OPEN CALL
LIVING TEXTILE ARCHITECTURES – Towards Multi-Species, Multi-Scale Interaction
October 12th - 14th, 2022 - Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK)
Hosted by the Living Textiles Research Group, Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment (HBBE),
Newcastle University, UK
What does it mean to design for multi-species interactions? How can biology transform our understanding of scale in textiles and architecture? How does technology intersect with the living and the non-living in biohybrid materials and systems for construction?
Since the formation of the ArcInTex Network, the intersection of textiles, architecture and interaction design has been transformed by biology. Biodesign has emerged as an important discipline that addresses the potential to integrate living systems into design to create alternative, sustainable outcomes. The novel hybrid methodologies that are emerging bring scientists and designers together with technologists to explore strategies to cultivate and grow new materials that have the potential to radically reduce the impact of our industries. Biological systems offer a model of low energy and circular production, but how can we best create, build and collaborate with nature in the pursuit of regenerative design? How can we design with microbial communities using textiles processes to generate healthy microbiomes for the built environment? And how do we remain critically aware of the implications of the technologies that we are creating?
This ARCINTEX symposium, hosted by the Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment will reflect on the interactions between textiles, interaction design and architecture through the lens of biology to reveal the ideas, networks and new materiality emerging within our community.
Since the formation of the ArcInTex Network, the intersection of textiles, architecture and interaction design has been transformed by biology. Biodesign has emerged as an important discipline that addresses the potential to integrate living systems into design to create alternative, sustainable outcomes. The novel hybrid methodologies that are emerging bring scientists and designers together with technologists to explore strategies to cultivate and grow new materials that have the potential to radically reduce the impact of our industries. Biological systems offer a model of low energy and circular production, but how can we best create, build and collaborate with nature in the pursuit of regenerative design? How can we design with microbial communities using textiles processes to generate healthy microbiomes for the built environment? And how do we remain critically aware of the implications of the technologies that we are creating?
This ARCINTEX symposium, hosted by the Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment will reflect on the interactions between textiles, interaction design and architecture through the lens of biology to reveal the ideas, networks and new materiality emerging within our community.
The symposium invites submissions of current research, practice and theory that align with the theme of Living Textile Architectures: Towards Multi-Species, Multi-Scale Interactions.
Potential topics might include but are not limited to:
Potential topics might include but are not limited to:
- Textiles as a biofabrication strategy and construction method
- Living Material Hybrids (mycelium, bacteria, algae...)
- Sensing and sensory systems
- Bacteria / Textile interactions
- Multi-Species collaborations
- Scales within Living Textiles
Single Track Presentations
Abstracts can be submitted for presentation during a symposium session on the 12th and 13th October. Abstracts should be a maximum of 500 words and include details on methodological approach(es) and results. Up to three low resolution images may be included in the submission.
PhD Forum
The PhD forum will take place on 14th October. This is an opportunity for PhD students to present their work and receive feedback from the ArcInTex community. To be considered for the PhD forum please submit a short 250 word abstract outlining your research question and approach. Up to three low resolution images may be included in the submission.
Artefact and Design Showcase
Alongside standard presentations there is an opportunity to exhibit and discuss design work and artefacts that respond to the theme of Living Textile Architectures: Toward Multi-Species, Multi-Scale Interactions at a showcase session. Contributors will be expected to bring their artefact or printed design work to the symposium. Please note that this will be an in-person only session.
To be considered for the Showcase please submit a proposal that includes three low resolution images of your chosen design work / artefact and a short 150 word statement that outlines how this artefact responds to the conference theme. We encourage participation from students, academics and practitioners.
To be considered for the Showcase please submit a proposal that includes three low resolution images of your chosen design work / artefact and a short 150 word statement that outlines how this artefact responds to the conference theme. We encourage participation from students, academics and practitioners.
The deadline for submission of all abstracts and proposals is 1st August 2022.
A decision on all submissions will be made by 15th August 2022.
Authors whose work is accepted will be expected to present either in person or online at the ArcInTex Symposium 12th-14th October 2022 .
Please submit all abstracts and proposals for the showcase event here.
For enquiries please contact: Jane Scott (jane.scott@newcastle.ac.uk)
About the network and hosting institution
ArcInTex is a network of international researchers working in the areas of architecture, interaction, and textile design. This network meeting, typically held bi-annually, will be an opportunity for scholars to share work, ideas, and discuss potential collaboration.
The Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment (HBBE) was established in August 2019 through an £8M grant awarded via Research England’s E3 (Expanding Excellence in England) Fund. The unique collaboration brings together bio-scientists from Northumbria University and architects, designers and engineers from Newcastle University.
Its vision is to make built environments which are life-sustaining and sustained by life. The mission is to develop biotechnologies to create a new generation of ‘Living Buildings’ which are responsive to their natural environment; grown using living engineered materials to reduce inefficient industrial construction processes; metabolise their own waste, reduce pollution, generate energy and high-value products and modulate their microbiome to benefit human health and wellbeing.
Its vision is to make built environments which are life-sustaining and sustained by life. The mission is to develop biotechnologies to create a new generation of ‘Living Buildings’ which are responsive to their natural environment; grown using living engineered materials to reduce inefficient industrial construction processes; metabolise their own waste, reduce pollution, generate energy and high-value products and modulate their microbiome to benefit human health and wellbeing.