Vienna Design Week 2013: Construisine by Johanna Dehio and Dominik Hehl

As we noted in our post on Depot_0411 by Marlene Klausner, “food” often crops up in the Vienna Design Week programme, as a general rule in the “Stadtarbeit” programme, a programme element that looks at how design can influence, benefit and, ideally, improve urban environments.

In this context, in addition to Depot_0411 Vienna Design Week 2013 is hosting the project “Construisine” from the Berlin based designers Johanna Dehio and Dominik Hehl.

A couple of years ago one of the Stadtarbeit projects involved growing vegetables and herbs in a public square as a way to promote greater and easier access to fresh produce. And a matter of metres from the growing boxes lay discarded food. Mainly fresh produce. Or at least produce that was once fresh but was now less so. The problem with food supply in urban environments isn’t coming by it, but using it efficiently.

With Depot_0411 Marlene Klausner has attempted to start a discussion on how we store our food, and with Construisine Johanna Dehio and Dominik Hehl explore how food consumption can become a social event and a component of a healthy, vibrant community.

And employ to that end a clever metaphor….

Construisine is fusion of “construction” and “cuisine” and in the project dining/kitchen furniture is constructed and food prepared. The latter being enjoyed on the former. Construction materials and food are considered equal, similar terms are applied for the process and the message is clear: If you can do one you can do the other.

And do it together.

The project is aimed at all, those residents of the surrounding area as well as visitors passing through and the aim is to achieve furnishings and a meal in joint, cooperative effort.

The interesting aspect for us is that with the seats and tables currently being used in Vienna you have pretty much solid furniture; however, if Johanna and Dominik were to develop a system of foldable furniture that could be built from simple materials by any given group of individuals, and a more appropriate storage unit, they would have a relatively straight-forward impromptu urban community restaurant that can be unpacked and used as and when required, ideally with everyone bringing those items of food that they have left over and/or that they suspect will soon be surplus to requirements.

And if the community make all the arrangements over social networks you have an absolutely delightful coming together of the digital and analogue.

“Food sharing” is currently à la mode. “Meal sharing” sounds a lot more appealing.

Construisine is a delightful illustration of how such could work.

Yes one could argue that neighbours could just bring tables and chairs with them to such an event. But to argue such is to miss the point. Which is about establishing a healthy community. The cooperative building of the furniture is in that respect an important first step.

If you’re currently in Vienna Construisine can be enjoyed and tested every afternoon. Full details in the festival programme.