Malerba

Research project, in collaboration with MenteLocale and Lorenzo Cianchi

2013

malerba

At the origin of the Malerba research there is the study of Cramars. In Friuli-Venezia Giulia since 1200 has formed this figure of sellers-exporters who crossed the Alps to sell in the cities of Lower Germany. This kind of street vendors were also common in other border areas, but Cramars had specificity to market especially the spices that arrived at the port of Venice. The study from the aesthetic point of view, historical, economic, social and anthropological phenomenon active until the postwar period has been critical to our joint proposal on two points: the aromatic plants and the street market.
The activity focuses on two complementary actions. The first is the identification of potential existing public areas (flower beds, gardens or parks potions) to propose a collaboration with inhabitants by replacing the normal seasonal ornamental plants of specific aromatic and medicinal plants. Vegetation choice is either the result of a collaboration with professionals botanical and food to which a grant of consultative and educational, that a survey with citizens compared to plants most useful to the majority. All development is documented for the conduct of the second design phase, the construction of a bench on wheels training and information within the “market” for the citizen. Our stall then becomes the center of activity for debate and informing of the plantings, in which are promoted seminars and round tables for the dissemination of the project. It is shaped by certain size urban and composed of modules removable and reversible for the public reception. The stall contains the logistics for the debates (chairs, tables, projectors, screens), herbaria consultation, self-published pamphlets and short essays. The goal is to connect the realities during sowing and cultivation with the social center of the market.