O MARKET: ONE DROP IN CALM WATERS

Anning, Yunnan, China

2019

Once the drop fell down in Jinfang, a typical shrinking southern Chinese village, bringing the new hope. The self-organized O market is not simply a new market: it is the first voice of the new era, where less is more.

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The circular pond, a void in the middle of the space, spins the rest of the market around itself. It stores and purifies the rainwater, it is a space of pause - and beginning.

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Concentric alleys with umbrellas are shared shades for sellers and buyers. Like guardians, they provide market residents with water, electricity and storage space, expanding and shrinking according to their needs. Surrounding orchards, collectively planted by residents, bring them new wealth.

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Zen circle of the O market is also a metaphor for a number zero, which communicates ethical values such as zero waste, zero destruction and zero conflict. To ensure conscious attitude to nature, market ranks environmental footprint sellers have during their production and thus the more responsible residents get the better spot. All the inner processes, recycling and treatment are designed to benefit the neighbouring environment. The model is to be spread on other rural areas, and with e-commerce inversing the conventional goods flow. O market in a sense becomes a protagonist of the new economic model and the new environmental concept. 

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In construction, we do not take more than offered by nature, mainly relying on local bamboo and tree plantations. For the reinforcement we use already produced steel elements from

nearby factory so that carbon footprint remains close to zero.

In operation, comfortable microclimate and electricity demands are supported passively by special roof configuration. Central pool passively purifies water, and composting provides nutrients, so other waste is also minimized.

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Consumption revolution starts in village. Welcome the economics of zen.