Melbourne Design Week x BETA BY STH BNK

Presented by Futureology x Swinburne University x BETA By STH BNK

Gloop: Exploring Urban Food Systems in 2049 (Part 1)

Gloop: Exploring Urban Food Systems in 2049 (Part 1) is a public exhibition by interdisciplinary futurist arts practice Futureology in collaboration with Swinburne University School of Design and Architecture and BETA By STH BNK , exploring future urban food systems through a tour of a “Gloop” Factory in 2049, in a world that has reached 1.5 degrees, where global food systems are under strain, with a population nearing 10 billion, and a rapidly altered planet.

At this time, “Gloop Corp” has presented a new solution: an AI-enhanced, sustainable food product that transforms from bland to a vibrant, flavourful feast when experienced through “Augmented Taste” technology, exploring the intriguing interplay between our minds and taste buds. From the explosive fireworks ice cream to the visually captivating marble broccoli to the classic porcelain croissant, these innovative concoctions challenge our preconceived notions of taste and aesthetics while offering a sustainable alternative to traditional food sources, but at what cost ? Not everyone agrees with this new global monofood, as visually tasty as it may seem.

The Exhibition also features the work of Swinburne Architecture and Urban Design Masters students who have been tasked with responding to this unique scenario in their designs of urban food systems and spaces in 2049, through a “futureneering” process and exploration of alternate realities.

How might our menus, food spaces, and dining experiences be different in a world of “Gloop” and what can we do to turn this around in the future?