Flow food is a spatial-culinary view of the future of the Dutch landscape in the year 2070. By unleashing both the salt and fresh water forces on the Dutch landscape an up till now unknown rich biodiversity will start to flourish. This future landscape will take many spatial forms and characteristics. On the occasion of the second Architecture Biennale Rotterdam this new landscape can be "tasted' through a unique one off dining event.
Hydrological balance
Due to climatological changes rainwater patterns will drastically alter and the sea water table will rise. The current flexibility and absorption capacity of the Dutch polder landscape will no longer be sufficient against the forces of the rising water levels. On top of this, geological forces will rotate the Dutch geological plate over a diagonal line. The east will rise further and the west will sink even deeper under sea level. Water in all forms will become an increasingly dominant factor and will drastically change the Dutch landscape. What is the culinary potential of these future wet and dry landscapes?
"Upcoming water levels turn the lower parts of Holland into a rich and diverse landscape."
New landscapes
The basis of the new landscape is the result of an exchange between salt and fresh water. Future coastal developments create gradual transitions between the land and the sea such as lagoons and marshlands where algae and sea vegetables flourish. High drifting sand dunes create a wild environment for juniper berry bushes and sea buckthorn that can create tasty wines and preserves.
Upcoming water levels turn the lower parts of Holland into a rich and diverse landscape. The once man-made landscape offers new changes for a extensive agrarian production landscape. Percolating salt water creates fertile brackish soil for sea asparagus and sea lavender as well as shellfish, eel and birds. Within this salty landscape urban settlements create their own fresh water environments giving rise to small scale farming of delicious produce such as watercress, mint and rocket.
The terraced hillsides of the most eastern areas create first wet and then dry soils for rice, barley, oats and grain crops. Further inland flourishing rivers flow into fishponds for the farming of bass and carp fish. Forests and foreland take over the milk and meat production, previously in the polders, on a small-scale basis.
The dominant role of both fresh and salt water in the near future is regarded as a positive factor for the landscape and its productive qualities. It means a transition from defensive planning to be able to produce our butter, cheese and eggs to a dynamic 'culinary planning'.
Exhibition and diner
Flow food is schematically illustrated by a cross section over the Dutch landscape showing its new culinary potential. On occasion of the second Architecture Biennale Rotterdam the produce of this new landscape will be served during an one off unique dining event: THE chance to taste the new Flow Food landscape!
Client: Nederlands Architectuur instituut
Project: Research into the culinary future of the Dutch landscape
Planning: research, exhibition and dinner 2005
Adviser ecology: Alterra Wageningen UR, Vincent Kuypers
Culinary adviser and dinner: Z&M delicatessen, Rob Barisen Emmy Walburg
Graphic design: Catalogtree, Arnhem