Alimentary Design studios are an ongoing investigation of the catalytic nature of food in Architecture and Urban Design by OMA’s Shohei Shigematsu and Christy Cheng. In the Fall 2015 semester at the Harvard GSD, the studio explored the production of and culture surrounding rice in the Philippines. Aya Maceda of actLAB was invited as an advisor and guest critic for students particularly interested in the Philippines.

To culminate the Fall semester’s final review, actLAB, in collaboration with Office of Culture & Design, co-presented a dinner to stage the conversation on the industry and culture of rice. With a menu designed by Chef Chele Gonzalez of Gallery Vask in Manila, Philippines, the dinner features the versatility and of rice as essential in Philippine cuisine.

As part of the event, Clara Balaguer of the Office of Culture & Design presented the human face of the developing world in the bigger discussion on food security vis-à-vis architecture.