Taking the Side of Food

This thesis is a collection of a series of separate entries regarding the intersection between agriculture, the food sector, and architecture. Portraying the role of food at our societies in modern history while scrolling back to ancient civilizations by highlighting not only the biological necessity of it but also as a driver for spatial, social and ecological improvements. Research includes several trace of the historical and contemporary entanglements of agricultural systems within the built environment. Thesis examines if architecture can address any of the urgent issues, such as an increased out-of-control consumerism approach through high level production of animal based products, industrialized food production and environmental consequences of such. The study adopts both analytical and hands-on approaches, by combining statistical and historical research within a fieldwork experience. Fieldwork part is in a journal structure which shares the experience of the author during this period of collaboration, thus is finalized with a realized project for a community garden. Built project is supporting the points mentioned during the research part and has a function that has is in parallel with an outcome of a survey held the community garden. Emphasizing that architecture can promote local resilience only when the decision-makers backs the idea. Through this lens, paper positions architecture as a mediator between food systems and human settlements, which is capable of generating spatial solutions that can integrate productive landscapes and enhance ecological performance. Ultimately, it argues for a reconceptualization of architecture as an agent in shaping sustainable and equitable food systems.