By 2040, I would like the way we deal with food and public space to have fundamentally changed. An ideal image I have in mind, based on the projects I am working on, such as Fruitstraat Gent, is that cities have been completely transformed into green, edible landscapes.

In this future, cities are not only functional living spaces, but also productive ecosystems where fruit trees, vegetables and herbs grow lushly in streets, squares and parks. Everyone has access to healthy and local food thanks to the myriad of commons such as communal gardens and fruit trees, where residents have free access to pick. The idea of a short and sustainable food chain is fully embedded in urban life: people harvest their own food or buy it directly from neighborhood cooperatives, without the intervention of polluting, long distribution chains.

In addition, there is a broad awareness of the importance of community and participation. Speculative design projects are no longer just a niche, but have been given a central role in shaping urban development. Residents are actively involved in designing the future of their city, with participation and engagement at the heart of policy decisions. Each district has its own projects and experiments that constantly contribute to the improvement of the living environment, both socially, economically and ecologically.

This vision of the future would result in a healthier, cohesive and more resilient society in which people not only have a connection with each other, but also with nature and the food they consume.