The Gulit Project is a research and development initiative focusing on urban resilience through food preservation strategies in the markets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Working side-by-side with local citizens, market vendors and sustainability organizations, our goal is implement new methods in clay based construction to showcase the importance in food security and to help reduce food waste across the city.
The Gulit Project is a research and development initiative focusing on food preservation strategies in the markets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Looking at both physical and social infrastructures to help reduce food waste, the project is structured by layering community participatory design with local craftsmanship to implement clay-based food storage units that support urban vendors across the city. These multi-scaled containers, designed following clay’s unique cooling properties will allow vendors to store left-over items, protect produce, as well as create new economic opportunities in how produce is sold.
Addis Ababa is a city lined with markets (known as gulit in Amharic) in every neighbourhood. Each is unique in scale and physical layout, yet they all share the common characteristic as a place where the cultural, economic and social layers of the surrounding community merge into one. They are dynamic places, always changing and trying to adapt. In order to respond to this context, the project is structured to foster the ongoing exchange of information and participation between market vendors, citizens and local organizations.
organization:
IDEO + Tena Kebena + uAbureau
support:
Canada Council for the Arts
UKaid
location:
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
the team:
project leaders:
Melat Assefa
Julia Mauser
James Brazil
Nicholas Waissbluth
Rafael Machado
Desalegn Firew
Mezgebu Tigabu
assistants:
Yabesra Akalu
Bezawit Bekele