An increasing number of wild animals are living in our cities. The diversity of species in urban agglomerations is even greater than in the areas surrounding them. The photographic series by artist Tue Greenfort propels this coexistence of human and fox into plain sight. He points out that the abundant and growing diversity of animal life in cities confronts us with new challenges—because not everyone is happy about this cohabitation. As a result, planning faces significant challenges. It must not only take increasing and more comprehensive care of the diverse needs and desires of different people but also those creatures with no voices of their own in urban development processes.
In the north of Brussels, surrounded by streets and yet almost hard to find, a small paradise has emerged. In 2013, a diverse team put an idea into practice: they combined the special and unique features of a park with urban agriculture and micro-farming. Involved were local initiatives and groups that had been using the fringes of the fallow land for some time for the collective cultivation of fruit and vegetables, small animal husbandry, and pigeonries. The resulting location—Parckfarm—still brings the neighborhood together today. Different actors organize various activities, workshops, gardening, and debates. However, a land use plan for the area is now in place. Neighborhood associations and initiatives see access to and use of the park as threatened.
Parckfarm T&T asbl, association and coordination; residents of the neighborhoods, initiatives and collaboration; Alive Architecture and Taktyk, cocuration; IBGE — Institut Bruxellois pour la Gestion de l’Environnement, commission and co Winancing
Year
Since 2014, opening at the Parckdesign Biennale
