CAMPUS FARM COMMUNITY | TUCSON, ARIZONA
When the city of Tucson was developed beyond a mere railroad town, it was conceived of as a city of open grids, expanding endlessly to the horizon in all four directions. 100 years later, and we have started to rethink that concept. Endless suburban sprawl, disconnected from commerce, community and culture, stuck in our cars. Our food, energy, and water could come from anywhere in the world, and often does.
We’ve started to see the error of our ways and to pull back on the reins. What would happen if the grid pulled back on itself? If work, home and play were all connected, close to alternative transportation options? What if our food and energy needs were met on site? What if we
gave equal value and space to pedestrians and cyclists, and looked out for their safety instead of considering the vehicle the primary player on the road? And what if we looked at the agricultural landscape not as a resource to be exploited, but as an aesthetic landscape in its own right? Campus Farm Community attempts to address some of these questions, providing an alternate living arrangement that emphasizes diversity and inclusion, safety and well being, sustainability and responsibility. Food needs are met with a community-based CSA program that harvests on-site, alluding back to the site’s history and fertile alluvial soils. Community garden plots are available for those who wish to utilize them, but no one (not even apartment dwellers) will have to suffer a lack of fresh produce for not having a backyard. Aquaculture brings diversity of food sources and encourages a responsible life-cycle while extending the growing season and conserving water. A variety of housing options are available for a diverse community. Single family, townhomes, and apartments can meet the needs of many potential residents. The site’s proximity to buses, a major bike corridor, and the eventual expansion of the modern street car mean that a car will go from being a necessity to a luxury. Commercial and office space within the space provide employment opportunities within close proximity. And with other estaurants, grocery stores, and other amenities nearby, you’ll forget you ever needed a car for daily living. Dedicated bike lanes throughout the site provide a comfortable and safe biking experience, while trees line the streets to provide a comfortable and safe experience for anyone travelling hroughout the site. A multi-use trail across the site provides an alternative for fitness enthusiasts or those wanting to take in spectacular views of the mountains and agricultural landscapes.
Community amenities include access to the CSA, a library on-site, and a museum dedicated to the history of the Sonoran Desert and the Rillito River. The museum will feature a great café with mountain views that can’t be beat. A variety of spaces across the site will leave plenty of options for eating, drinking, and hanging out with friends and family.
Sustainability is a big part of this community as well. Many of the properties will have solar panels and will be built with an eye towards energy conservation. Vernacular architectural styles are inherently energy-efficient and appropriate to the desert environment. Stormwater will be harvested and directed throughout the site, contributing to agricultural fields and street tree basins. The fields are sown to work with the slopes and drainages of the site, not against them. Water from the areas around the site will be captured and redistributed to best effect, slowing the absorption and limiting the amount that floods into the Rillito. These sustainability measures become an intrinsic part of the site instead of just features set down into it, and will provide an example for new development strategies in Tucson, the desert, and beyond.
We’ve started to see the error of our ways and to pull back on the reins. What would happen if the grid pulled back on itself? If work, home and play were all connected, close to alternative transportation options? What if our food and energy needs were met on site? What if we
gave equal value and space to pedestrians and cyclists, and looked out for their safety instead of considering the vehicle the primary player on the road? And what if we looked at the agricultural landscape not as a resource to be exploited, but as an aesthetic landscape in its own right? Campus Farm Community attempts to address some of these questions, providing an alternate living arrangement that emphasizes diversity and inclusion, safety and well being, sustainability and responsibility. Food needs are met with a community-based CSA program that harvests on-site, alluding back to the site’s history and fertile alluvial soils. Community garden plots are available for those who wish to utilize them, but no one (not even apartment dwellers) will have to suffer a lack of fresh produce for not having a backyard. Aquaculture brings diversity of food sources and encourages a responsible life-cycle while extending the growing season and conserving water. A variety of housing options are available for a diverse community. Single family, townhomes, and apartments can meet the needs of many potential residents. The site’s proximity to buses, a major bike corridor, and the eventual expansion of the modern street car mean that a car will go from being a necessity to a luxury. Commercial and office space within the space provide employment opportunities within close proximity. And with other estaurants, grocery stores, and other amenities nearby, you’ll forget you ever needed a car for daily living. Dedicated bike lanes throughout the site provide a comfortable and safe biking experience, while trees line the streets to provide a comfortable and safe experience for anyone travelling hroughout the site. A multi-use trail across the site provides an alternative for fitness enthusiasts or those wanting to take in spectacular views of the mountains and agricultural landscapes.
Community amenities include access to the CSA, a library on-site, and a museum dedicated to the history of the Sonoran Desert and the Rillito River. The museum will feature a great café with mountain views that can’t be beat. A variety of spaces across the site will leave plenty of options for eating, drinking, and hanging out with friends and family.
Sustainability is a big part of this community as well. Many of the properties will have solar panels and will be built with an eye towards energy conservation. Vernacular architectural styles are inherently energy-efficient and appropriate to the desert environment. Stormwater will be harvested and directed throughout the site, contributing to agricultural fields and street tree basins. The fields are sown to work with the slopes and drainages of the site, not against them. Water from the areas around the site will be captured and redistributed to best effect, slowing the absorption and limiting the amount that floods into the Rillito. These sustainability measures become an intrinsic part of the site instead of just features set down into it, and will provide an example for new development strategies in Tucson, the desert, and beyond.
