The dream of self-sufficiency and sustainability has become true. Everyone is now able to produce goods, to communicate with anyone without being charged or tracked and to fulfill their basic needs without forgoing modern conveniences.
The project is based on two main opposing inspirations; research trips to learn about intentional communities like the Amish, who neglect technological progress, and an extrapolation of current scientific research which embraces technological alteration of nature. The outcome of the project is a fantastical caravan, a nomadic module of illusionary freedom, which explores our belief in technological progress. This enabler questions our human desires for comfort and prosperity and illustrates the dream of total autarchy and the possibility of a different social, political and economical system.

The utopian idea of a different society on a micro scale is reinterpreted and brought in a contemporary context where existing and near future technologies as synthetic biology, genetic engineering, bio-printing and new form of production methods are made public to every individual rather than being owned, administrated and distributed by venture capitalists and politicians.

The model was build in Modo and Toxiclibs for the synthetic garden.
3d Fabrication in Alumide. Each part of the caravan can be downloaded at shapeways


Book Design: Franziska Loh
Photos from the intentional communities: Earthhaven
Process: Renderings
More information: We Make Money Not Art
More information: Design Interactions Show Website