24.01.2026

Urban digital farming on rooftops

Building design

An impressive aerial view of a building with a green roof by Declan Sun, showing urban sustainability and innovative architecture.

Vegetables from high-rise buildings, lettuce instead of gravel on the roof and algae ponds with sensor monitoring – urban digital farming on rooftops has long been more than just an eco-dream for hipsters. It is a field test for the future of the city: where data, technology and sustainability collide, not only greenery grows, but also a new urban economy. But how much potential does the digital rooftop really have? And why are DACH cities in particular finding it so difficult?

Urban digital farming on rooftops combines highly developed agricultural technology with urban development and sustainable construction.
Innovative sensor technology, AI-supported control and real-time data are revolutionizing urban food production.
Germany, Austria and Switzerland are experimenting – but regulation, building codes and willingness to invest are slowing things down.
Sustainability goals, the circular economy and climate adaptation are key drivers – but also major challenges.
Professional planning requires interdisciplinary expertise: architecture, building technology, IT, agronomy and urbanism.
Digital farms are changing the professional profile of architects and engineers – and challenging traditional planning cultures.
Fierce debates about land use, energy, biodiversity and social acceptance are shaping the professional world.
Global role models are inspiring, but building practice in German-speaking countries is lagging behind – for now.

High-tech meets raised beds: the status quo of urban digital farming

Urban farming on rooftops – once a niche topic for eco-pioneers, today a hot playing field for start-ups, investors and urban planners. While tons of vegetables have long been growing on rooftops in New York, Singapore and Tokyo, the focus in Germany, Austria and Switzerland is still primarily on pilot projects and research facilities. The vision: to make cities more autonomous, shorten supply chains, improve the carbon footprint and increase the quality of urban life. It sounds like a dream of the future, but it has long since become reality – at least on paper and in PowerPoint presentations.

In fact, there are initial projects in the DACH region that show what is possible. In Berlin, for example, the Malzfabrik is experimenting with aquaponics and digital monitoring of water quality. In Basel, herbs are growing above the parking garage, computer-controlled and resource-saving. Vienna is focusing on closed-loop models with digitally controlled vertical farms. But the big breakthrough has yet to come. Why? There are many reasons: restrictive building regulations, high investment costs, a lack of standardization and a planning culture that relies on traditional green roofs instead of high-tech agriculture. Added to this is a construction industry that prefers solar panels to tomato plants.

What has long been commonplace in international projects is still viewed with suspicion in German-speaking countries. There is great fear of leaks, structural problems and maintenance costs. And then there is the question: who is actually running all this? Architects are not farmers, facility managers are not agronomists, and building owners shy away from running costs like the devil shuns holy water. The interface between planning, construction and operation is complex – and rarely truly digital. Nevertheless, interest is growing. Local authorities are launching funding programs, large residential construction projects are integrating the first farm modules, and universities are providing the appropriate feasibility studies. It smells of a new dawn, but there is still a lot of room for improvement.

One thing is clear: without digitalization, urban farming on the roof will remain a nice gimmick for the sustainability certificate. Only with sensor technology, data management and AI-based control will the green roof become a productive, efficient and scalable part of the urban metabolism. Smart irrigation, automated nutrient supply and real-time yield forecasts are no longer science fiction, but state of the art – at least if you dare to put more than a few grasses on your roof.

The big question: How can we make the leap from pilot plant to standard component of urban development? What needs to happen so that digital farming on roofs not only shines in innovation competitions, but actually becomes part of urban construction practice? The answer lies somewhere between technology, politics and a good dose of risk-taking.

The digital revolution of the rooftop farm: sensors, AI and real-time data

Anyone planning a rooftop farm today needs more than just a green thumb. Nothing works without digital tools. Sensors measure moisture, nutrient content and light intensity down to the individual bed. Drones monitor the condition of plants, algorithms predict the time of harvest and AI systems automatically adapt irrigation and fertilization to the weather and plant development. The goal: maximum efficiency, minimum waste of resources and production that keeps pace with the changing conditions of the city.

The first platforms that network farming modules, building technology and urban logistics are emerging in the DACH region. One example: In Zurich, rooftop farms are being linked to urban smart city infrastructures. This allows water, energy and harvesting to be controlled in real time – and linked to other urban functions such as rainwater management or energy supply. In Vienna, planners are experimenting with blockchain-based supply chains and automated billing models. In Berlin, start-ups are focusing on AI-optimized planting plans that incorporate temperature, position of the sun and CO2 balance into daily operations management.

