The Community Gardens Project is one of the most successful initiatives of the Contemporary Architecture Center (KÉK), operating and evolving continuously since 2010. The program is not merely about gardening in an urban environment; its mission is far broader: it redefines the relationship between humans and nature in a city context.
Concept and Development
Most people living in cities have lost direct contact with nature. Many perceive themselves as separate entities, failing to recognize that humanity is an integral part of the natural world. This mindset has often led to human actions that, for the sake of convenience, disrupt the balance of natural systems.
The Community Gardens Project offers a practical solution to this issue by bringing nature back into the everyday lives of city dwellers, framed as a communal experience. Over the past 15 years:
- We have supported the creation of numerous new community gardens through professional consultation.
- We currently operate three of our own community gardens successfully.
- We are continuously expanding the program’s scope towards urban climate adaptation.
Significance of the Project
We have demonstrated that community green spaces and the collaboration of ecologically-minded urban residents can play a key role in:
- Mitigating the harmful effects of climate change.
- Promoting climate-adaptive lifestyles.
- Shaping environmentally conscious attitudes in urban communities.
The Path Towards the Climate Platform
The Community Gardens Project laid the foundation for the Climate Platform program, which approaches urban climate adaptation from a broader perspective. Within this program:
- We continue to promote community gardens and work on establishing a nationwide network of community gardens.
- We actively participate in domestic and international professional collaborations.
- We connect residents, professionals, and policymakers.
- We create a shared platform for climate adaptation initiatives.
The Community Gardens Project has thus evolved from a simple urban gardening initiative into a comprehensive, transformative movement. It practically demonstrates how to build a more harmonious relationship with our environment in urban settings, especially in the era of global ecological and climate crises.
