THE COMMONS AND COMMONING
Drawing upon Garrett Hardin's seminal work on "The Tragedy of the Commons" and the perspectives of social theorists, notably David Harvey, on Urban Commons, the conceptualization of commons and commoning accentuates the collective ownership, governance, and management of resources and the city. This entails the relation between the social group and that aspect of the environment being practised as a common shall be both collective and non-commodified-off-limits to the logic of market exchange and market valuations. Inspired by those theorisations and dialogues, my portfolio argued and acknowledged the commons as spatial, political, and social arenas and entities, constituting the social practice of “communing” as a form of materialization, spatialization, strategic politicization, which will be instrumentalized and integrated with the broader struggle against capitalism and colonialism. Against the backdrop of the overarching argument within the entire portfolio, my design projects undertake a reimagining of the commons as a more just and sustainable alternative, contributing to the transformation of architecture and the city. Commencing with the first project focused on the revitalization of local agriculture in Barcelona, emphasis is placed on the role of short-chain agriculture and farms in fortifying local communities against the exploitative and unsustainable aspects of the global production chain and agricultural oligarchy. The second project delves into the impact on food availability and accessibility under austerity conditions in the UK. The design of a new collective food bank aims to facilitate a more equitable sharing of food resources, thereby collectively, promoting just food provisions. Subsequently, the third project, centred on cooperative housing, advocates for residents' self-management and governance through a collective living model, concurrently fostering a process of subjectivization wherein residents contribute to the development of community solidarity and collectivity. Concluding with the fourth project- Water Commons, which is rooted in feminist theory and architectural practice -reignitions of women to take the lead in organizing the collectivization of our daily lives and the means of production. In this project, the focus shifts to empowering women in roles of decision-making and management related to water resources. In sum, all these endeavors of architecture and urban design commence from the foundational concept of the commons and commoning, offering citizens and non-citizens opportunities for empowerment in the management of urban resources, particularly concerning the rights to water, food, and housing creating inclusive, equitable and sustainable urban future that caters to diverse needs. This direction as a long-stand research and practice interest, also serves as a significant goal and motivating force shaping my future academic and professional pursuits.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
01
Rural Revitalization : Constructing Agri-educational Matrix Individual Work 10.2021-06.2022 Supervisor: Dongyang MI
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“Craving Earth”: Reconfiguring Foodbank and Food Justice in 'Austerity Britain' Individual Work 07.2023-10.2023 Supervisor: Emma Kaufmann LaDuc
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From Inequity to Solidarity: A Co-operative Housing Initiative for Social Changes Individual Work 07.2022-2.2023 Supervisor: Mo Han
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Commoning for Inclusion: Re-infrastracturing New Water Commons in Liangshui River Individual Work 10.2023-12.2023 Supervisor: Mo Han
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Other Works Group Work 05.2023-06.2023 Model building
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