The Looper repurposes an existing river barge into a greenhouse which collects, uses, filters, and returns water to the river in a remediated state – a loop. The “building” was designed in accordance with the Living Building Challenge Standards and addresses each principle – site, water, energy, health, materials, equity and beauty – to create a zero-impact design. At the heart of the vessel is a “living machine” that distributes filtered river water to an aquaponics system growing both plants and fish. As the greenhouse barge moves along the river, it is able to restore water and habitat, serve multiple communities with access to fresh produce and act as a floating classroom for an ecologically abundant future.
The Looper was an RTKL entry for the 2013 snoLEAF BIG! Green Greenhouse ideas competition. The competition asked participants to develop inspired new ideas about the future of locally grown fresh produce in the Snohomish region of the Pacific Northwest. The competition requirements for the greenhouse where that it needed to extend the growing season, around 3,000 square feet, mainly operated by volunteers and fulfill the requirements of the Living Building Challenge.
via the-looper.com
