Santiago, Chile
The cultural landscape of Chile has been changing dramatically due to the huge rise in immigration over the past three decades, primarily from neighboring South American countries. Some immigrants find it difficult to integrate into society and there are many social divides between cultures. However, embedded within these cultures lie unique cuisines which can be used to bridge these social divisions. We took to the streets of Santiago, asking native Chileans and immigrants about their cultural identity, feelings on immigration, and food.
Diana works at the market from 2 am till 4 pm, then goes home to cook for her kids, then goes to school.
- Peruvian Strawberry Seller in La Vega Market
Immigrants begin to feel Chilean when they make their first proper connection with a Chilean.
- Shop-owner from Yungai
“I start feeling more Chilean now that I work in a stadium with Chilean people and I also have the chance to cook ceviche for them.”
- Peruvian immigrant in La Vega Market
Date Una Pausa
We enacted social experiments in public areas, attempting to use food as a method of getting strangers from different backgrounds to talk to one another and develop relationships. We found that immigrants often had strong ties to their traditional cuisine and were eager to share that cuisine with others, while native Santiaguinos were interested in learning more about food from other cultures and participating in new food experiences.
An Open Kitchen
From this research we developed Cocina Abierta, a pop-up kitchen designer to foster multiculturalism and inclusivity. Traveling to various neighborhoods of Santiago, it provides an open space for both locals and immigrants to gather and cook a meal. Anyone can sign up to the event as either a Cocinero or an Ayudante. Cocineros lead the cooking of the meal, while Ayudantes join a meal to help with the preparation. The preparation of the meal acts as a conversation starter and an opportunity to share culinary and cultural knowledge. Subsequently, the sharing of the meal provides a horizontal platform for social interaction.
User Personas
The Chilean
Age: 21 - 55
Origin: Born in Santiago or another city in Chile
Occupation: Works in an office during the week and has an hour lunch break
Personality: Is curious about what is happening in the area, likes to meet and chat with others
Food Habits: Eats both Chilean and foreign cuisines
The Foreigner
Age: 21 - 55
Origin: Immigrated to Chile/Santiago some months/years ago
Occupation: Works long hours in a physically demanding job, has little free time from work and family
Personality: Is shy at first but open to talk, knows few people outside of work and ethnic circles
Food Habits: Almost exclusively eats their home cuisine
Storyboard
Pedro is a immigrant from Peru and has been in Chile for a year. Life had been busy so he didn’t really have time to make some local friends. One day, he spotted a poster about pop-up kitchen and decided to sign up as a Cocinero. When he got there, a friendly host warmly welcomed him and showed him around the kitchen. Pedro began cooking a traditional Peruvian dish when Martina, a local from Santiago. walked over with curiosity. They chatted about their respective food cultures while cooking the meal together. When the meal was finally prepared, they sat around the table along with Carlos from Colombia, continuing to chat about food, work, and life in Santiago. When Pedro suggested they all have a bbq sometime next week they all said ‘Ja!’. Finally when it was time to leave, they kissed on each other on the cheek and said goodbye.
Visual and Web Design
The visual style of Cocina Abierta is designed to promote multiculturalism and Latino heritage. The bright color palette and Latinotype fonts reflect the diversity of the Latin American peoples and the beauty of their cuisine. The slogan “tu historia, es nuestra historia” speaks to the shared hardships and struggles of all people within Latin America, and how food can be a common thread to bind our stories and lives together.
Pop-Up Event, Barrio Yungai
To test out our event, we hosted a pop-up kitchen in Barrio Yungai, a diverse and energetic area of Santiago. We brought along a chef and home cook to lead the preparation of the meals and sent invitations to local businesses, community organizations, and groups that we had contacted during our research phases. We received a warm reception from people in the area. Couples, parents, families, kids, and passersby all pitched in to help set up the event and prepare food. We found that people reacted very positively to our mission and were willing to open up and have meaningful conversations with one another while also enjoying and learning about food.
Journey of the Kitchen
In these mockups, we imagine a kitchen designed to be mobile and modular. All of the facilities required for the kitchen fit within the trailer including stovetops, sinks, tabletops, kitchenware, and chairs. The kitchen can be set up in any open public space and organized in a way that suits the needs of the event and promotes inclusivity. By bringing the kitchen to the community, we want to require as little effort as possible for someone to participate in the event. By working with community organizations and engaging directly with the public, we hope to iterate on the design and mission of Cocina Abierta as well as facilitate broader conversations about integration and multiculturalism.
