Cotton Re-Growth

Cotton Re-Growth proposing an agro-industrial mixed-use community that integrates hydroponic cotton farming with textile manufacturing in Ancoats, Manchester — a former heart of Britain’s textile industry. This speculative regeneration project addresses the environmental impact of fast fashion while revitalizing a historically industrial urban district.

The project aims to dramatically reduce the carbon footprint associated with the globalized fashion supply chain. By localizing cotton production using hydroponic technology, the project achieves 30% carbon neutrality and explores possibilities for a fully energy self-sufficient system. Due to Manchester’s limited sunlight but abundant rainfall, the architectural strategy includes a distinctive “metabolic roof” that collects rainwater through concave funnels and captures solar energy via convex panels equipped with solar photovoltaics. The configuration and orientation of these roofs were optimized using solar simulation tools like Ladybug, resulting in a dynamic and site-responsive system.

Underneath the metabolic roof lies a modular textile factory composed of prefabricated 10x10x6 meter units — a size chosen for flexibility, shipping compatibility, and ease of reassembly. These units accommodate varying energy demands and allow seasonal adaptability: during low-production periods, units can be transformed into public spaces for exhibitions or community events.

Hydroponic cotton is grown with the aid of supplemental LED lighting and robotic harvesting arms. Once matured, cotton is transferred through vertical pipes into processing areas within the factory below. This closed-loop system models a circular economy, reconnecting agriculture and industry while proposing a new paradigm for sustainable urban manufacturing.

The design process also involved AI exploration, using machine learning tools such as Pix2Pix to analyze urban data and generate site-responsive massing and height strategies.

Ultimately, Cotton Re-Growth is not just a design proposal—it is a vision for industrial rebirth through sustainable innovation.