Since 1990, food self-sufficiency in Quebec has declined from 80% to 50% because of its dependence on agricultural imports from countries in the Global South. This dependence is the logical outcome of outsourcing production sites, labour, and expertise. The energy crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic have introduced new market constraints requiring the Quebec agricultural sector to reinvent itself.

MMSK Inc. is now offering a sustainable solution to the problem of food self-sufficiency: NUBES inflatable urban greenhouses. There are more than 6,598 hectares of viable rooftop space in Montreal, which makes up 13% of the total land area (49,800 hectares). These spaces could be transformed into 52,784 gardens of 1,250m2, which could feed 1,319,600 residents. As they are already connected to water and electricity and protected from vandalism and extreme weather conditions, they present a real opportunity to relocate agricultural production sites to the city.

NUBES is the first 100% natural and recyclable inflatable greenhouse designed to withstand Quebec’s climate extremes. Light and sturdy, they collect waste heat to optimize their low energy consumption. Their low-tech design takes advantage of the natural abilities of air to support, insulate, protect and feed plants and can be built in the city more quickly, more easily, and at lower cost. 

NUBES will reintroduce urban production sites by claiming rooftops as accessible and well-outfitted workspace and using both free (waste heat) and renewable (wind, solar, rainwater) energy for the benefit of all city residents. Thanks to NUBES, growing cheap, organic vegetables on rooftops will be possible, cutting out middlemen (short circuit) and offering fresh, healthy food year-round.

The concept has been a work in progress for more than seven years, drawing on the knowledge gained from a master’s in architecture (principles of bioclimatic design) from UdeM. The catalyst was a project studying the management of Clark Place in Montreal using waste heat from the subway.

3D design

Market study of existing inflatable technology 

Market study on waste heat (case study/engineers/3D software)

Market study on urban agriculture

Study of materials (inflatable materials, ETFE, plastics, etc)

Industry partner in membrane textiles

Search for partners in Quebec

Search for partners in Asia, where the world leaders in high-performance inflatable structures are located

Equipment (outfitters in Asia, on-site visits, verification of materials) 

The first phase included the massive undertaking of analysis, market research in different fields (agriculture, architecture, mechanical and thermal engineering, coatings, suppliers, etc.). This data was then absorbed, processed and cross-referenced to extract the most reliable data for the project. 

The second phase was to consult experts in all of these fields (architects, thermal, mechanical, electrical and fluid engineers, builders of membrane materials, financial planners, accountants, tax specialists, etc.) to triage the best strategies.

The next phase is to map out the development strategy (manufacturing, pilot project, marketing) and to work out the financial forecast entailed. Last year (2021), a first round of funding was raised.