Michelle de Jong
SHARING SYDNEY University of New South Wales
My project aims to address problems and issues with the current food system by proposing a new method of dealing with food wastage. The project explores how the typology of the marketplace can reimagined as part of Sydney’s sharing economy. Despite the overall successes of the current food system, there remain problems. The developed world has surplus food, while in the developing world one billion people go hungry. A huge amount of food goes to waste, indicating that the current food system has flaws. Resources are not being used efficiently and current patterns of production and consumption can be improved. There are also negative impacts on the environment. For example, huge amounts of fossil fuels are required for food production, which then goes to waste. It is worthwhile to rethink and improve the global food system and find solutions to waste. Some waste is inevitable, which raises the question, what is the best thing to do with it? A sharing economy helps address the issue of waste. In a sharing economy, waste has value with waste becoming a resource in the wrong time and place. With efficient sharing, currently wasted resources are reallocated to where they are valued if not needed. Blackwattle Bay and Wentworth Park will be transformed into Sydney’s new and constantly activated food and sharing hub, connecting all kinds of people, from all over Sydney, to participate in and benefit from shared life. Design intent is focused around creating an environment that encourages the connection of people. The ‘Share Hub’ will become the keystone to the site, celebrating sharing and collaboration between all members of society and within all aspects of life.