THE MUSEUM OF URBAN FARMING

Project part of the experimental 13 programme at the AA School, under the guidance of architects Jessica Reynolds and Lily Jencks. Experimental 13 believes that museums have an urgent role to play in the ecological emergency. As encyclopedic institutions where knowledge is certified and archived, museums are pivotal to reach consensus, galvanize action, and change the culture to address the climate crisis. By de-building, contracting, expanding, exploding, or decolonizing Museums of Natural History, unbuilding or dismembering their systems of operation to open them up to new modes of accessibility, publics, collections, technologies, spaces, temporalities, and programmes. The de-building of the Museum of Natural History offers a chance to rethink its role while addressing urban challenges. My proposal focuses on creating a productive nature through an urban farming network in roundabouts across central Delhi. These spaces would feature farming strips, composting, community areas, market stalls, and agricultural displays, helping to feed the city and strengthen the connection between nature and agriculture. Misting systems and retractable shelters would address air quality, making the museum accessible, practical, and embedded in daily life, highlighting urgent urban issues alongside natural displays.