The main topic in this initial experience was the role of agriculture in cities and in the countryside, rural exodus and urban exodus as a plausible possibility
Date
04 December 2023
On 23 and 24 November, the former manufacturing premises of Palo Alto in Barcelona was transformed into a Greek agora where a community of citizens and speakers from a variety of sectors talked about the role of agriculture, education and human connections. Titled “EXODUS: Las ciudades del futuro y el éxodo rural” (EXODUS: Future Cities and Rural Exodus), it was the pilot test of “Re-Source”, an initiative by Adrià Vilar that had been taking shape for months prior to becoming a reality thanks to a scholarship from the Francesco Morelli Foundation. The young graduate in Interior Design at IED Barcelona explains this “ambitious and hopeful” proposal, which aims to create a common path towards a more prepared society.
What exactly is “Re-Source”?
“Re-Source” is a project that aims to connect different people and raise awareness through dialogue, design and sustainability. The goal is to converse, exchange opinions and do all this from many perspectives, in a way that is not just local, but also global, putting on the table contemporary issues and problems that we take for granted, that are unsolvable or forgotten. We are a seed that has just germinated and will have its life cycle. And we somehow hope that it will pollinate.
What was the aim of this initial contact with the public?
The main topic was about the role of the agricultural sector in cities and in the countryside, rural exodus and urban exodus, understanding the former as a necessity and the latter as an investigation and possibility for a different future from that which the city currently proposes. The dynamics established in large cities are increasingly less healthy for people and lead to a stressful lifestyle that affects us not only individually, but also when it comes to creating communities and helping each other. That is why we wanted to put on the table the fact that the countryside exists and is a space filled with possibilities, open to shaping genuine connections
And what was the experience like? Is the world ready for dialogue?
I think there is still a lot to be done in this regard. The misinformation and disinterest caused by the system are two real problems that prevent us from thinking about the future. The danger of instantaneity and lack of time for thinking is a serious problem. But the future belongs to everyone. One of the goals of “Re-Source” is therefore to ignite curiosity, so that increasingly more people consider that perhaps they can also do their bit with regard to today’s social challenges, regardless of their sector or location. “Re-Source” is a platform that aims to give a voice to all these people and especially embrace all those wishing to join them. It is a public, free and international project.
How would you define the impact that the scholarship from the Francesco Morelli Foundation had on this project?
It was undoubtedly extremely important: the scholarship provided me with the necessary resources that made it possible. Without this support, I may not have been able to carry it out right now, considering how complicated it is to undertake a social project today, as well as the fact that I have just begun my professional career. The scholarship has also represented a unique opportunity to discover and prove myself. It has been truly exciting for me to see for the first time a project like this, designed by me, in a real space, with an incredible team behind it and alongside a foundation like Palo Alto.
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