But the technical effort involved is high. Anyone running a digital farm must be as familiar with IT interfaces, cloud platforms and data security as they are with plant physiology and statics. Professionalization is enormous – and requires interdisciplinary work at eye level. Architects and engineers must learn to communicate with agronomists, software developers and operators. Planning is becoming more complex, execution more elaborate. But this is the only way for farms to scale and operate economically.

The advantages are obvious. Smart systems reduce water consumption, detect diseases at an early stage and significantly increase the yield per square meter. At the same time, digital platforms allow transparent documentation of cultivation, harvest and delivery routes – a plus point for certification, promotion and marketing. However, the more technology there is, the greater the risk of failures, data leaks or system errors. The question of the resilience of digital farms is far from being answered.

Another problem is that standardization is lagging behind. Every farm is unique, every platform is an isolated solution and interfaces to building technology, facility management or smart city applications are rarely seamless. If you want to be successful here, you have to invest – in technology, in expertise and in the willingness to make mistakes and learn from them. In other words, digital farming is not plug-and-play, but an ongoing innovation process.

Sustainability, cycle and conflicts: where green theory fails in construction practice

On paper, urban digital farming on rooftops is an ecological bull’s eye. Short transportation routes, local production, use of previously unused areas, improvement of the microclimate and promotion of biodiversity. In reality, however, the green utopia quickly comes up against the hard reality of construction. Roofs are rarely designed for high loads, fire protection and waterproofing become a balancing act between agricultural idyll and building regulations, and the question of economic viability often remains unresolved.

Sustainability goals are the big driver – and at the same time the biggest hurdle. Anyone who seriously wants a circular economy on the roof must not only think about plants, but also about water, energy, substrates and waste. Digital systems can help here: They control rainwater use, optimize energy use and document material flows. But the effort involved is enormous. Many projects fail due to a lack of integration into building operations or a willingness to make additional investments that only pay off in the long term.

Another problem is that competition for urban space is fierce. While some focus on apartments, offices or solar installations, others demand green spaces and biodiversity. The debate about the best use of urban rooftops is fierce – and often a question of priorities. Digital farming competes with energy generation, mobility concepts and traditional rooftop gardens. The question of who actually owns the roof and what it can be used for is rarely clearly regulated.

What’s more: Not everything that appears ecological is really sustainable. Monocultures, high energy requirements for lighting and air conditioning or complex technology can quickly tip the environmental balance. Although digital systems offer the opportunity to optimize processes and conserve resources, they can also become a greenwashing machine if they only serve the image and do not really contribute to a sustainable city.

What is missing are clear standards, political guidelines and incentives that go beyond lip service. Funding programs are often limited in time, building regulations are contradictory and the willingness to allow innovative solutions is limited. As a result, many projects remain at the experimental stage and real scaling up is rare. If you want to change this, you need to think not only about technology and planning, but also about governance, participation and a culture of experimentation.

Architecture in transition: new skills, new roles, new conflicts

With urban digital farming on rooftops, the industry is facing one of its greatest challenges – and opportunities. Traditional architecture, characterized by building structure, façade and floor plan, must reinvent itself. Process architects who understand buildings as part of urban ecosystems, integrate technology and agricultural science and use digital tools with confidence are now in demand. The job description is becoming broader, the requirements more complex and the responsibility is growing.

Planners have to deal with data management, system integration and operating models. They need to know how to embed sensors, connect platforms and design interfaces to building technology, facility management and smart city systems. At the same time, the integration of farming modules requires a deep understanding of statics, building physics, water management and plant science. The age of the generalist is over – specialists with an overview and team spirit are in demand.

But the new possibilities also bring new conflicts. Who will decide how the roof is used in future? How will yields be distributed, risks borne and profits shared? Who will be liable in the event of technical failure or crop failure, and how will operations be secured in the long term? The answers are rarely clear-cut. Traditional construction contracts fall short, and the legal classification of digital farms is a construction site in itself.

There are also debates about social participation, access to urban agriculture and the risk of digital farms becoming a prestige project for wealthy investors, while the wider urban population is left out in the cold. The question of how urban farming on rooftops can be integrated into socially just, resilient and inclusive urban development is still unanswered – and will occupy the industry in the coming years.

