To illustrate how much space is available to pigs on Swiss farms, I have created an architectural-looking model of a pig stable on a scale of 1:50. For each pig weighing 85-110 kg, the usual weight before slaughter, there is a minimum area of 0.9 m2. Of this, 0.6 m2 must be suitable for sleeping, without recesses for excrement. Up to 1,500 pigs can be kept in one barn. Since most farms do not exhaust this limit, the model barn offers space for 420 pigs.
Through the windows, you can get a glimpse into this world hidden from the public. To get an overview, you can remove the roof, revealing an isotype style arrangement of the pigs. 420 pigs in perfectly aligned order. Of course, this is not how a pig behaves, but it serves to convey the number of pigs and the space in which they spend their entire five-month lives. It also allows for a more neutral view of the pigs' situation, which is in stark contrast to the flowery images in the advertising.
The model was made with a laser cutter from hardboard wood and cardboard.
