Quercus Congressus

When taking a walk, we often perceive things more intensively and consciously than in everyday life. For example the food on offer in our everyday environment. Only through a change of perspective can the urban space suddenly transform into an agricultural space.

Quercus Congressus ("Acorn Congress") directs our attention to the acorns which fall to the ground in great numbers every year in our public parks. Their nutritional potential, widely used in earlier times, is brought back into the public consciousness within the framework of an open architectural structure. It consists of a mobile, folding pavilion with a circular floor and lightweight roof, held together by a combination of a roasting oven and an extractor pipe.

This project, conceived for the Ilmpark in Weimar, combines commons and consumption, conveys knowledge and involves its visitors in the process. At the same time, the historical park environment and the sensual perception of the materials and smells of the pavilion turn the enjoyment of acorn coffee into an immersive experience. A seasonal bread is baked from the flour substitute that results as a by-product of the acorn milling process. An audio installation at various locations in the park informs visitors about the use of acorns in various cultures and eras.