Material Culture Collective

An interdisciplinary collaboration that investigates the implications of a circular Baukultur

Material Culture Collective is the research collective of the Urban Architecture group, as part of the Situated Architecture section of the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment. It explores the implications of a circular Baukultur, as a dialogue between human and non-human actors, and contributes to the theme of adaptive reuse at the intersection of material history, anthropology, landscape and design capacity.  

In particular:

• it explores the history embedded in materials and building components, reorienting the discourse on circular building and low CO2 circular design from a quantitative to a cultural perspective,
• it deepens the understanding of building materials: its intrinsic qualities and quantities, and extrinsic values facilitated and maintained by human, nature and machines,
• it understands and recognizes material yards as increasingly relevant locations within cities and landscapes,
• it problematizes the self-evident replacement of existing buildings, and focusses on design efforts that repair, re-program, appoint, transform and reconfigure existing buildings.
   

Methodologically, the collective uses and develops fieldwork as its main research tool, from ethnography to site registrations and archival work. It is distinguished by its multidisciplinary nature, merging landscape design, ethnography, AI supported design and architectural approaches.

As a common research area, the collective will explore the building site as a starting point to understanding circular building practices as a strategic reconfiguration of materials, landscapes and people.