Urban farms are fast emerging as a meaningful solution in many countries to help realise the United Nations’ (“UN”) Sustainable Development Goals (“SDGs”) on a localised level. These farms can provide residents with an additional source of healthy locally grown produce whilst enhancing neighbourhood aesthetics (consequently, improving property values).

More importantly, they are valuable because their presence promotes community cohesion as they act as a common space for people to come together to bridge gaps, reduce existing tensions and build a shared sense of belonging. Furthermore, these farms can act as education, youth development and training platforms to teach children and young people about where their food comes from, farming science, environmental stewardship, and healthy eating.

The benefits are manifold. Yet the challenge is to create an urban farm which is inviting and community-friendly that people want to visit again and again. How do we create a place buzzing with positive energy where people choose to be rather than have to be?

The MY Bamboo project is Taylor’s response to this challenge. It aims to champion community-friendly urban farms in local neighbourhoods. This project, a part of Taylor’s Liveable Urban Communities Impact Lab initiative, was spearheaded by first year students from Taylor’s School of Architecture, Building and Design. Supported by their lecturers, experts and partners, these students designed and built life-size bamboo structures, placing these within a dormant green space in the neighbourhood. The end goal was to activate and increase participation by local communities in urban farming and other activities that promote community wellbeing and sustainable living.

Ar. Chang Yan Yee, a Senior Lecturer at Taylor’s University’s School of Architecture, Building and Design revealed that for this pilot project, a team of six academics and 100 students worked closely with external experts and industry partners for five weeks to create five special structures.

Ar. Chang shared, “For greater impact, students should construct such projects closer to home, and Kebun Komuniti (Community Garden) USJ2 (KKUSJ2) is a place close to our home, Taylor’s University. When I first met Katherina, KKUSJ2’s liaison person, she only asked for seats that her members could use to rest. However, as architects, we wanted to do more. We wanted to delight them with spaces that could positively impact their time spent at the Kebun. The main theme unifying the five structures was conceptualised based on the conditions and activities that we saw taking place at KKUSJ2. To See was born from the favourite ritual of visitors to the Kebun who liked to watch sunsets on the hilltop. To Rest was devised from the practical need for a place to rest the body in-between gardening activities. To Snooze was designed as a respite for the mind, to introduce a pause between episodes of frenetic mental activity. To Safekeep originated from the observation that gardening tools were usually hung on trees due to the lack of storage space. Finally, To Celebrate was conceived as the members of KKUSJ2 wished for a place where they could host gatherings and celebrations.”

Associate Professor Dr. Veronica Ng, Head of Taylor’s School of Architecture, Building and Design and Impact Lab Director for Liveable Urban Communities said, “Our first-year students need to recognise that architects have the power to shape built environments that are both functional and inspirational. Before this, students have produced bamboo structures for assessments but without real-life users in mind. As we move towards impact-driven learning, Taylor’s wants to become a living lab for creative productions, to help students take their work outside the university to make a positive impact on local communities.”