Internationally, there are initial solutions. In Paris, for example, rooftop farms are part of municipal strategies for food security and biodiversity. In Rotterdam, cooperation models are being developed between housing associations, farmers and tech companies. In Singapore, digital farms are part of the national smart city agenda and are supported by the public sector. This is still a long way off in the DACH region – but the pressure is growing to find the right answers.

Global impulses and local blockades: What DACH can learn from the world

A global view shows that urban digital farming on rooftops is not just a nice side show, but a strategic field of urban development. Cities such as New York, Singapore, Paris and Toronto see digital farms as a key to resilience, food security and climate adaptation. They systematically invest in research, infrastructure and governance – and set standards that the industry uses as a guide.

In the DACH region, on the other hand, the desire to experiment still dominates – but so does the blockade mentality. Fear of liability risks, a reluctance to make technical mistakes and uncertainty about profitability are putting the brakes on innovation. Added to this is a construction practice that prefers to rely on the tried and tested and exploits regulatory gray areas beyond recognition. As a result, many projects remain isolated solutions and there are no real economies of scale.

What is missing is a clear political agenda that sees urban digital farming as part of urban development – and not as an exotic add-on. Funding programs, building regulations and planning processes need to be coordinated, and standards for technology, operation and governance are overdue. And above all, we need the courage to admit mistakes, learn from international role models and go our own way.

The big opportunity: those who invest now can set standards, create innovation ecosystems and establish urban agriculture as an integral part of the city. Those who continue to wait will be overtaken by global players who have long been building the next generation of digital farms. The question is not whether urban digital farming on rooftops will come – but how quickly and in what form it will become a reality in the DACH region.

This is a rare opportunity for planners, architects, investors and cities: it is about more than new technology or green image cultivation. It is about the future of the city, food sovereignty, climate adaptation and the question of who writes the rules for the urban production of tomorrow. Those who take the issue seriously can be at the forefront of a new movement. Those who continue to hesitate will remain spectators – and should not be surprised about missed opportunities later on.

Conclusion: Urban digital farming – more than just lettuce on the roof

Urban digital farming on rooftops is not a trend for the sustainability brochure or just another smart city gadget. It is a litmus test for the courage to innovate, for the willingness to radically rethink urban development and for the ability to bring technology, planning and operation into genuine synergy. Any architect, planner or developer who dares to use digital agriculture on the roof today needs know-how, a willingness to take risks and the will to question old routines. But this is precisely what distinguishes the cities of tomorrow from the administrators of yesterday. The future doesn’t grow in the cellar – it thrives on the roof. Provided you have the courage to plant it.

05.11.2024

New master houses for Dessau

Building design

The famous Meisterhaus estate has been repaired, according to Dessau. Repaired, not reconstructed. This language is important to politicians, conservationists and architects, because for decades there was a dispute about how to deal with the famous Meisterhaus estate near the even more famous Bauhaus buildings in Dessau. There were loud calls to rebuild the two houses that were hit by a bomb in 1945 – […]

The famous Meisterhaus estate has been repaired, they say in Dessau. Repaired, not reconstructed. This language is important to politicians, conservationists and architects, because for decades there was a dispute about how to deal with the famous Meisterhaus estate near the even more famous Bauhaus buildings in Dessau. There were loud voices rejecting the rebuilding of the two houses that were hit by a bomb in 1945 – the single Gropius house and the semi-detached Moholy-Nagy house.

However, after the existing Masters’ Houses were restored in 1992, the flaws became all the more apparent. After several projects by the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation on the issue of “updating modernism” and several architectural competitions, it was not only the city – as the owner of the estate at the time
owner of the estate at the time – that the entire artists’ colony could only be visualized in a way that was compatible with the preservation order if the building lines and cubatures of the destroyed buildings were also restored.

On May 16, Federal President Joachim Gauck opened the “repaired estate”, which now once again consists of the house of director Walter Gropius and the three semi-detached houses Moholy-Nagy/Feininger, Muche/Schlemmer and Klee/Kandinsky.

