The World Around and Future Observatory present In Focus: Research at The Design Museum in London on Saturday March 16th, 2024. Join us to learn about the inspiring and visionary landscape of cutting-edge architects, fashion designers and artists who see research as activism, as architecture and as an artistic practice. The speakers of the day reflect the urgent need to champion truly new ideas and thinking to address the world’s profound environmental and social challenges, and we look forward to sharing their work and ideas in London.
re:arc institute’s third symposium—arquitecturas de buen-vivir planetario—pays homage to the Andean concept of “buen vivir,” which expresses a symbiotic existential relationship between nature and humanity. This ancient indigenous value system reveres the fundamental interconnectedness of all life, expressed through a holistic and integrated approach to solidarity and the fundamental rights of every organism in an ecosystem. Rooted in this point of departure, our program explores interdisciplinary methods for moving away from extractive and isolating relationalities and towards spatial practices informed by discourse, reciprocity, and harmony. The program welcomes a plurality of perspectives across geographies and cultural contexts in order to support hyperlocal pathways towards new planetary collectivities and will take place in Bogotá on March 2, 2024 from 11:30-20:00 between Casa Parque & Casona at Museo El Chico. Pororoca: An Interlude Architects, artists & educators Catalina Mejía Moreno, Felipe Arturo and Gabriela Leandro Pereira share their process on curriculum creation, emerging from their lived experiences in lands where rivers and seas encounter each other, merge and collide: Salvador, Brazil; Barranquilla, Colombia; and Southend by Sea, UK. Read More
→ Catalina Mejia Moreno, re:arc institute.
In this years COP28, the largest global conference and main decision-making body to limit climate change, in Dubai nearly every country has agreed to "transition away from fossil fuels" however many were frustrated at the lack of a call for a complete phase-out and say the current agreement is full of loopholes that enable fossil fuel production to continue. Other highlights include the creation of a loss and damage fund, aimed at helping poorer less-responsible nations cope with the impact of the climate crisis.
We are thrilled to announce Spatial Practices friends Material Cultures, Catalina Mejia Moreno and Ana Maria from Organizmo are all part of re:arc institute's Cohort 2023. Cohort 2023 marks re:arc institute’s first year of catalyzing new pathways for architectures of planetary well-being. With grantees, initiatives, and Practice Lab collaborators, re:arc is committed to biodiversity and climate care, participatory education, and collective ownership. re:arc institute is a new organization working at the intersection of climate action and architecture philanthropy. Through three funding models re:arc resources the development of community-led solutions that address the root causes and consequences of climate breakdown and nurture the reimagining of our socio-ecological systems. Read more
→ Material Cultures, Catalina Mejia Moreno, Ana Maria from Organizmo
Hernando Chindoy Chindoy is a recipient of UAL's honorary awards recognised for their outstanding contrictuions to the creative industries. Put forward by Spatial Practices as part of our collaboration with Inga AWAI Indigenous communities, Hernando Chindoy Chindoy is seen by many in his native country of Colombia and worldwide as a guardian of biodiversity, ecosystems and human rights. Read More. Watch more.
With almost 30% of global carbon emissions caused by the construction and running of buildings, there is a need to radically rethink the materials we use to build our towns and cities. Rather than experimental new inventions, this display explores three ancient materials that are vital for a low-carbon future: wood, stone and straw. Read More
A major group exhibition exploring the relationship between gender and ecology, highlighting the systemic links between the oppression of women and the degradation of the planet. Read More
re:arc institute invites you to join us for the second iteration of our biannual symposium program dedicated to exploring the architectures of planetary well-being, which we understand as ongoing practices of custodianship and care towards our social-ecological environments. Architectures of planetary well-being offer an approach to understanding the frameworks that connect these systems, in turn allowing us to imagine the relational change needed to move beyond extractive paradigms. Read More
Rehearsing Freedoms is a month-long, multi-site festival of community health, healing, movement building, arts and culture initiated by Healing Justice Ldn which asks: “How can we root visions for radical and just health in safety, dignity, and belonging in order for us all to live whole and flourishing lives? What capacities, skills, and strategies do we need to practice to help us get free together?” Read More
Retrofit Reimagined is a neighbourhood festival that seeks to bring together neighbours, practitioners, and organisers from across the country focused on retrofit, and it's role in the future of decarbonising our built environment and a just transition.. Read More
Future Observatory showcases the work of the Design Researchers in Residence at the Design Museum. The current cohort are responding to the theme 'Islands' through a wide range of projects supporting the UK's response to the climate crisis. Read More
→ Future Observatory
Building on the methodology of their ongoing research project on sustainable forestry and regenerative land management in the UK, Constructive Land, Material Cultures (M-Arch Unit 3 tutors) and Bauhaus Earth will collaboratively design and build a bio-based demonstrator building, following an analysis of the Brandenburg region’s bio-based material supply chains and production cycles. The experimental transfer of the previously developed methods to a new political, climatic and cultural context – from the North-East and Yorkshire in the UK to Berlin and Brandenburg – will bring forth both the universal and specific properties of the methodology and its suitability for use in different contexts. Read More
→ George Massoud, Summer Islam, Paloma Gormley
The World Around is an itinerant institution and platform for progressive global contemporary architecture. Please join Ana Maria Gutierrez from organizmo (M-Arch collaborative Unit tutor) and Joseph Henry from Sound Advice (former M-Arch tutor) in their contributions to the summit this year. Covering diverse and interdisciplinary topics with a focus on social equity and environmental justice, their archive vonsist of commissioned films, talks and presentations from over 50 countries are all available to watch on their YouTube channel. Read More
The Collective earth stories highlights the deep connection people have with earth whilst we are simultanesouly destroying it. Participants in the project are asked to share soil samples from their favourite place in the world, along with a story about their connection to that specific place, and the impact of climate change on it. Visit the project here: https://collective-earth.world/ Curated by Spatial Practices External Liaison Coordinator and former MANE student Stephanie Roming-Orr. Read More
→ Stephanie Roming-Orr
Dancing Before the Moon aims to inspire debate that will challenge and influence the future of British architecture. Through its installations of new work, and a film and soundscape, the project promotes the idea that everyday rituals are forms of spatial practice for diasporic communities and present new ways of thinking about architecture and the built environment. Curated by former M-Arch tutors Jayden Ali, Joseph Henry, with Meneesha Kellay and Sumitra Upham. Read More
→ Jayden Ali, Joseph Henry, Meneesha Kellay and Sumitra Upham
Thinkers, innovators, and urban Stakeholders from across the globe are assembling in London to discuss the future of our cities at a time of climate emergency and define the next steps towards building more ecological cities’. Read More
Thinkers, innovators, and urban Stakeholders from across the globe are assembling in London to discuss the future of our cities at a time of climate emergency and define the next steps towards building more ecological cities’. Read More