Emergence, Adaptation and Communities of Tomorrow.

June/July 2009

The Plastic Futures 2 workshop occurred in both Melbourne (at SIAL) and in Perth (at SymbioticA). It involved RMIT architecture and fashion students, as well as a range of artists in WA. After a week in Melbourne doing a range of generative design explorations, readings etc, we flew to Perth for a one week workshop with SymbioticA at UWA. This workshop was called ‘Adaptation’, and was focussed around the thrombolites, or ‘living rocks’ at Lake Clifton, south of Perth (near Mandurah).

The thrombolites (a type of microbialite) are living examples of the oldest recorded fossils. Being rocks made through the secretions of microbe colonies, microbialites are the worlds oldest architectural formations. Their existence is entirely dependent upon particular conditions, and their continued growth/life is threatened due to ecological changes.

Following this week, we came back to Melbourne, conceived of and constructed an exhibition, which you can see in the slides below:

The key blog posts outlining some of the activities undertaken during the seminar are listed below.

1. Clouds and Crochet: Plastic Futures 2 (an introduction to the project)

2. The Adaptation Workshop @ SymbioticA (outlining the trip to Perth and Mandurah, June 29 – July 3 2009)

3. Built Systems: 2040 City Exhibition (presentation and review of the final exhibition 15-25 July 2009)

For all of the entries click on the Plastic Futures 2 link under Categories.