On 17 November, José Ahedo, architect and UIC Barcelona School of Architecture alumnus, opened the 2017 Wheelwright Prize lecture series at the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD). He presented the findings to date from his research project "Domesticated Grounds: Design and Domesticity within Animal Farming Systems".
Since winning the prize in 2014, Ahedo has travelled to the most remote rural areas in countries such as Bolivia, China, New Zealand, Germany, Paraguay, Mongolia and the Azores and met with two-hundred families, scientists, local governments, political leaders and others involved in animal farming. The aim of his research is to analyse the architectural and organisational models used at livestock farms, focusing on the countless environmental and social challenges related to this type of farm. As a result, he intends to investigate new practices that cover everything from large industrial operations to more traditional, local farms, with a view to creating more sustainable production models.
The Wheelwright Prize is an open international competition that awards $100,000 to young architects to support travel-based research. It is awarded annually to early-career architects who have continuously exhibited exceptional talent and commitment in their creative work. The aim of this prize is to promote innovative research in the initial stage of an architect's professional career.
