France: The Railway Farm in Paris explores agro-urbanism within a social welfare fabric
With The Railway Farm, Grand Huit and Melanie Drevet Paysagiste merge agriculture with affordable housing and create jobs for the vulnerable sections of the Parisian district.
By Jincy Iype
Stir World
Mar 25, 2022
Excerpt:
“Born from the desire of residents and local associations to see a place that combines urban agriculture and solidarity grow, the Ferme du Rail aims to integrate vulnerable people. The farm offers emergency social housing and social reintegration of 15 social reintegration housing units, five social student housing units, an unheated, productive greenhouse, a restaurant open to the public, a mushroom-growing cave and a permaculture garden. Its objective is to minimise the need for energy, food and financial resources by implementing a circular economy,” share the creators who partnered up with the Municipality of Paris for this social and sustainable endeavour.
The urban design endeavour combines farming and affordable housing, powered by clean energy and beautified by green spaces. It is part of the social fabric of the neighbourhood, and is able to generate a service activity and agricultural production, ultimately creating jobs for the area’s inhabitants. “It is the eco-designed fruit of shared governance between operators and project managers during the five years of its development,” Grand Huit and Melanie Drevet share.
