Superstudio A

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SUPERSTUDIO DOMESTICATED FOODSCAPES

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Unveiling the Hidden Dimensions of Domesticated Foodscapes

Under the title 'Domesticated Foodscapes,' Superstudio explores hidden perspectives and design strategies related to food, examining its transformative impact on spatial and cultural practices. Since humanity settled down from a nomadic lifestyle as hunter-gatherers, we have continually shaped our environment to accommodate our needs for sustenance, shelter, and community. This ongoing process of cultivation extends from the micro level of our bodies cellular structures to the macro level of territorial ecologies. Among the many products of human labor, food uniquely embodies this interconnection, shaping our identities and intertwining with the landscapes and cities we inhabit. It creates shared cultural patterns and influences a diverse range of architectural typologies. However, since the onset of industrialization and the rise of global transport networks, these typologies have been decoupled from their original territories. Technological advancements have enabled artificial climate zones, while international trade has made food accessible far beyond its place of origin. Although food production continues to shape landscapes today, in many regions it also degrades them - especially where the demand far exceeds local needs.

In light of global population growth, the call for rationalizing food production is growing louder. But does this rationalization come at the expense of local traditions? Are these traditions still viable in the face of contemporary challenges, or are they being eroded by the push toward efficiency? Do we need to rethink the concept of tradition and identity?

Currently, food systems account for roughly 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. When evaluating these systems, attention is often centered on energy efficiency across all stages - from production and storage to processing, trade, and consumption. This focus reflects a shift from prioritizing local resources to navigating the complexities of global interconnectivity.

Given the urgent need for sustainable solutions, relying solely on technological advancements to accommodate ever-increasing consumption is insufficient. An integrative approach is needed - one that reconsiders the role of territorial planning and the linked architecture within food systems. We must reassess the value of traditional territorial knowledge while also understanding the autonomy of industrial systems.

By taking an objective stance that bridges traditional wisdom with contemporary innovation, we can establish a critical methodology capable of unlocking the full potential of architectural practice in addressing these issues. Such a methodology can provide insights into how architecture can contribute not just to the efficiency, but to the long-term sustainability of our food systems.

FOCUS

Image of country

Switzerland is significantly shaped by the geomorphological features of the Alps. However, the influence of the "Mittelland" of the foothills of the Alps and the growth of the urban clusters should not be underestimated. Both of these elements challenge the traditional, picturesque image of Switzerland often depicted in tourism marketing. Additionally, new influences such as the retreat of permafrost soils are challenging the country`s image. This evolving landscape is currently divided according to today's cartography*into 8% Settlement and Urban, 25% Unproductive, 32% Wooded, and 35% Agricultural areas.

Traditionally, food was sourced from the wild or produced on agricultural land. Today, automation is making inroads in these areas, while urban centers are increasingly establishing their own production facilities. This raise the question: How does a country evolve in response to both cutting-edge technology and its unique geographical conditions and identity?

* Statistics 2018 © FSO

Human-Animal Relationships and Their Impact on Urban and Territorial Development

The relationship between humans and animals has profoundly influenced the development of our cities and territories. Through domestication, animals have not only become social partners but have also played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape. Initially valued as sources of labor, means of transport, protection and carriers of information, animals today primarily serve as providers of protein and fertilizer, while continuing to hold significance as social companions.

This co-evolution between humans and animals has been reciprocal - we have influenced their development, just as they have shaped ours. By examining the history and architecture surrounding domesticated animals, we aim to rediscover a new sense of identity - one rooted in our relationship with domesticated landscapes, architecture as both a protective and communal space, and the availability and management of resources.

Identity in Architecture and Domesticated Landscapes: Carriers of Meaning in a Changing World

Architecture and cultivated landscapes carry meanings that are treated, constructed, and interpreted differently across cultures. If we follow the theory that there is an intrinsic link between built forms (architecture) and human self-identity (how we perceive ourselves in relation to architecture), then both are currently facing significant upheaval. Not only is architecture in search of new anchor points, but the rapidly changing climate also compels us to reconsider our role within the web of world, challenging us to find a way to coexist with coherence and to express this through the built environment.

The discourse of identity revolves around how complex social structures and communities perceive and define themselves - and whether this process of identification can be translated into built forms. Today, this search for identity is strongly present in the ongoing sustainability debate. Influenced by our industry- and capital-driven society, it seeks to establish a new vocabulary that can guide us through the complex web of dependencies in which we are enmeshed. This evolving vocabulary is shaping our planning culture and influencing decisions ranging from "decorated sheds" to outright rejection of building projects.

Identity in architecture refers to the distinct character, values, and cultural expression embodied in a building or environment. It captures the unique qualities that make a space recognizable, meaningful, and connected to its context, community, and history. (ChatGPT 4.0 2024)

Factors such as cultural and historical context, materiality and craftsmanship, form and aesthetic expression, function and use, symbolism and meaning, integration with the environment, and social and collective memory stand in stark contrast to Rem Koolhaas thesis of the "featureless city" - a city that, as he argues, has "escaped the straitjacket of identity" (Koolhaas, 1996). While this notion might be understandable within the historical context of "postmodernity", how does it hold up geographically in a world increasingly defined by climate change? How identity-forming or neglecting is the changing climatic context? How does it relate to the global availability or scarcity of resources? And why do we now associate more of our identity with food than with architecture?

The current "search for the self" reflects development trends in which powerful supra-local forces intersect with local identities. These global influences often create identity conflicts that manifest beneath the surface and are challenging to discern. The built environment, however, serves as a medium for visualizing these tensions, capturing them as "images" that reveal the complexities of contemporary identity.