Cultural environments with more-than-human perspectives. Prototyping through research and training
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.19229/2464-9309/13142023Keywords:
post-Anthropocene, more-than-human, non-anthropocentric architecture, systemic design, cyberneticsAbstract
The paper focuses on several systemic research-by-design case studies relating ecological, technological and social systems with a more-than-human perspective. The complexity of the real requires methods that leverage digital tools and processes proposed to enable the design of more ecological, dynamic, interrelated posthuman environments. We argue that to achieve social justice, we must also reach environmental justice and become in synergy with the planet, with Gaia. This ethos is presented in multiple case studies demonstrating the relationships between designed and existing socio and environmental systems, evaluating whether our actions on the Earth and use of non-renewable resources are sustainably innovative and what this means for more inclusive practice, the academy and our pedagogical foci and design methods.
Article info
Received: 19/03/2023; Revised: 05/05/2023; Accepted: 15/05/2023
Downloads
Article Metrics Graph
References
Alton, K. and Ratnieks, F. L. W. (2020), “Caveat Emptor – Do Products Sold to Help Bees and Pollinating Insects Actually Work?”, in Bee Word, vol. 97, issue 2, pp. 57-60. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1080/0005772X.2019.1702271 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Apfelbeck, B., Jakoby, C., Hanusch, M., Boas Steffani, E, Hauck, T. E. and Weisser, W. W. (2019), “A Conceptual Framework for Choosing Target Species for Wildlife-Inclusive Urban Design”, in Sustainability, vol. 11, issue 4, article 6972, pp. 1-20. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.3390/SU11246972 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Armaly, P., Kirzner, S., Kashi, Y. and Barath, S. (2023), “Biomanufacturing of architectural prototypes with cyanobacteria”, in Human-Centric | 28th International Conference of the Association for Computer-aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA) 2023, Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design in Asia, Ahmedabad, pp. 149-158. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.52842/conf.caadria.2023.2.149 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Armstrong, R. (2018), Soft Living Architecture – An Alternative View of Bio-informed Practice, Bloomsbury Publishing, London. [Online] Available at: bloomsburycollections.com/book/soft-living-architecture-an-alternative-view-of-bio-informed-practice/ [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Barbero, S., Giraldo Nohra, C. and Campagnaro, C. (2022), “Soluzioni sistemiche per un benessere olistico delle città – Processi, risultati e riflessioni | Systemic Solutions for the Holistic Well-Being of Cities – Processes, results and reflections”, in Agathon | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, vol. 11, pp. 50-61. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.19229/2464-9309/1142022 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Bateson, G. (2000), Steps to Ecology of Mind – Collected Essays in Anthropology, Psychiatry, Evolution, and Epistemology, The University of Chicago.
Bratton, B. H. (2019), “Further Trace Effects of the Post-Anthropocene”, in Architectural Design, vol. 89, issue 1, pp. 14-21. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1002/ad.2382 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Bratton, B. H. (2013), “Some Trace Effects of the Post-Anthropocene – On Accelerationist Geopolitical Aesthetics”, in e-flux journal, issue 46, pp. 1-12. [Online] Available at: e-flux.com/journal/46/60076/some-trace-effects-of-the-post-anthropocene-on-accelerationist-geopolitical-aesthetics/ [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Canepa, M., Mosca, F., Barath, S., Changenet, A., Hauck, T. E., Ludwig, F., Roccotiello, E., Pianta, M., Selvan, S. U., Vogler, V. and Perini, K. (2022), “Ecolopes, oltre l’inverdimento – Un approccio multi-specie per lo spazio urbano | Ecolopes, beyond greening – A multi-species approach for urban design”, in Agathón | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, vol. 11, pp. 238-245. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.19229/2464-9309/11212022 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Capra, F. (2015), “Fritjof Capra on science and spirituality”, in Sutra Journal, 12/2015. [Online] Available at: sutrajournal.com/science-and-spirituality-by-fritjof-capra [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Cohen, A. and Barath, S. (2023), “Integrating Large-Scale Additive Manufacturing and Bioplastic Compounds for Architectural Acoustic Performance”, in Human-Centric | 28th International Conference of the Association for Computer-aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA) 2023, Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design in Asia, Ahmedabad, pp. 179-188. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.52842/conf.caadria.2023.2.179 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Cross, N. (2007), Designerly Ways of Knowing, Birkhäuser, Basel.
