Gardens as Protest
for the right to sustenance and the right to the city....
R. Schächer (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
S. Pietsch – Mentor (TU Delft - Situated Architecture)
L.G.A.J. Reinders – Mentor (TU Delft - Situated Architecture)
R.R. van den Ban – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / AE+T)
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Abstract
The Bananeira Garden (Horta da Bananeira) is a guerrilla garden in the escarpments of Porto that has collectively been created by a group of people with no claim of ownership or fixed identity. These gardeners explicitly refuse to recognize the state’s authority over the forgotten urban spaces in the city. Gardening turns into a political act, a quiet but constant form of spatial activism addressing climate change, social inequality, and real estate speculation. Porto’s administration is solely focused on expanding the city’s brand as a tourist destination, with tourist accommodations and rising prices forcing the local population to the margins. This could have consequences for the Horta da Bananeira, as it does not have any legal protection.
This project is an attempt to support the Horta da Bananeira in its struggle for emancipation. ‘Garden as Protest’ acknowledges the garden’s complexity and its value beyond the garden’s borders. A network of acupunctures makes sure that the border conditions of the garden are secured, fulfilling their social purpose and catering to the actual needs of the neighbourhood.
The project follows an eco-feminist approach, demonstrating a new role for the architect.