The landscape of South Limburg is characterized by the sight of beautiful hills with forests and fields.
However, the agricultural sector is under fire because the current methods are not in line with a sustainable future for people and nature.
As a result, flora and fauna are under pressure due to the increasing loss of biodiversity.
In this project the solution is sought in a new type of agriculture in the form of a food forest. Before industrial food production became the standard,
people had a closer relationship with their food production. Producing food not only provided work but also a sense of belonging a community feeling.
As a response to the current model, a new movement emerges in which different types of plants and animals together form an edible forest.
It is a healthy ecosystem in which one can harvest various edible plants during all seasons, without the use of extra water or pesticides.
This project investigates a building that is able to connect the food forest and its users. An existing monumental farm with accompanying land
will be transformed into a lively place that provides food and healthy activities for locals, tourists and refugees. The design takes into account,
among other things, the relationship to the landscape, the traditional architectural values, the facilitation of the activities as a qualitative experience for the visitors.
In which circular and sustainable principles are of importance in both activity and construction.
In the context of the village, this is an engine for local prosperity, both social and economic. In the context of Limburg,
it shows an alternative agricultural model in which the connection between food and people is restored.