WHY WE WORK
FAARM develops and advocates for sustainable and renewable systems of design, integrating architecture, energy, water and agriculture for under-served communities. We incorporate our collective expertise and material research to empower people in the long term cultivation of their neighborhoods through social, economic, and environmental change.
HOW WE WORK
We create an environment where designers, builders and community members expand and build upon their expertise while developing innovative solutions for long-range architectural and environmental planning. We partner with universitiesglobally, international NGOs and local community groups to research and develop contextually relevant and sustainable material, building and landscaping strategies.
Research and design work is undertaken with a team of volunteer architects, engineers, planners and other design professionals based in New York City and around the world. Our research is integrated into design projects and distributed through publications, exhibitions and digital media.
FAARM, doing business as FAARM, is a 501(c)3 registered tax-exempt organization in the state of New York.
WHERE WE WORK
AT HOME:
In the United States there is a growing movement to reduce the negative impact of buildings on our environment and interest in the incorporation of localized environmental systems into the build environment. Our research into organic building materials and integrated water management techniques are to be implemented as experiments in projects in the US.
ABROAD:
FAARM’ s focus internationally is on the cross-pollination of ideas to spur innovative thinking and in bringing together new technologies with current best practices in the countries where we work. The goal is to help communities actively participate in their long-term sustainable building and development.
WHAT WE DO
ARCHITECTURE & ART
Haiti
FAARM emerged from a university project developing emergency relief shelters following the 2010 earthquake. Our response was to step beyond short-term crisis solutions and consider long-term, sustainable designs to address the country's ongoing environmental and socio-economic problems.
Current projects include the design and construction of a clinic in Jonc-Dodin, a village 90 miles south of Port-au-Prince. This clinic will bring much-needed medical services to an undeserved area and will house a training center to develop nursing skills and provide job opportunities. As part of this project, we are partnering with the Institute for Sustainable Work and Environment to develop a certificate training program for local construction workers in earthquake and hurricane resistant building practices and safe masonry construction methods.
In Port-au-Prince, we are working with Ideal Centre D'Education Chretienne, a primary school in Delmas that was destroyed in the earthquake and is currently functioning under a tent. We are also developing designs for a community school in Cayes-Jacmel, where the more rural landscape allows us to incorporate an agricultural component that can be used both for teaching purposes and to provide produce for school lunches.
Nigeria
We have developed sustainable community development proposals in Lagos, where our designs are supporting projects focused on increasing access to formal and informal education, particularly in construction, fabrication and agriculture.
RESEARCH
We are working on a publication, entitled Ground Rules focused on providing innovative solutions to the necessary integration of water, agriculture, ecology, health and education in the design and architecture of sustainable communities. This book showcases both traditional knowledge and new technologies to inform design and architecture. This publication will be a resource for architects, urban planners, agronomists and designers.
MAKING
The Solar Puff is FAARM’s first product. Our goal is to market the Solar Puff globally and use sales in US and Europe to help us offer the Solar Puff to more impoverished areas at a substantially lower cost.