The design of a centre for resilient urban food systems in Sunnyside, Pretoria.

M. Tech. Architecture (Professional)A substantial proportion of the African population is deprived of access to safe and reliable food. Many people in Tshwane currently live with long-term malnutrition, seeing that food insecurity is growing most rapidly in formal urban areas, referred to as food deserts, due to their limited access to food. Designing urban environments for local food security has become imperative. This dissertation presents the design of a research centre to promote a resilient urban food systems in Sunnyside, Pretoria. A combination of high- and low-intensity cultivation methods is integrated into the building to create a balance between optimised crop yield and community participation and education. The holistic integration of systems, people and the built environment aims to create a building that is not merely a machine for living, but a living machine