Workshop: Material & Cultivation
16.04.2024, Halle (Saale)
The Workshop Material & Cultivation was the step we took to apply the theoretical input into hands-on prototyping and idea visualization. The workshop lasted several days and consisted of the following steps: mindmapping, brainstorming and rapid prototyping. First of all, the group worked together to collect terms associated with plant – human cooperation. This was a starting point to more creative exercises: in pairs the students drew random word combinations from the brainstorming collection and created quick ideas and spontaneous designs based on them. Another activity to bring the students closer to their points of interest was to write down as many “what if”-questions regarding plants as possible. To broaden the point of view and bring a twist to this exercise they switched worksheets with a partner and answered the questions from the plant´s perspective itself. The results of all exercises were hung up on the wall to create a collection for further reflection and group discussion. The gathered material was the foundation for the next three days of work. The group divided into two teams – material and cultivation – which worked simultaneously. As a starting point for the prototype ideas, everybody picked a few questions that resonated most with us. The point of the “Material” part of the Workshop was approaching the topic through raw plant material, and developing an idea from that. The plant material for the experiments was provided: hemp, cattail, flax, dried seaweed, moss etc. Some students also worked with material collected on campus such as weeds (invasive species). Experiments were for example based on creating new materials/ substitutes for materials (e.g. plastic packaging), treating the plant material with workshop available techniques, extracting dyes, weaving possibilities. The results were place holders for bigger ideas, topics that concerned and interested the students and were speculative solutions to the questions that floated around. The „Cultivation” task invited students to approach the topic more holistically and think of plant cultivation as a means of transforming our cities, monoculture plantations and already existing value chains. Some referred to traditional farming methods as a source of inspiration, other „invaded” urban spaces with greenery, exploring the topic of green guerilla. A significant aspect of many projects was living in close proximity and relationship with nature that sustains out needs, instead of isolating it –the results were multiple models of roof and vertical gardens, orchards open for passer-bys or modular pots to grow symbiotic plants together at home. This activity invited students to explore human- plant bonds on a larger scale – from circular economies and green alternatives to sponge cities and other speculative scenarios. The last task was choosing one of the ideas/ approaches and transforming it into a Zoöp enterprise model. This helped the students to think of their ideas as a part of a system/ economy and place them in the world around us. A summary to the weekly workshop was a presentation of all the developed projects, experiments and exchanging concepts that emerged along the way. It was a gateway to exploring new ideas and approaching emerging points of interest. For many students it was a foundation for their semester projects or an impulse for new areas of interest.
project: | The Plant Project – Resilience Part II |
year: | 2024 |