The Farms - Murder in Heliopolis: Worldbuilding
The Farms - Murder in Heliopolis: Worldbuilding
The solarpunk murder mystery Murder in Heliopolis is as much an exercise in mystery-writing as it is an exercise in writing a good solarpunk story. I confess: at first, solarpunk was interesting to me purely as an aesthetic. It wasn't until I looked into it a bit deeper that I realized that there's more to the movement. At its core, solarpunk is about eco-friendly sustainability with a big focus on community.
For me, there's a very large artistic theme in solarpunk. Yes, it's about sustainability. Yes, it's about ecologically-viable problem-solving. Yes, it's about ethical business and technology. But time and again, I see the visions of various artists, the beauty of architecture which incorporates nature and human living. I know that solarpunk doesn't need to be pretty; that's not its main function - and I know that a lot of these designs are fantasy, and it's unlikely that they could be functional in real-world application.
But I also know that there is a reason we gravitate towards these artistic presentations, just like I know that visuals do play a big role in our experience, that living in a carefully-designed space which incorporates nature and interesting architectural elements does, in fact, have a positive effect on our minds, which in turn will have a positive effect on our bodies.
Solarpunk is about hope, and it's about working towards a brighter future by focusing on the clean energy sources and natural supplies that the Earth provides us.
To that end, I've been trying to design Heliopolis so that it would embody the core values of the solarpunk movement while also staying true to the vision of a world that is green, integrated with nature, and beautiful. One of the ideas that I had very early on was that of vertical farms - farms that are right there, in the middle of the city, and which provide for the majority of the city's fresh produce while saving space.
Vertical farms already exist, though not at the scale that I envisioned when I first considered the idea, and in that sense the Farms - a part of the city dedicated completely to vertical farms - posed a bit of a unique problem. In any normal vertical farm, there are a range of issues, mostly coming down to the fact that vertical farms could potentially be a costly project. There are water (irrigation) and energy considerations (temperature control, humidity, etc.).
While the above illustration is vastly different from my own conception of a vertical farm, I thought I would include it as one of the very few images of vertical farms I could find, and to also share a talented artist's rendition of what a vertical farm would look like in their world, so different from my own. I think it's neat to consider the different ways in which we conceptualize the same or similar ideas!
There are so many factors to consider when it comes to vertical farms, and I don't think I'm agriculturally savvy - or engineering savvy - so please keep that in mind. I give myself some leeway, but hopefully my vertical farms are not too unrealistic!
Vertical Farms in Heliopolis
Vertical farms were introduced to Heliopolis to maximize fresh produce output and save space, given that Heliopolis is a huge city with about 6 million residents. Space is an issue because it's very costly and dangerous to clear out parts of the Ruins for expansions, and therefore Heliopolis is a walled and fortified city. Any expansions would require heavy investments with regards to manpower, security forces, and it would leave the city open to potential threats while the expansion is being built.
Moreover, vertical farms can provide a higher output if designed and managed correctly. Therefore, building farms upward seemed like the safer and more optimal way to go. That's why Heliopolis invested in the creation of 80 vertical farms, of which currently 57 are completed and fully operational. (The math there is based loosely on the theory that one 30-floor vertical farm could support 50,000 people - learn more here - and that the average vertical farm in Heliopolis has about 60 floors.)
The space allotted to vertical farms in Heliopolis has since become known as The Farms - a neighbourhood of towering structures which each maximize space for growing food. They are designed to allow sunlight into each floor as needed, which is why the Greenwood Farm, for example, is a helical structure. Others have a spiral structure, or a misaligned-platform design. However, they also utilize UV lighting and other methods of ensuring that plants grow in healthy ways.
Temperature is regulated on some floors, as needed, and the irrigation water used is mostly recycled.
An excerpt from Murder in Heliopolis, Chapter 2: A Visit to Greenland Farm
And then he was above ground again, the Camino Forest making its way towards the area known to most as The Farms, with farm after farm stretching out towards the sun in a range of striking vertical arrangements of lush greenery. It's always a feast for the eyes, Laith thought. These so-called farms rarely, if ever, used completely natural organisms anymore, but he enjoyed the sensation he had when he gazed upon them from below. These towering green giants were one of the many parts of Heliopolis that made it what it was - the sustainable, eco-friendly megalopolis that it had been created to be. Compared to the cities of old - what were now collectively termed the Ruins - Heliopolis, along with its sister cities, was a marvel.
