Montaña Verde

The social architectural structure named ‘Montaña Verde’ at De Coninckplein in Antwerp was Recetas Urbanas’ very first green project.  It consists out of a wooden structure with a roof, creating shade below and providing a garden space on top. The temporary work is framed in ‘Antwerp Baroque 2018’ and the exhibition ‘experience traps’ of the Middelheimmuseum. The green services of the city also played a crucial role in the production process. In the design the controlling of nature is present, as in baroque this manifested itself in its gardens. There is a shift of the social however, where as is baroque the botanical gardens were meant for the elite and Recetas Urbanas asks for local participation. In participatory ways the community can decide on certain content of the structure and in this manner their wishes and demands are taken into account. (f.e. this is why a small asian herb garden is included). Process is of equal importance as end result. In participatory ways the community can decide on certain content of the structure and in this manner their wishes and demands are taken into account. An in-flux, hang-out spot, mirroring the locals wishes for green, is the architectural result of Recetas Urbanas’ social research.