IN-PERSON Barcelona Livable Cities. Section B

Abstract

Plasticulture urbanism, a new form of agricultural urbanism, uses soil, sunlight, plastics and the atmosphere as resources to expand plastic greenhouses. This research examines the proliferation of such greenhouses in Antalya, a Mediterranean coastal city in Türkiye experiencing rapid urbanization due to mass tourism and remote work trends. The Mediterranean climate also makes it important for the global food supply chain by facilitating year-round crop production and helping meet the rising food demand. However, plasticulture urbanism raises critical environmental challenges, including soil pollution, overuse of underground water, and issues related to the disposal of agricultural plastics. The research delves into greenhouses’ historical and technological evolution, examining their environmental and climatic impacts and cultural implications. It assesses changes in urban forms, architectural typologies of greenhouses, changing ownership patterns, and governance mechanisms through visual study and ethnographic fieldwork. The research argues that plasticulture urbanism is more than morphological patterns seen in satellite images; it is a material and lived space for farmers, seasonal workers, plants, and insects. By emphasizing the dynamic and multiple interactions between assemblages of soil, plants, insects, and food, this study challenges human-centric, static analyses of cities and offers new perspectives on the relationship between agriculture and cities. Therefore, it highlights the urgent need to balance agricultural productivity with environmental sustainability in rapidly urbanising regions.