Gastown Urban Plug-In

The Gastown Urban Plug-In is to become a center for urban agriculture in the City of Vancouver. Urban agriculture provides many benefits, such as greening the city, improving biodiversity, making use of under-utilized spaces, and producing food closer to home. Urban farming also enhances the local food economy by creating green jobs, building skills, and shortening food supply chains. The Plug-in is not only an urban farm, but it is a trendy area for people to escape from the city. The Plug-In also incorporates many technologies to help the site function, such as rainwater barrels, vertical farming, hydroponics, solar panels, and an app. Through the use of recycled shipping containers, a market place was created where people can shop and enjoy the site. Within these shipping containers, there are also hydroponic farms so that in the winter months, food can still be grown.
Local artists also display their art on the containers to maintain the aesthetics of the space. This space is a destination for events, leisure, and more within the various seasons. By planting various species on the site, it is rich in biodiversity and has become a space for not only the people of Vancouver but also many other species. Through the implementation of the Plug-in, many issues will be addressed, including food security, lessening the effects of air pollution, and increased rainfall. The Plug-In being an adaptable design that can be seen in Vancouver and other cities around the world.