The Future Food District

The Future Food District is located in the heart of the EXPO site, located near the crossing of Cardo and Decumano streets. Based on the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT), the district will consist of two pavilions, representing respectively the house of the future, the supermarket of the future and the public square in-between.

The Internet of Food and People

The Internet of Things allows us to rethink the current linear food supply chain, and move towards a closed loop connecting people to the food network. The concept of the Internet of Food and People is based on the possibility that the objects (specifically the products of Supermarket) provide information about themselves, including, for example, traceability and consequently new possibilities of interaction with the products within the chain of production and distribution of products. The site can be separated into a number of distinct areas and elements. The main distinct areas are: • The Supermarket Pavilion • The Garden • The Table • The Kitchen Pavilion The distinct design elements that connect and enclose these areas are: • The Canopy (Algae and Bugs) • The Facades • The Urban Farm The cohesive design of these areas and elements, and their connection to the surrounding context, represent the design of the Future Food District.

The FFD will be philosophicaly considered as a unique place and a unitary system, ruled by the concepts of the Internet of Things (the possibility that the objects can provide information about themselves enabling traceability, the consequently new possibilities of interaction with the products within the food chain) and of Closing the Loop of the food supply chain.

• The Supermarket is an innovative place: a real supermarket, with real sales and logistic challenges, but an exhibition space at the same time. The visitor will have a direct experience relating to the sale and the interaction with the product in order to discover the new Supermarket enviroment.

• The Kitchen, on the same page, will consitute an exhibition space and a real place to cook, eat, and socialize.

• The Piazza will present the production and waste management phases of the food supply chain.

Project: Future Food District, Expo Milan 2015

Typology: Research

Location: Milan

Year: 2013

Status: Completed

Client: City of Milan

Team: MIT SENSEable City Lab, Carlo Ratti Associati