Abstract:

By 2030, apples may no longer be easily found as climate change steadily reduces suitable cultivation areas. Apples hold deep cultural, ecological, and economic significance in Korea, yet as an import-prohibited crop, their decline directly threatens local food systems and farming communities. This challenge extends beyond Korea, reflecting a broader global crisis in agriculture driven by climate instability.

Located in Cheongsong County, one of Korea’s historic apple-producing regions, this project proposes an architectural approach to sustaining open-field apple cultivation under changing environmental conditions.

The orchard functions not only as a site of production but in conjunction with a research facility that studies cultivation methods responsive to climate change. The research facility analyzes soil and climate data, which are then fed back into the orchard and extended into educational programs for local farmers. Built on a modular design system derived from the structural logic of 'hoop house', the spatial framework is scaled to accommodate the full range of apple tree forms, allowing farmers to expand according to the conditions of their land. This approach goes beyond apple cultivation, exploring the potential of an agricultural architectural model capable of addressing climate change on a global scale.