FUTURE LOCAL
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Project Title
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Project Description
FUTURE LOCAL is a POP-UP Kitchen that provides a platform for regional and organic farmers to promote their products and to help its visitors reconnect with local small-scale production and seasonal nutrition. Local production and the support of small businesses and organic farms are important issues, and particularly in light of the pandemic, are now more relevant than ever. The projects ideas and construction plans are disclosed in an open source publication.
Geographical Scope
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Urban or rural issues
Physical or other transformations
EU Programme or fund
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Description of the project
Summary
FUTURE LOCAL is a POP-UP Kitchen that provides a platform for regional and organic farmers to promote their products and to help its visitors reconnect with local small-scale production and seasonal nutrition. Local production and the support of small businesses and organic farms are important issues, and particularly in light of the pandemic, are now more relevant than ever. The project was developed in Weimar, Thuringia, formerly part of the German democratic republic.
Looking at the history of agriculture in the former GDR, most cultivable land was used for the planting of monocultures which damaged the soil in the long run and now makes organic farming a challenge in most parts of east Germany. We took the ensuing chaos of the pandemic and rising fear in regards to the availability of food as an opportunity to look closely at and evaluate eating and consumption habits as a whole and wanted to establish a connection to the people who are especially important to the preservation of local food production.
First, we looked at existing materials to contextualize them and provide them with a new purpose. Euronorm vegetable crates are a borrowed component and build the foundation of the Pop-Up. As designers, we took action by constructing add-ons made out of simple wooden planks to format the three functional cooking modules as well as seating and tables for guests.
Then our interactive kitchen was placed in the middle of a marketplace: which often still is the most central and busiest place in many European towns. Our ideas, recipes and construction plans are disclosed in a publication and passed on as an open-source concept to everyone who wants to use it to build their FUTURE LOCAL kitchen. With FUTURE LOCAL we want to bring people together to enjoy a diverse and regional diet and delight them consciously and sustainably.
Key objectives for sustainability
Euronorm vegetable crates are a borrowed component and build the foundation of the Pop-Up.
They can be used to transport the produce used at the POP-UP Cooking event. While the kitchen is being set up, the crates turn into a part of the kitchen.
After being used in the Kitchen they can be returned to the distribution station, where they are being cleaned and brought back into the cycle of being used in logistics for the transport of produce.
That means that we are not relying on new resources only. The major part of our POP-UP is built around already existing parts.
We believe that our project can set a design example for using already existing compounds in a sustainable way.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
While the construction of the kitchen is rather simple in order to be re-build by other participants, we prioritized the aesthetically sensible coming-together of the functional parts.
The POP Up is divided into a module for the cleaning of fruit and vegetables and the preparation/cutting of the food and a module for the gas cooker. The chairs and tables for the guests are grouped separately.
The Kitchen can be complemented by additional modules if needed.
The key aspect of the aesthetic value of FUTURE LOCAL was the implementation into the marketplace. It has to fit into the market space, meaning it can't take up more than 3 sq meters but also has to be a certain level of attention-grabbing appearance. The design is kept naturally by using oiled wood which is also used in traditional market stands. Bright neon highlights guideline the user on how to assemble the kitchen.
Key objectives for inclusion
The educational message of the POP UP is directed towards everyone.
Our ideas, recipes, and construction plans are disclosed in a publication and passed on as an open-source concept to everyone who wants to use it to build their FUTURE LOCAL kitchen. During the development phase of the project, we cooperated with organic farms to figure out their needs in terms of the promotion of their products.
The biggest value of the project was the shared knowledge we gained by interviewing different people: we talked to the organic farmers from Thuringia, to a permaculture living community, and to designers like chmara rosinke from Austria, who implemented POP UP Kitchens in their projects before.
Our concept is exemplary to the accessibility of knowledge and using different resources in a research period.
Physical or other transformations
Innovative character
By disclosing all our collected knowledge in the open source publication, we pass on all of our research outcome to other people.
We want to keep FUTURE LOCAL as accessible as possible by giving as much guidline as needed but as little as possible. FUTURE LOCAL should encourage people to take action themselves.
