Polyculture is a type of agriculture in which multiple crops are grown in the same space. For example, intercropping results in better use of land by growing together different crops that don’t compete for available resources, while companion planting takes advantage of the symbiotic relationships formed between various plant species in order to enhance growth and provide protection from the environment or from pests. Polyculture offers increased biodiversity, resilience, and efficient use of resources. It also requires much planning and research, both quantitative and qualitative, in order to effectively design a successful growth system.

Loop geometry is characterized by its bending and continuity properties. When multiplied in series throughout an area, the loops offer a system of organizing groups of companion plants according to their required environmental conditions. Winding the loops back and forth across a slope creates a terracing effect that controls natural water flow, thereby reducing soil erosion and securing the terrain. The soils within each individual loop pocket can be easily tailored to suit the crops that grow there. In addition, a gravity-fed irrigation system that follows the loop structures ensures that all of the plants receive adequate hydration year-round. Smaller loops nested within larger loops offer additional control and organization, much like with folders and sub-folders. Ultimately, the flexibility and dynamism of this system allows it to be applied to any landscape and to be easily configured to its changing environment.

We decided to continue our exploration of this typology of material, which is notable for its continuity and its bending properties.

As we played around with different configurations of the ribbon, we discovered emergent properties, such as its ability to stretch.

Inspired by fractals and the idea of growth, we were curious to see how this material could grow and multiply organically. In the following pictures, we can see axial, concentric, and complex forms of growth.

Finally, this experimentation led to our 3d model, in which we curved the entire surface and discovered even more fascinating geometries, such as wormholes.

In the meantime, for our growth system, we were inspired by the Three Sisters, in which beans, corn, and squash are grown together and form a symbiotic relationship in which the corn provides a structural pole for the beans, which fix nitrogen for the corn, and the squash covers the surrounding soil, retaining water and repelling pests. This form of agriculture is known as companion planting, which is a type of polyculture. Growing different crops together makes efficient use of land, which in turn increases biodiversity and resilience.

http://restoringtheroost.blogspot.com.es/2012/01/seed-orders-and-garden-planning.html

There are endless possibilities when it comes to potential growing combinations of different plants – and even more if one includes non-edible plants and also the faunal domain.

One of our form system’s greatest advantages is its flexibility and morphability.

Applied to the site, this form could be used to reduce soil erosion on a slope, to control the amount of light received by plants, to create different layers and orientations of growth, and so on.

The next phase of our project will involve additional exploration of the application of this form and how it can be integrated most effectively with polyculture.