My thesis ‘Against the grain’ explores the relationship between urban life and food, how architectural invention could reintroduce food activities back to being a part of the urban life. The agenda was inspired by my personal interest in food and how it effects our lives, especially the power of food in placemaking. The topic of food and space, I believe, is a topic that is under researched yet it has so much potential in contributing to the public realm. The current modern food system is inevitably detaching us from food and removing food from the urban agenda. The aim of ‘Against the grain’ is to explore an alternative model where “food and all its practices can be a part of urban life”. I therefore, propose a redefinition of the clay factory, from an abandoned industrial building to a food hub with a foodhall and food market, cooking school, and community garden.