Cooking as Commoning: Sruggles for Commoning Public Space in Curitiba's Community Kitchens Movement

Abstract

This article investigates the role of communal kitchens in fostering common spaces and supporting socially vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic in Curitiba, Brazil. These kitchens, which emerged during the pandemic, operate not only as food distribution centers but also as dynamic venues for new forms of urban social activism and collective organization. The research engages with the practical and theoretical dimensions of urban commoning, and shows how these spaces challenge neoliberal urbanism through the practices of sharing and solidarity. The paper documents the interactions within these kitchens and their actions on public space, and highlights the transformative potential embedded in communal food-making activities. The analysis of community kitchens in Curitiba illustrates how urban spaces can be reimagined and reconfigured to foster communal life and resist the commodification pressures of contemporary capitalist societies. The paper argues that communal kitchens exemplify a practical manifestation of Lefebvre's "moments," acting as pivotal spaces where the ordinary is transformed into platforms for collective action and social emancipation.