Integration of Urban Agriculture Systems into Interior Architecture: Case Examples and a Modular Design Proposal

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Authors: Nergiz Amirov
Cited by: 0
References: 24

Abstract

Rapid urbanization, environmental disruption, and recurring disasters have intensified the need for resilient food strategies that can operate within constrained urban interiors. Although indoor urban agriculture and controlled-environment systems are increasingly discussed, their integration as an interior architecture problem especially for compact and post-disaster living contexts remains insufficiently articulated. This study investigates how interior architecture can support food resilience by embedding modular indoor agriculture into everyday environments. The research adopts a qualitative, literature-based analytical framework and a comparative case evaluation of two precedents that Pasona Urban Farm (Tokyo) and InFarm modular systems (Berlin). Case documentation and published sources were analyzed to extract spatial-technical requirements and user-facing design strategies. Findings are synthesized into a set of transferable principles: resilient modularity for diverse interior typologies, water circularity through closed-loop/low-loss systems, human-plant cohabitation via lighting and access ergonomics, and operational simplicity through legible maintenance and digital feedback. Building on these principles, the paper proposes the Adaptive Hydro-Cell (AHC) as a conceptual prototype: a portable hydroponic unit designed for compact urban dwellings and post-disaster interiors, integrating stackable growth trays, filtration, and mobile monitoring. The contribution lies in positioning interior architecture as a mediating discipline that translates agricultural infrastructure into human-centered, deployable interior systems, and in articulating a resilience-oriented design framework to guide future prototyping and validation.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Urban Agriculture and Sustainability Innovations in Aquaponics and Hydroponics Systems Sustainable Design and Development

Publication details

Journal / source
Black Sea Journal of Engineering and Science
Volume
9
Issue
2
Pages
677–691
Publication date
15 March 2026
Language
EN