The food production experience

Abstract

Since the mining industry closed down in the 60’s, the Parkstad region is searching for a new sources of income and a corresponding identity. This project proposes a ‘’food experience’’ that includes participating in growing and processing while being in a natural environment. Before industrial food production became the standard, people had closer relation with their food production. It provided not just food but also occupation, a sense of belonging and the feeling of being part of a community. Now the current system is showing its shortcomings, we start to rethink the industrial production system. As reaction to the current agricultural system. There has been an pioneering movement where a variety of nature is combined with agriculture to create a productive landscape. In this food forest different edible plants are combined to form a complete ecosystem that produces food all year long. The plants and animals form symbioses like in a normal forest, resulting in an healthy productive biodiverse landscape. The architectural principle proposes a relation to the landscape, support a collaborative food production system as well as providing a qualitative experience. In the context of the village this will be a motor for local development, both economic and social. In the context of Limburg the project proposed an alternative agricultural model that brings food and people together.