THE VILLAGE

by Sebastian Mortimer

Since the Industrial revolution perpetual rises in waste have become normalised; continents have burned and rainforests have fallen; globalisation has promoted rapid urbanisation and inequality. We are not evolving fast enough to prevent our societal dependency. Communities cannot survive without governments and large corporations; the provision of shelter, electricity, water, food and waste management should be a right to all. The Village, in Central Southwark, tackles this rising issue of waste and over-dependence. Providing room for people to live off grid, create art and objects, to grow food and cater for their community. Over time, inhabiting under-utilised space will democratise our essential amenities. The next decades are likely to see food and water scarcity on an unprecedented scale, increased spreading of pandemics, and more frequent and severe natural disasters. Radical societal reform will be required to reduce the impending impact of climate change and to reverse our addiction to superfluity.