COMMUNAL BAKERY
 COMMUNAL BAKERY, Rotterdam, 2010 |
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Introduction:
COMMUNAL BAKERY is a system that provides facility for the production of bread. A copy of COMMUNAL BAKERY
can be established in any local community where persons want to share the activity of producing bread.
Construction:
COMMUNAL BAKERY is constructed mainly from plywood plates or similar. It can easily be assembled by anybody
with a minimum of building experience. It consists of six basic modules: Storage unit for baking ingredients,
storage unit for kitchen tools, sink unit (possibly with water tanks), oven unit, bread cooling unit and one
unit of flexible space. The oven needed for the system could be a recycled standard oven powered by gas or
electricity depending on local options. The COMMUNAL BAKERY can be situated both inside existing buildingsor
outdoors. A central lighting element provides a minimum of light
during night time.
Background:
Concentrations of power control most means of production. As a result persons are being alienated from the
most basic processes related to maintaining everyday life. In this case the baking of bread. Often the
production of bread takes place in large-scale industrialized settings far removed from the tactile process
originally associated with hands making bread. This causes increased pollution due to the need for
transportation, and the centralization of production in large facilities increases the risk of persons being
exploited. The complex nature of the method of production increases the distance between producer and consumer
and makes it more likely that consequences are not considered and consumers do not feel responsible.
Concentrations of power force persons to concentrate on participating in competition and power games in order
to create a social position for themselves. Concentrations of power are nourished by the illusion that
competition is better than collaboration. It is necessary to collaborate and share means of production if we
want to organize ourselves in as small concentrations of power as possible.
Using COMMUNAL BAKERY:
N55 suggests that local agreements are made on how to use the COMMUNAL BAKERY. Persons in one area might agree
to buy a shared amount of ingredients or prefer to bring ingredients separately and just share the COMMUNAL
BAKERY itself.
By N55 in collaboration with Anne Romme
COMMUNAL BAKERY SITUATIONS:
COMMUNAL BAKERY, Houston, USA, 2010