Each vertical farm is located on a parcel of land which must be, at minimum, one hectare. Each vertical farm must be at least 10,000 meters away from any other vertical farm nearby. This is mostly for solar concerns - so that farms can utilize the sunlight to the best of their ability, while also allowing them the space to harness other clean energy sources, like wind. There are, of course, some limits that are placed on these vertical farms, and various policies which dictate what can and cannot be done with the lands.
The Farms is not simply one long or large continuous strip of land. While I am currently working on a map to share of Heliopolis, until it is ready, the best I can describe the Farms is by saying that while many of them are located in one large piece of land, there are 'arms' which reach deep into the Forest and other neighbourhoods. This was done so that air in these areas can remain clean; many of the plants grown in these farms located near these neighbourhoods are those which are known to be particularly good at cleaning air. I can talk more about clean air management in a separate post, as it's a particularly intriguing subject and deals with more than just the Farms.
Another reason for the location of some of these farms is simply the desire for more greenery and nature around more populated urban areas. Despite the fact that Heliopolis is already, by design, a very green city, nature isn't something that people can get enough of, and the psychological and physiological benefits of green spaces and vistas have been proven time and again.
Greenland Farm & Emerald Farm
These are the two most important farm settings in my solarpunk thriller, Murder in Heliopolis. Not because they're more important than other farms, but simply because they are the farms that are connected to two major characters in the book.
An excerpt from Murder in Heliopolis, Chapter 2: A Visit to Greenland Farm
Greenland Farm was easy to pick out from the group of vertical farms. Its helical structure, which made use of the curves and spaces of its shaping to create a set of floral falls all the way up its length, was impossible to mistake. Not to mention it was an integral part of the company's branding - its logo itself was a green helix, a reminder of the company's promise to create only the best genetically modified organisms - fruits, vegetables, and herbs - with the most effective nutritional value, taste, and at the best size. It sold its produce at an affordable price, so that many residents of Heliopolis found its offerings extremely accessible. In fact, Greenland Farm made quite a splash a while back, if Laith remembered correctly. Something about bursting onto the scene with low prices and great produce to match, essentially forcing other farms to lower their own prices in order to compete.
Most farms are designed uniquely by their owners, so each farm has a different set of features and use their land and buildings in different ways. Mainly, the creativity and innovation comes in the form of finding ways to harness more energy in clean ways, and maximizing healthy, fresh produce output. Greenland Farm uses a condensation collection facility.
An excerpt from Murder in Heliopolis, Chapter 2: A Visit to Greenland Farm
He knew that atop that helical building, there was a condensation collection facility, which helped the farm collect about 10 million gallons of water per yet - water that the farm then used in its aeroponic, hydroponic, and aquaponic systems. Given that vertical farms already used up much less water than their horizontal counterparts - over 70 to 90 percent less water, in fact - that setup was nothing to scoff at. Laith had even ready somewhere that Greenland Farm generated excess water, which it fave away for use in various industries.
Greenland Farm is one example of a highly successful farm. Based on their proprietary research, they've found a way to improve their growth rates and decrease prices while keeping quality of their fruits and vegetables high. However, just as we learn about Greenland Farm in the book, security on these vertical farms is very strict and all visitors require clearance.
From a business perspective, these two farms are linked as competitors. From a shadier, behind-the-scenes perspective, it is revealed at some point in the story that Aster Lockwood - I'll let you figure out which one - who is the owner of Greenland Farm, was having some kind of illegal dealings with Emerald Farm via a subsidiary called Farm Hand Machines. Moreover, there's a family connection between the two farms, too. In any case, it's a reveal that happens towards the end of the current draft of the book, so I'll leave that there.
So these are my worldbuilding ideas for farms in Heliopolis at this point in time. If anything changes or if I add any more significant elements, I'll make sure to let you know! In the meantime, let me know what you think of this solarpunk worldbuilding by leaving some comments below.
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