The two new houses correspond exactly to the old ones in terms of their external dimensions, the arrangement of the structures and the position of the windows. However, with “built blurs”, as the Berlin architects Bruno Fioretti Marquez describe their way of repairing the Meisterhaus estate as a total work of art. Seen from the outside, this means that any view through the gray window surfaces is denied. The houses appear almost ghostly and a little unreal. Inside, the principle of “built blurriness” continues elegantly and effortlessly. The historical position of ceilings, walls and staircases was taken as a model, but parts of the ceilings and walls were omitted. In this way, completely new views, rooms and balconies were created in the dimensions of the original layout, which seem far removed from the intimacy of the neighboring, originally preserved residential buildings and yet are closely related to them. Uta Baier
You can read a detailed review of the reconstructed Dessau master houses in issue 07.2014.

09.12.2024

“Warnow offers Rostock a unique opportunity”

Building design

A conversation about the BUGA 2025 in Rostock with Anja Epper, Head of Department at the Rostock Office for Urban Development, Planning and Economy.

The city of Rostock plans to host the BUGA 2025 in a few years’ time, and a completely new district at the Osthafen is set to become one of its core projects: the Warnowquartier – funded with a total of 74.2 million euros. Last summer, we spoke to Anja Epper, Head of Department at the Rostock Office for Urban Development, Planning and Economy, about Rostock’s water projects of the future for the June 2020 issue of Garten + Landschaft.

Anja Epper, we start with a current project of the city of Rostock. The Hanseatic city has been working for almost ten years to update the structural concept for Warnemünde, probably the city’s best-known district. However, there are always problems with implementation. Why?

In 2011, the Rostock city council adopted the Warnemünde structural concept. Regular evaluation was already anchored in the resolution. The process of updating the concept began in 2016/17. A number of questions relating to the various fields of action in the structural concept could not be answered in the update, either because political decisions were not available at the time or because decisions could not be made.

This concerned, among other things, the further development of the shipyard areas in the south-east of the district, the handling of the parking space concept, the further development of a possible caravan site and the development of the housing market. Another key topic was the future development of the Mittelmole. Here, it was not possible to reach a consensus on a few key points in civil society and politics, but also with the owners of the land and the specialist administration.

As a result, the new mayor of Rostock, Claus Ruhe Madsen, halted plans for the future use and development of Warnemünde’s Mittelmole for the time being last September. Why is the development of the area so difficult?

Further planning for the central pier in Warnemünde was put on hold last year. With the mayor’s decision, we are starting the work process again, including participation in the update. As in many places, there is a classic conflict at the Mittelmole: the residents want no or very small-scale or minimal development with a more historicist design. At the same time, there is a strong desire for communal open spaces and meeting places. Investors want to build the necessary apartments and infrastructure, but these must also be considered from an economic point of view. In addition, contemporary architecture is generally required for new construction projects.

There was supposed to be a public exhibition at the start of the public participation process last April. Then came the coronavirus pandemic. What is the plan now?

The coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on public participation in planning processes – possibly even in the long term. We are therefore currently considering which participation formats we can implement online. These include an exhibition. But with all digital solutions, there is always a lack of direct exchange. This is particularly difficult with informal participation. We are also looking for appropriate solutions for other formats such as public meetings, which can be held in small groups and with the necessary minimum distance.

Water as an economic basis

As a Hanseatic city, you in the Rostock Office for Urban Development, Urban Planning and Economics are particularly confronted with how to deal with water in the city. What significance does the element of water have for the city of Rostock?

The relationship to water has always been of outstanding importance in the history of the city. The city’s urban and economic development is still based on its location on the Baltic Sea/Warnow – and will continue to be so in the foreseeable future. In particular, ports, shipbuilding, the navy, tourism and fishing are to be mentioned here. It is precisely the facets and changes in these areas that are constantly driving urban development. In addition to the increasing demand for living space and all the associated facilities for the numerous employees, these are the location requirements in detail, such as more and different areas as well as their access and connection, but also relocations or the abandonment of areas, which opens up new planning possibilities.

In principle, planning is about securing water and all necessary areas as an economic basis and at the same time improving access and the experience of water for the public. Of course, the many ecological and nature conservation concerns must also be taken into account in this context.

Taking sea level rise into account

What particular challenges do you face in Rostock due to its proximity to the sea?

One particular challenge is protection against storm surges, i.e. flood protection. The technical responsibility for flood protection lies with the State Office for Agriculture and the Environment, Central Mecklenburg (StALU MM). The StALU MM is responsible for the protection of the outer coast as well as the protection along the Warnow. There is a constant coordination process between the StALU MM and the city (primarily the Office for Environmental Protection, but also the Office for Urban Development, Urban Planning and Economics). This relates to fundamental issues such as the course of the flood protection line and keeping endangered areas free of construction use, but also to the specific individual construction measures.

