rC7 unruly asseMblies

Design: Richard Beckett, Chris Whiteside technical: Juan Cantu, Eleana Polychronaki theory: Yota Adilenidou

Operating at the intersection of biodigital design and architecture, RC7 continues its research into integrating living biological systems and materials into architecture towards creating more healthy and resilient cities. This year, a specific interest in ‘grown’ composite materials alongside the use of environmentally driven machine learning models, informs the conception of new building paradigms and the development of novel biofabrication techniques. Considering the contemporary understanding of the human as a holobiont along with shifting modes of biopolitics, students will develop novel biologically driven spatial assemblies to provide for multiple living agencies across a range of building typologies. Projects will explore these living material systems and building typologies for urban living alongside radical solutions addressing issues including urban growth in the age of the Anthropocene, and the need to rewild urban environments with microbiodiversity. Topics this year revolve around themes questioning circular material ecologies in relation to architectural concepts of ageing, permanence and decay.