Architecture of Anticipation

Abstract

This design project explores the local values and mentality of the inhabitants of the French village Embres-et-Castelmaure, and the contrasting perspectives of the village by tourists, immigrants and temporary workers. There is an intriguing theoretical duality between fundamental and superficial cosmopolitanism, cosmopolitanism being described as an attitude/behaviour towards the use of the village. The fundamental attitude prioritzes interdependence between humans and nature, conviviality and collectivity (locals) whereas superficial cosmopolitanism views transform the village into a commodification. Currently, the village is consumed by tourists in an efficient and functional way, in the sense that tourists buy wine and then leave the village, granting instant gratification, However, this generalizes rural villages, flattening its local specificity and disregards its true spirit. My project thus focuses on the power of anticipation in contrast to instant gratification which we have become accustomed to in the 21st century. A collection of local observations (interviews, photography, sounds recordings) have informed the design decision to transform the old local church Chapelle de St. Felix and the old castle wall ruin Castelmaure to a local self-sufficient food laboratory and sleeping accommodation. The objective is to extend tourists's visits and give them a taste of the local living conditions and mentality, while stimulating the collective attitude among local inhabitants, and facilitating self-sufficiency, their dependency on seasonal produce and their collective love for food.