Four years ago, I embarked on a project to merge the principles of design and nature. The goal was simple: to bring agriculture back into the city, not as a chore, but as an act of conscious creation. The old way of growing, bound by soil, space, and a constant need for attention, was a barrier. And an opportunity to apply technology to a timeless problem. Hydroponics became the core principle. It’s a method of growing plants in water, untethered from earth. This isn't just a different technique; it's a fundamental shift. It demands 90% less water, redefines space by going vertical, and accelerates growth. The insight was this: the challenge wasn't just lack of space, but a lack of intelligent systems. The Intersection of Technology and Nature The project’s essence was a smart growing system, a fusion of hardware and software. The hardware, a compact ceramic tower, housed sensors and pumps. The software, a mobile app, was the interface to this living system. This wasn’t ab...