By engaging with a series of different materials and techniques the exhibition encompassed both the problematization of unsustainable pasts and presents as well as the imagination of speculative material futures. Taking materiality as a starting point, each of the exhibits investigated its sociocultural, economic, and political context in order to disentangle the multiple interrelations that arise from and with materials. more
Designing Matter 1
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Revaluating Pine Bark
»Revaluating Pine Bark« is a practice-based research project that aims to increase the value of pine bark and to present a variety of possible processing techniques and shapes that rise discussions and speculations about future use-cases. This is done by studying the material properties and through the development of holistic design concepts and artefacts.
moreBuilding with Insect-damaged Timber
Spruce forests in Europe face significant challenges from increasing bark beetle attacks, partly attributed to droughts and extreme weather conditions. Drawing from field research conducted in Feldbuch, Germany, this project analyses factors that lead to bark beetle outbreaks and their impact on the trees, local forests, and communities. As bark beetle infestations escalate, there is a growing focus on understanding their impact on trees and forests, yet research into beetle-affected wood and its potential applications in architecture and digital fabrication remains limited. This research aims to address this gap by identifying key questions surrounding beetle-infested wood and showcasing its potential for valorisation.
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Structured Doctoral Program »Matters of Activity«
The Doctoral Program »Matters of Activity« enables outstanding disciplinary dissertations within the period of 36 months and, in addition to disciplinary qualification, to establish an intensive interdisciplinary exchange between the Natural and Engineering Sciences, Humanities and Design.
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