Mikele Perez-Jamieson

This project offers a space where the local and wider community can engage with the different practices involved with food production, consumption and waste. Food production will be carried out through a range of systems, some more traditional than others. The building is within close proximity to several primary and high schools as well as Edinburgh University accommodation and education buildings. The proposal aims to bring these groups within the surrounding and wider community on to the site to engage in a range of local food growing practices.

The project intends to primarily use reclaimed materials to develop the different types of growing systems. The project came across challenges around how to make these growing systems accessible and inclusive for the surrounding community to use. The proposal spans across a very large floorplate areas and this scale can be overwhelming for users. Through this use of reclaimed materials which can be recognised and found within domestic contexts, the users can gain an instant familiarity with the objects which make up the growing systems. Thus the building is rendered with domestic spatial qualities which are more approachable and inclusive.

The project also focuses on the capture, storage and recycling of rain water.

Areas of the design proposal lend themselves to public participatory construction such as the erection of straw bale and earth rendered walls which are featured throughout the proposal.

This proposal will contribute to the wider ethos of the masterplan which aims to bring in the community to experience a range of practical activities.