Colour of Food
University of Johannesburg
Doornfontein Campus
University of Johannesburg
Doornfontein Campus
The “colour of food” concept introduces a fresh food court prototype for students on the Doornfontein Campus that grows fresh vegetables and fruits on site as part of an educational food program on the science of food, the art of a balanced diet, and the critical need for improving health during a pandemic.
The Colour of Food concept for University of Johannesburg
University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus
While this initiative is developed for the University of Johannesburg, it is expected that the program and fresh food court will not only be extended to various campuses across the city but will be developed a part of a wider strategy to be introduced across both public and private universities across the country.
The selected site on the Doorfontein campus is a leftover space that straddles a parking area along the campus boundary. The “colour of food” concept aims to transform underutilised university land into productive campus spaces that educate students and staff on fresh food.
The “colour of food” concept will promote education on food health to the wider public and create a positive frontage that engages the public street and markets the university.
While the selected site remains underutilized, it has potential to transform into a positive public use space for events.
The parking space is articulated by a church of trees that provides shade and creates a qualitative room for groups to convene in. While parking is not excluded, pedestrians will be prioritized.
Not only do plant chemicals provide colour, but colour groups provide distinctive health benefits. The materiality of the “colour of food” prototype is inspired by coloured pencils, drawing attention to the natural colour range of nutritious foods evident in locally produced fresh foods and indigenous plantations to be incorporated as part of a learning landscape.
The the “colour of food” employs simple construction methods to ensure and affordable infrastructure outlay and are unique in identity for the initiative to be distinct, branded and franchised countrywide across campuses inviting learners to engage with fresh food concepts that are current, nutritious, and appeal to a younger generation.
Siting: the “colour of food” prototype is integrated along residual space, sited along the campus boundary dividing public street and private parking. Communicating both outwardly towards the street and creating a distinct collection area amongst the trees, the new low-cost infrastructure grows fresh food on site that is part of a new “outdoor” learning landscape.
A church of trees define a communal food court and new public space for special events
Indigenous Landscaping to form part of an experiential route for visitors to learn indigenous knowledge about plants and food.
A communal food court amongst a church of trees, where on demand, the existing parking area transforms into a multi-purpose space for events.
The communal space is articulated along its edge by a new Colour of Food fence line, redefining the campus boundary, and drawing visitors along an indigenous planted landscape into the new grow-house as part of an experiential landscape for learning.
the “colour of food” transforms into an experiential landscape, with colored indigenous planting, and a fruit and vegetable grow house that is part of a spatial narrative for field learning the sciences of food and plants.
An indigenous landscape with specially designed furniture for students to collect and converse during academic breaks.
New street painting to define pedestrian safety areas, and to express routes, collection areas and new street furniture. The street painting marks buildings and pulls lines from the city landscape into the new public court.
A specially made portal entrance to be designed in collaboration with the industrial design department, would mark the entrance from the indigenous planted landscape into the new Colour of Food grow-house.
In a photosynthesis-like experience, the new grow-house shadows light, and incorporates trees as part of a knowledge landscape unearthing the chemistry, nutrition, and colour of food.
the Colour of Food concept for University of Johannesburg
By Dieter Brandt, Michael Rudolph dieter@aedi.africa, michaelrudolphsiya@gmail.com
Siyakhana Growth and Development NPO Advanced Environmental Design Initiatives
TRANSITION DESIGN
AEDI STUDIO BERLIN, JOHANNESBURG.
AEDI STUDIO BERLIN, JOHANNESBURG.