Davidová, M. (2020), “Synergy in the systemic approach to architectural performance – The integral multi- and cross-layered agencies in eco-systemic generative design processes of the post-Anthropocene”, in FormAkademisk | Research Journal of Design and Design Education, vol. 13, issue 2, pp. 1-30. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.7577/formakademisk.3387 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Davidová, M. (2016), Wood as a Primary Medium to Architectural Performance – A Case Study in Performance Oriented Architecture Approached through Systems Oriented Design, Doctoral Thesis, Technical University of Liberec, Liberec. [Online] Available at: researchgate.net/publication/307957987_Wood_as_a_Primary_Medium _to_Architectural _Performance_A_Case_Study_in_Performance_Oriented _Architecture_Approached_through _Systems_Oriented_Design [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Davidová, M., Fischer, L. K. and Teye, M. (2022), “POL-AI – Leveraging Urban EcoSystem”, in Proceedings of Relating Systems Thinking and Design (RSD11) 2022 Symposium, University of Brighton, Brighton (UK), October 13-15, 2022, Systemic Design Association, Brighton, pp. 1-11. [Online] Available at: researchgate.net/publication/367157532_POL-AI_Leveraging_Urban_EcoSystem [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Davidová, M. and Prokop, Š. (2018), “TreeHugger – The Eco-Systemic Prototypical Urban Intervention”, in Kontovourkis, O. (ed.), Sustainable Computational Workflows – 6th eCAADe Regional International Workshop Proceedings, Department of Architecture, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus, 24-25 May 2018, pp. 75-84. [Online] Available at: papers.cumincad.org/cgi-bin/works/paper/ecaaderis2018_103 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Davidová, M., Sharma, S., McMeel, D. and Loizides, F. (2022), “Co-De|GT – The Gamification and Tokenisation of More-Than-Human Qualities and Values”, in Sustainability, vol. 14, issue 7, article 3787, pp. 1-20. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.3390/SU14073787 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Davidová, M. and Zavoleas, Y. (2020), “Post-Anthropocene – The Design after the Human Centered Design Age”, in Holzer, D., Nakapan, W., Globa, A. and Koh, I. (eds), RE – Anthropocene, Design in the Age of Humans – Proceedings of the 25th CAADRIA Conference – Volume 2, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, 5-6 August 2020, pp. 203-212. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.52842/conf.caadria.2020.2.203 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Davidová, M. and Zímová, K. (2021), “COLreg – The Tokenised Cross – Species Multicentred Regenerative Region Co-Creation”, in Sustainability, vol. 13, issue 12, article 6638, pp. 1-23. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.3390/su13126638 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
DeJong, J. T., Mortensen, B. M., Martinez, B. C. and Nelson, D. C. (2010), “Bio-mediated soil improvement”, in Ecological Engineering, vol. 36, issue 2, pp. 197-210. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1016/J.ECOLENG.2008.12.029 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Dickinson, S. (2021), “The Complexity of the Built and Natural Environments”, in Lastman, R. (ed.), The City and Complexity – Life, Design and Commerce in the Built Environment, AMPS, London, pp. 80-87. [Online] Available at: architecturemps.