Architectural marvels have amazed us since the dawn of history. From the Pyramids of Egypt, the Taj Mahal, the Hagia Sophia, to the Empire State Building, many structures are incredible and have a place in history. And each year brings out more astonishing man-made constructions worthy of praise. Sometimes, they are more than what they seem to be.
Normally, a skyscraper would not bring much attention, particularly in these modern days where the sky’s the limit. But Africa has one such skyscraper project that is simply awesome, the Mashambas Skyscraper. Mashambas is Swahili for “cultivated land,” and is designed to bring the green revolution to the poorest people. It is the brainchild of Polish architects Mateusz Frankowski and Pawel Lipinski, who emerged as the winners of the eVolo Skyscraper Competition, beating over 400 other entries.
70% of Africa’s population live in rural areas and mostly practice subsistence farming, barely making $2 a day. Modern farming techniques could help end extreme poverty and feed entire villages. The “green revolution” has more than doubled the world’s grain production between 1960 and the year 2000. But it has not arrived in Africa on its own, factors have deterred it such as the challenging climate, civil conflicts and wars, lack of access to international markets, and underdeveloped infrastructural capacity. This is where the skyscraper comes in.
The Mashambas skyscraper is designed to serve as a farm, education center, and community hub all in one. Its goal is to train subsistence farmers in modern farming techniques to improve harvest and escape poverty. But there is more to this impressive project…it is also movable! It can be built in one place, stay until the area becomes self-sufficient, and then rebuilt in a new location that needs help. A base layer remains in the original site, which can serve as the marketplace for villagers.
The floors of the skyscraper are layered fields which can provide enough food for an entire village. They sit above an education center, which provides training and education to farmers on modern techniques and best agricultural practices. It also has a drone docking center in the middle, which can deliver agricultural products to remote areas. Finally, there is also a kindergarten, information center, and doctor’s office. Truly an amazing project which can help elevate people from poverty in third-world countries highly reliant on agriculture to survive.
It is good to note that between 1996 and 2012, Africa’s rural poverty decreased by 23%. But several countries are experiencing failing food systems. Some are facing massive famine that threatens the lives of at least 20 million people. New innovations such as the Mashambas skyscraper and apps that can serve farmers in rural Sub-Saharan Africa can help improve crop yields and improve lives. Those areas affected by drought need the most help, and immediately. “Giving training, fertilizer, and seeds to the small farmers can give them an opportunity to produce as much produce per acre as huge modern farms,” the architects wrote. Hopefully, more amazing projects will come out to make life better for everyone.
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