Amanda Brezzell of Fennigan’s Farms in Detroit, a prior City of Design Challenge participant and grant recipient, was selected through an open call process to both showcase her work and deliver a keynote speech in the Building Based on Biobased (BBOB) exhibition within the Wonder Creativity Festival in Kortrijk, Belgium - UNESCO City of Design in October 2025. 

Wonder is a free city festival in Kortrijk that attracts more than 20,000 visitors annually. The festival brings together a wide audience, from families and young people to professionals from the creative sector, education and entrepreneurs.‍

Building Based on Biobased (BOBB) is an international project in which 16 partners from five countries are working together on the future of bio-based building. The project explores how materials such as hemp, mycelium or flax can be applied in interior design, furniture design and architecture. BBOBB contributes to a circular economy and ecological recovery, and promotes new sustainable value chains in the construction sector.

Fennigan’s Farms is a pioneering initiative that brings biobased practices to the heart of Detroit’s renewal. By turning vacant land into productive green spaces, Fennigan’s Farms not only fosters sustainable food systems but also strengthens community resilience. This work is part of a broader movement reimagining Detroit through grassroots projects that combine local stewardship, environmental responsibility, and social impact. What makes Fennigan’s Farms especially inspiring is the way it brings together farmers, neighbors, and creatives—designers, artists, and makers—who contribute their ideas and skills to build inclusive ecosystems. Amanda’s talk will highlight how such collaborations create new possibilities for bio-based experiments, community-driven revival and the role of the creative.

• Sébastien Hylebos, Designregio Kortrijk

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