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Amps-Proceedings-Series-19.2.pdf [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Dickinson, S. and Ida, A. (2021), “Dynamic Interscalar Methods for Adaptive Design Futures”, in Gomez, P. and Braida, F. (eds), Designing Possibilities – Proceedings of the XXV International Conference of the Ibero-American Society of Digital Graphics (SIGraDi 2021), online, 8-12 November 2021, Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design in Asia, pp. 41-53. [Online] Available at: papers.cumincad.org/cgi-bin/works/Show?sigradi2021_312 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Dimmitt, M. (2020), “Biomes and Communities of the Sonoran Desert Region”, in Phillips, S. J. and Wentworth Comus, P. (eds), A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Press, University of California Press, Tucson, Los Angeles, pp. 3-18. [Online] Available at: content.ucpress.edu/chapters/8707001.ch02.pdf [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Doherty, G. (2005), “Prototypes in Pinkenba”, in Nordes | Nordic Design Research, vol. 1, pp. 1-5. [Online] Available at: nordes.org/opj/index.php/n13/article/view/262/245 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Fitzpatrick, J., Gray, F., Dubiel, R., Langman, J., Moring, J. B., Norman, L. M., Page, W. R. and Parcher, J. W. (2013), “The Borderlands and climate change – Chapter 10”, in United States-Mexican Borderlands – Facing tomorrow’s challenges through USGS science, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston (VA), pp. 235-271. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.3133/CIR138010 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Forlano, L. (2016), “Decentering the Human in the Design of Collaborative Cities”, in Design Issues, vol. 32, issue 3, pp. 42-54. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1162/DESI_A_00398 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Foth, M. (2017), “The next urban paradigm – Cohabitation in the smart city”, in IT | Information Technology, vol. 59, issue 6, pp. 259-262. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1515/itit-2017-0034 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Greenwald, N., Segee, B., Curry, T. and Bradley, C. (2017), A Wall in the Wild – The Disastrous Impacts of Trump’s Border Wall on Wildlife, Center for Biological Diversity Report, Tucson. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.36526.97602 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Guillitte, O. (1995), “Bioreceptivity – A new concept for building ecology studies”, in Science of the Total Environment, vol. 167, issues 1-3, pp. 215-220. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(95)04582-L [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Haase, A. (2017), “The Contribution of Nature-Based Solutions to Socially Inclusive Urban Development – Some Reflections from a Social-environmental Perspective”, in Kabisch, N., Korn, H., Stadler, J., Bonn, A. (eds), Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change Adaptation in Urban Areas – Theory and Practice of Urban Sustainability Transitions, Springer, Cham, pp. 221-236. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56091-5_13 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Haraway, D. (1991), Simians, Cyborgs and Women – The Reinvention of Nature, Routledge, New York.
Henni, S. (ed.) (2022), Deserts Are Not Empty, Columbia University, Graduate School of Architecture, New York.
Hensel, M. (2013), Performance-Oriented Architecture – Rethinking Architectural Design and the Built Environment, John Willey & Sons Ltd., West Sussex.
Hensel, M. and Menges, A. (2006), Morpho-Ecologies – Towards heterogeneous space in architectural design, AA Publications, London.
Hoadley, R. B. (1980), Understanding wood – A craftsman’s guide to wood technology, The Taunton Press, New Town.
Hobbs, R. J., Arico, S., Aronson, J., Baron, J. S., Bridgewater, P., Cramer, V. A., Epstein, P. R., Ewel, J. J., Klink, C. A., Lugo, A. E., Norton, D., Ojima, D., Richardson, D. M., Sanderson, E. W., Valladares, F., Vilà, M., Zamora, R. and Zobel, M. (2006), “Novel ecosystems – Theoretical and management aspects of the new ecological world order”, in Global Ecology and Biogeography, vol. 15, issue 1, pp. 1-7. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1111/J.1466-822X.2006.00212.X [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Ibañez, D., Hutton, J. and Moe, K. (2019), Wood Urbanism – From the Molecular to the Territorial, Actar, New York-Barcelona.
Joachim, M., Aiolova, M. and Terreform ONE (eds) (2019), Design with Life – Biotech Architecture and Resilient Cities, Actar, New York.
