On Thursday the 29th of October Niké van Keulen from MTD landscape architects / urban designers presented the results of the design study Foodscapes at the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam.
For the past year three design-offices, LA4Sale, Van Paridon & de Groot and MTD, worked on a scenario as depicted by the Faculty of landscape architecture on behalf of the Academy of Architecture by the rural sociologist Han Wiskerke.
The design study was aimed at the spatial aspects of creating a sustainable and wholesome future food production system within the city of Amsterdam. Tijs van den Boomen, journalist and publicist specialized in public space was invited as co-lecturer. He reflected onto the presentations and entered into dialogue with the lecturers and the audience. It was a lively discussion, raising the question by which means the three scenario’s could form more coherence or how they would be able to obtain it. In addition Tijs van den Boomen noted that there is considerable value to be found within the design studies, which next to the virtual images, have also produced new scenario’s for cultivation, new combinations for nature and water management and possible ownership constructions.
The three scenarios are respectively :
- LA4Sale: multifunctional agriculture nearby the city center;
- Van Paridon & de Groot: responsible industrial agriculture;
- MTD urban and landscape architects: urban agriculture;
Where earlier studies and design researches into urban farming and other forms of sustainable and wholesome food production have focused primarily on the how and why (such as Foodprint, Farming the City and Stadslandbouwdoos), the design study within Food scapes focused on the spatial qualities of sustainable regional food systems.
The three scenarios are economically viable, sustainable and contribute to a varied food assortment in the region.
Within MTD landscape architects / urban planners Minke Mulder, also author of 'Young innovators; urban agriculture construction box', Chloe Charreton en Nike van Keulen worked at the scenario of urban agriculture. Starting with the definition of urban agriculture the team emphasized on the integration and visualization of urban agriculture within the city. Therefore a cohesive structure of possible places where food can be produced, of sustainable lines of transport, and of places where food can be sold has been developed.
The next step was to explore circular production systems so they could be implemented in the urban fabric; which are the suitable crops, what is the necessary arsenal, small, medium or large; what is a suitable location for the crops: in the public space, on the roof landscape, in empty buildings or in new greenhouses; what is the potential production or harvest capacity. The research has been further developed and materialized for the city district Spaarndammerbuurt / Zeeheldenbuurt / Westelijk Havengebied. The introduced circular production systems for the various neighborhoods strengthen the spatial identity and it’s social relationships within the area. In the end calculations have been made to determine the production capacity within this city district. The final spatial and quantitative conclusions from the design of the city district Spaarndammerbuurt / Zeeheldenbuurt / Westelijk Havengebied have been extrapolated to the whole urban area of Amsterdam, creating a beautiful and sustainable foodscape!
