symposium

Transnatural symposium
Saturday 13 March

Nature has always been complete, and yet it is never finished. Technology can expand nature infinitely, but should learn to play by some of the same rules. At the Transnatural symposium acknowledged designers, scientists, artists and architects explore the philosophical, cultural and practical implications of the fusion between technology and nature.


Morning - lectures:

* Dr. Rachel Armstrong. Her research is aimed at developing metabolic materials to be applied in the built environment. Armstrong foresees a living architecture, capable of 'healing' the environment.
Rachel Armstrong (UK)

* Tobie Kerridge (Material Beliefs); Material Beliefs is a project of designers and scientists that research the implications of upcoming biomedical and cybernetic technologies. Together with non-specialists they make prototypes of new products and exhibition that bring scientific research from the labs into public space and debate.
Tobie Kerridge (UK)

* Elio Caccavale (Bioethics Futures); Drawing on Utility Pets, MyBio and Future Families, Caccavale presents his design practice. Caccavale makes speculative objects in which abstract issues and ethical questions that surround biotechnology are made tangible.
Elio Caccavale (UK)

* Koert van Mensvoort (NextNature); Koert reports on the latest insights from the NextNature research - a highly inspiring Dutch initiative that explores and describes how our understanding of nature is changing. NextNature is the nature made by humans, that is more than ever wild and unpredictable.
Koert van Mensvoort (NL)

* Jan Jongert (2012Architecten in SuperUse); The work of 2012Architects is a strong example of Superuse - a design approach in which clever aesthetics meet the pragmatics of recycling. Instead of designing new cradle-to-cradle products, 2012Architects develop grave-to-cradle methods, that do away with 'waste' as an economical and cultural category.
2012Architecten


Afternoon - masterclasses:

* Protocells, living buildings and synthetic ecology; Architect, physicist and sciencefiction author Dr. Rachel Armstrong leads the participants along the conceptual and chemical steps of making an in-organic Traube Cell. Starting from current technologies, the participants develop scenario's to implement metabolic materials in the built environment. How can archictecture literally come to live?

* Material Beliefs; Design researcher Tobie Kerridge and product designer Elio Caccavale together with the participants develop products and services to experience the social, cultural and ethical implications of upcoming nano-, bio- and info technologies. What is your most dangerous idea?

* Superusable materials; Architect Jan Jongert leads a design masterclass about superusable materials, that can live through two or more product cycles. The participants research material requirements, but also look into the necessary design attitudes, and they think about alternative product and waste cycles that can support Superusability.


Date Saturday 13 March
Time: 09.45h - 17.30h

Prices:
* lectures and debate: € 35,- (incl. entrance exhibition, excl. workshop/ masterclass)
* lectures and debate, 1 workshop / masterclass: € 55,- (incl. entrance exhibition)
* entrance exhibition: € 7,50

Discount, services and more information check the tickets option.
Participation is arranged by registration via Sanne de Rooij, info@beyondexpression.nl, T: +316 24 20 3736 (10:00h – 18:00h). Payment will be done at the location.


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