Kalpana, M. and Mohith, S. (2020), “Study on autoclaved aerated concrete – Review”, in Materials Today | Proceedings, vol. 22, part 3, pp. 894-896. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1016/J.MATPR.2019.11.099 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Kamennaya, N. A., Ajo-Franklin, C. M., Northen, T. and Jansson, C. (2012), “Cyanobacteria as Biocatalysts for Carbonate Mineralization”, in Minerals, vol. 2, issue 4, pp. 338-364. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.3390/MIN2040338 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Latour, B. (1993), We Have never been Modern, Harvard University Press, Cambridge. [Online] Available at: monoskop.org/images/e/e4/Latour _Bruno_We_Have_Never_Been_Modern.pdf [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Lovelock, J. (2000), Gaia – A New Look at Life on Earth, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Mahrous, R., Giancola, E., Osman, A., Asawa, T. and Mahmoud, H. (2022), “Review of key factors that affect the implementation of bio-receptive façades in a hot arid climate – Case study north Egypt”, in Building and Environment, vol. 214, article 108920, pp. 1-12. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1016/J.BUILDENV.2022.108920 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Mata, L., Ramalho, C. E., Kennedy, J., Parris, K. M., Valentine, L., Miller, M., Bekessy, S., Hurley, S. and Cumpston, Z. (2020), “Bringing nature back into cities”, in People and Nature, vol. 2, issue 2, pp. 350-368. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1002/PAN3.10088 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
McIntyre-Mills, J. (2014), “Systemic Ethics for Social and Environmental Justice”, in Systemic Ethics and Non-Anthropocentric Stewardship, Springer, Cham, pp. 121-153. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07656-0_6 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Meier, L., Raps, J. and Leistner, P. (2020), “Insect Habitat Systems Integrated into Façades-Impact on Building Physics and Awareness of Society”, in Sustainability, vol. 12, issue 2, article 570, pp. 1-22. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.3390/SU12020570 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Mirzabeigi, S. and Razkenari, M. (2022), “Design optimization of urban typologies – A framework for evaluating building energy performance and outdoor thermal comfort”, in Sustainable Cities and Society, vol. 76, article 103515, pp. 1-15. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1016/J.SCS.2021.103515 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Mitchell, M. (2011), Complexity – A Guided Tour, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Moe, K. (2013), “The Complicated and the Complex”, in Convergence – An Architectural Agenda for Energy, Routledge, New York, pp. 80-105.
Myhr, A., Røyne, F., Brandtsegg, A. S., Bjerkseter, C., Throne-Holst, H., Borch, A., Wentzel, A. and Røyne, A. (2019), “Towards a low CO2 emission building material employing bacterial metabolism (2/2) – Prospects for global warming potential reduction in the concrete industry”, in PLOS ONE, vol. 14, issue 4, e0208643, pp. 1-26. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0208643 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Nature Board (2021), “Editorial | Concrete needs to lose its colossal carbon footprint”, in Nature, vol. 597, pp. 593-594. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0208643 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Perini, K., Barath, S., Canepa, M., Hensel, M., Mimet, A., Mosca, F., Roccotiello, E., Selami, T., Hensel, D., Tyc, J., Selvan, S. U., Vogler, V. and Weisser, W. W. (2021), “ECOLOPES – A multi-species design approach to building envelope design for regenerative urban ecosystems”, in Markoupoulou, A. (ed.), Responsive Cities – Design with Nature – Symposium Proceedings 2021, Institut d’Arquitectura Avançada de Catalunya, Barcelona, pp. 368-380. [Online] Available at: researchgate.net/publication/360938775_ECOLOPES_A_multi-species_design_approach_to_building_envelope_design_for _regenerative_urban_ecosystems [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Pickering, A. (2009), “Beyond design – Cybernetics, biological computers and hylozoism”, in Synthese, vol. 168, issue 3, pp. 469-491. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1007/s11229-008-9446-z [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Pone, S. (2022), “Maker – Il ritorno dei costruttori – Una possible transizione digitale per l’Architettura | Maker – The return of the builders – A possible digital transition for Architecture”, in Agathón | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, vol. 12, pp. 14-23. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.19229/2464-9309/1212022 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Qiu, J., Artier, J., Cook, S., Srubar III, W. V., Cameron, J. C. and Hubler M. H. (2021), “Engineering living building materials for enhanced bacterial viability and mechanical properties”, in iScience, vol. 24, issue 2, article 102083, pp. 1-8. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2021.102083 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Rosenzweig, M. L. (2003), “Reconciliation ecology and the future of species diversity”, in Oryx, vol. 37, issue 2, pp. 194-205. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1017/S0030605303000371 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Scalisi, F. and Ness, D. (2022), “Simbiosi tra vegetazione e costruito – Un approccio olistico, sistemico e multilivello | Symbiosis of greenery with built form – A holistic, systems, multi-level approach”, in Agathón | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, vol. 11, pp. 26-39. