1-Intellectual merit

As of 2008 half of humanity now lives in cities; a dramatic rural-urban shift in pursuit of a perceived superior standard of living and increase in resource availability. Over the next forty years it is predicted that a further 20 per cent of the population will follow suit. As a result, urban areas are rife with poverty and famine due to the heavy strains resources have been subjected to. London imports around 80% of its resources, leaving it extremely vulnerable to the knock on effects of elements such as increased fuel prices, hurricanes and/or a bird flu pandemic, all of which would have a devastating effect on the availability of food within the capital. Urban food production could help to reduce metropolitan vulnerability. By reintroducing natural into urban areas we could facilitate a more sustainable food system. Derelict, disused urban environments should feature heavily in urban food production.

2-Aims

By creating the perfect growing environment, I intend to record the effect nature can have on the ‘built’ environment. Redundant architectural models symbolise how something, which was initially conceived of as a purposeful and pristine object, can soon be of little or no purpose. By placing a disused model in the GROWING MACHINE; a perfect growing environment, I intend to record through time lapse technology the effects of nature on a particular object. By ‘seed bombing’ the model, new life will be encouraged to inhabit the disused form; thus transforming it from its original purpose to its new. A haven for wildlife is born.

3-Deliverables

3_1- A time lapse recording showing the process of transformation (possibly to include the manufacturing of the growing machine).

3.2-The growing machine

3.3- Graphical images of nature (lichens, mosses, algae, fungi,)