Material Morphogenesis: Biomaterials and Digital Processes in Architecture and Design

The symposium »Material Morphogenesis« explores the intersection of digital fabrication and biomaterials in shaping new approaches to architectural design. It focuses on form-finding and form-giving processes enabled by computational tools, robotic techniques, and sustainable material innovation. The symposium highlights their potential to generate expressive, resource-efficient architectural elements by foregrounding biomaterials as both design drivers and construction resources.

The main objective is to showcase the design potential of biomaterials and digital fabrication in a directly observable and practically demonstrated way, emphasizing their relevance to contemporary architectural practice through hands-on experimentation, prototyping, and full-scale fabrication.

This event also serves as the final presentation of the Bio-Ceramics workshop, led by Heidi Jalkh and Jörg Hugo at the Weissensee School of Art and Design Berlin. The projects reflect student explorations into marine biogenic materials, such as oyster-based ceramics, and their transformation into potential architectural cladding systems through digital and robotic processes.

Program

1:30 pm Introduction
Prof. Christiane Sauer (MoA / KHB Weißensee)

1:45 pm Guest speakers presentations

Dinorah Shulte (Manufactura Mexicana)
Karen Antorveza (ETH Zürich)
Rebeca Duque Estrada (ICD Stuttgart)

2:45 Q+A

3:00 Coffee Break

3:15 About the workshop | on Material design and Digital fabrication

Heidi Jalkh (Matters of Activity)
Jörg Hugo (KHB Weißensee)

3:45 pm Presentation by KHB Weißensee workshop students

Dawa b.y. Chung
Kira Becker
Paolina Bumeder
Inyeong Song
Linda Kettler
Diana Salgado

4:00 pm Q+A

4:15 pm Drinks, mingle, and see the workshops' results exhibition

Registration
The symposium is open to all interested parties. Prior registration is required here: https://forms.gle/7PhkxbRiVc8pU2ed6