide, and the windows provide the light and heat necessary for growth."

The concept will serve as a model for prototypes in rapidly urbanizing China, starting with the city of Huan. More on the concept here.