Agritecture: Woven Lea Farm

Abstract

This thesis is a design of a sustainable family farm within the context of drastic changes is rural areas over the past century and the coming changes of the future century. The design explores the integration of farm culture, farm architecture, and farm sustainability. It uses the creative architecture to solve common farm problems.

The thesis is organized into three major chapters relating to the three major areas of research; architecture precidents, context, and farming approaches, along with a design chapter.

Chapter one looks at precedents for the unusual proposition of an architect designing a farm which is usually left to vernacular architecture. The farm design is related to the evolution of the villa ideology using James Ackerman.

Chapter two explores the context of agriculture. It maps the historical changes due to industrialization and cheep fossil fuel energy. It continues to map the current beginnings of change due to rising energy costs and environmental concerns. These issues are expressed in the local conditions of the 150 acre site in Middlesex County, Southern Ontario. It places the thesis within contemporary issues of sustainability.

Chapter three explains the design of the Woven Lea Farm. It describes the architecture of the farm as a total ecosystem design. The woven Lea Farm gets its name from the many complexities woven together and the pasture or lea rotation system which is an essential part of the design.

Chapter four explores agriculture approaches and resulting technologies. It is a critique of artisanal, industrial, certified organic, and organic practices. This chapter explains the design as a hybridization of all these theories and explains many of the processes involved in the Woven Lea Farm.

The design presents the agriculture environment and a critique of available practices. The design is a holistic approach including energy cycles, animal and landscape management, and passive building systems. This thesis is not only a design solution but can be used as a reference for many potential practices and creative problem solving methodologies available to farmers.