For this design studio, we were asked to create a residential farm that, by adapting an abandoned farmhouse and farmland in Flanders, accommodates both farmers and marginalized individuals while exploring alternative approaches to the prison system. Endless monocultures cultivate a destructive attitude toward the countryside, reminding us that as we harm nature, we also harm ourselves.

Thirteen grain storage vessels, scattered across the fields, address spiritual self-care: each features a net for drying harvested grains, under which members can meditate. Grain storage modules embody this ethic, reconnecting humans with ancient traditions that see grain as a bridge to nature.

The sleeping units function as an open system—connected fragments that shift according to residential needs. An elevated framework with fixed patios admits zenithal light, supporting a modular timber-straw interior. The gridded floorplan, inspired by Japanese tatami mats and the MAT-building system, creates a flexible, extendable housing block in which units interact and share a spectrum of communal spaces. Furniture aligns with the grid, offering flexibility—tables become desks, beds, or seating—allowing spaces to shift with daily rhythms, supporting both individual well-being and communal life.