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.19229/2464-9309/1122022 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Selvan, S. U., Saroglou, S. T., Mosca, F., Tyc, J., Joschinski, J., Calbi, M., Vogler, V., Weisser, W. W., Grobman, Y. G. and Barath, S. (2023a), “Multi-species building envelopes – Developing a multi-criteria design decision-making methodology for cohabitation”, in Human-Centric | 28th International Conference of the Association for Computer-aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA) 2023, Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design in Asia, Ahmedabad, pp. 645-654. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.52842/conf.caadria.2023.2.643 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Selvan, S. U., Saroglou, S. T., Joschinski, J., Calbi, M., Vogler, V., Barath, S. and Grobman, Y. G. (2023b), “Toward multi-species building envelopes – A critical literature review of multi-criteria decision-making for design support”, in Building and Environment, vol. 231, article 110006, pp. 1-21. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1016/J.BUILDENV.2023.110006 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Sevaldson, B. (2010), “Discussions & Movements in Design Research – A systems approach to practice research in design”, in FormAkademisk | Research Journal of Design and Design Education, vol. 3, issue 1, pp. 8-35. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.7577/formakademisk.137 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Spotswood, E. N., Beller, E. E., Grossinger, R., Grenier, J. L., Heller, N. E. and Aronson, M. F. J. (2021), “The Biological Deserts Fallacy – Cities in Their Landscapes Contribute More than We Think to Regional Biodiversity”, in BioScience, vol. 71, issue 2, pp. 148-160. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaa155 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Tramontin, M. L. (2006), “Textile Tectonics – An Interview with Lars Spueybroek”, in Architectural Design, vol. 76, issue 6, pp. 52-59. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1002/AD.357 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Tucci, G. and Carlo Ratti Associati (2023), “La tecnologia come abilitatore di un nuovo ecosistema urbano responsivo – Intervista a Carlo Ratti (CRA Studio) | Technology as an enabler of a new ecosystem responsive urbanism – Interview with Carlo Ratti (CRA Studio)”, in Agathón | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, vol. 12, pp. 190-201. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.19229/2464-9309/12172022 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Valenti, A. and Pasquero, C. (2021), “La seconda vita dei micro organismi – Il design biodigitale per una nuova ecologia dello spazio e del comportamento | The second life of micro-organisms – Bio-digital design for a new ecology of space and behaviour”, in Agathón | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, vol. 9, pp. 42-53. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.19229/2464-9309/942021 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Vozzo, M. L., Mayer-Pinto, M., Bishop, M. J., Cumbo, V. R., Bugnot, A. B., Dafforn, K. A., Johnston, E. L., Steinberg, P. D. and Strain, E. M. A. (2021), “Making seawalls multifunctional – The positive effects of seeded bivalves and habitat structure on species diversity and filtration rates”, in Marine Environmental Research, vol. 165, article 105243, pp. 1-12. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1016/J.MARENVRES.2020.105243 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Wagler, R. (2017) “Anthropocene extinction”, in Access Science. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.039350 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Weisser, W. W., Hensel, M., Barath, S., Culshaw, V., Grobman, Y. J., Hauck, T. E., Joschinski, J., Ludwig, F., Mimet, A., Perini, K., Roccotiello, E., Schloter, M., Shwartz, A., Hensel, D. S. and Vogler, V. (2023), “Creating ecologically sound buildings by integrating ecology, architecture and computational design”, in People and Nature, vol. 5, issue 1, pp. 4-20. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1002/PAN3.10411 [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Weizman, E. (2018), Forensic Architecture – Violence at the Threshold of Detectability, Zone Books, New York. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv14gphth [Accessed 14 May 2023].
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Marie Davidová, Shany Barath, Susannah Dickinson
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This Journal is published under Creative Commons Attribution Licence 4.0 (CC-BY).
License scheme | Legal code
This License allows anyone to:
Share: copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
Adapt: remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Under the following terms
Attribution: Users must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made; users may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses them or their use.
No additional restrictions: Users may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices
Users do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
No warranties are given. The license may not give users all of the permissions necessary for their intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.
