Cricket Shelter

Multi-disciplinary artist Mitchell Joachim presented a resource and environmental performance with “Cricket Shelter,” an urban farming system and temporary shelter showcased at the entrance of Faena Hotel Miami Beach throughout Miami Art Week.

Cricket Shelter is an urban farming system and temporary shelter that minimizes the ecological footprint of protein-rich food production.

 

It is a well-established fact that industrialized animal agriculture accounts for one-fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions, and with global demand for meat projected to double between 2000 and 2050, the industry’s space requirements constitute one of the most significant drivers for deforestation in the world.

This project proposes an alternative: with 1% of the greenhouse gas emissions and requiring 0.001% of the land to produce the same amount of protein annually as cattle farming, environmental destruction need no longer be the consequence of ensuring our food supply. It operates as a hybrid typology providing an ultra hygienic farming method for consumption of insects. As a modular structural system, it lends itself to simple construction and deconstruction in various site-specific orientations, making it easy to educate consumers on use and maintenance. As a shared farming system, in the spirit of community gardens, it contributes to the formation of inclusive, socially viable environments and the sustainable development of vacant lots.

By bringing alternative agriculture practices and entomophagy into a given community’s collective consciousness, Cricket Shelter contributes to the education and empowerment of the public with regard to their role in sustainable production and consumption. Its creator, Mitchell Joachim, is acknowledged as an innovator in socio-ecological design, architecture, and urban design. He is also a prominent researcher on resilient cities, and a dedicated architectural educator.