From an urban planning perspective, the focus is on ensuring the necessary protection for planned new construction areas (including the height of roads and floors), but also on the form of construction and design of protective facilities (especially in sensitive areas such as the Alter Strom in Warnemünde and the city harbor). Another important topic is the consideration of the rise in sea level caused by climate change.

Rostock: a green city by the sea

You have been working on the “Rostock Future Plan” since 2018. What is this about?

The “Rostock Future Plan” is the working title for the future land use plan of the Hanseatic and university city of Rostock. The land use plan adopted by the city council in 2006 and published in 2009 has so far proved its worth as a preparatory, generalized plan for controlling the city’s spatial development. However, based on the development dynamics expected in many areas in the future, it is becoming apparent that the land use plan currently in force does not adequately reflect the development required in the future.

The pace at which Rostock must develop in the coming years requires a holistic and coherent reconsideration. The city council therefore decided back in 2017 to draw up a new land use plan. In preparation for this, an extensive city dialog was held in 2018/19 for an intensive public exchange on the contents of the “Rostock Future Plan”.

There are also the “Rostock 2025” guidelines, which define Rostock as a “green city by the sea”, among other things …

Exactly, the guidelines for the urban development of the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock were adopted by the city council in 2012. They represent the long-term strategic framework for action for the city of Rostock on its way to sustainable urban development by 2025. They form the basis for the Integrative Urban Development Concept (ISEK), urban land-use planning and all specialist municipal concepts and plans. This also includes, for example, the “Rostock Future Plan” (land use plan). The future plan is aimed at the overarching mission statement (“Positioning Rostock as a regiopole”) and contributes to achieving the goals set out in the eight guidelines (e.g. the “Green City by the Sea” guideline) and the cross-sectional tasks.

BUGA 2025 projects

Hamburg recently announced its plans for the Grasbrook district. What projects can we look forward to in Rostock in the coming years? What are you planning?

You have already mentioned the Mittelmole in Warnemünde. Linked to this planning is the conversion of further quays in the area of the former shipyard basin for cruise tourism and additional commercial space on land, which is currently being planned. A particularly important project for the urban development of Rostock is the bid to host the BUGA 2025, with many far-reaching individual measures and a direct link to the Warnow.

The State Museum of Archaeology, which is to be built in the city harbor, is part of the plans for BUGA 2025. Another outstanding project with a direct connection to the water is the planned “Ocean Technology Campus” (OTC), with the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research (IGD) at its core and a large-scale underwater test field “Digital Ocean Lab”. The OTC is to be built in the area of Rostock’s cargo and fishing port and on the site of the former abattoir to the south.

The city is also planning to develop a new, mixed-use district on the eastern bank of the Unterwarnow. The Warnowquartier.

Yes, the Warnowquartier is to be developed as a green model city of the future – an experimental quarter that demonstrates exemplary solutions to the pressing problems of our time. Starting with the development of a regenerative energy concept for the district, through to answering the question of how residents can organize their daily lives together in a sustainable way, as well as considering which tasks public open and green spaces should take on in the coming years and how new mobility concepts can be implemented sustainably, innovative ideas and proven measures for district development are to be incorporated into the concept.

The aim is to create a modern district for everyone with a model development and lots of open spaces. A place of diversity and flexible uses with a robust, future-oriented basic structure. Building on the water will also play a special role and form an architectural highlight. For the Hanseatic and university city of Rostock, this project offers a unique opportunity to implement the theme of life on the water in the city for the first time and to present itself with original, forward-looking and exemplary solutions. As part of BUGA 2025, which will take place in Rostock, the main focus for visitors will be on this attraction, which will make a further contribution to the city’s maritime image.

BUGA 2025 is to take place despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Anja Epper studied architecture with a focus on urban planning at RWTH Aachen University. She has been Head of the Building Projects and Urban Design Department at the Rostock Office for Urban Development, Urban Planning and Economics since 1996. Anja Epper is a member of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Chamber of Architects and a board member of SRL e.V.

Interested in Federal Garden Shows? Read more about BUGA Heilbronn here.

The interview first appeared in the June 2020 issue of Garten + Landschaft.