
New Ecologies
In 2010, approximately 27,000 species became extinct, 11.2 billion tons of waste were produced, the population increased by 134 million people (half as net growth), and 200,000 inventions were patented (ACSA, 101st Proceedings). The global rate, scale, and scope of environmental, cultural, and technological change is ever-increasing. The impact of these changes on the natural and built environment demands more dynamic, adaptable, responsive, and resilient systems. Our NEW ECOLOGIES projects challenge tired paradigms defined by dichotomies - nature vs. culture, idealism vs. materialism, even digital vs. analog - in an effort to design new hybrid systems, landscapes, devices, and experiences.
NEW ECOLOGIES promote a global perspective on socio-ecological contexts, inter-species articulation, cultural meaning, ecological fitness, and the challenges of adapting to a rapidly-changing environment. These projects explore nascent technologies, material invention, and systems-thinking to address core questions of the environment from human comfort to inter-species occupation, from climatic changes to energy allocations. Our NEW ECOLOGIES projects examine the critical role design plays in biological, geological, and ecological processes, not only for today and here but over diverse frameworks of time and territory.
KEY NEW ECOLOGIES INITIATIVES:
Coastal Regeneration
Regenerative Urbanism
Responsive Hydrologic Infrastructures
Materializing Atmospheres / Materials Futures Studios
Biophilic Cities
Post-Human Territories
Water Cities
ECOLOGICAL THINKING CHALLENGES EXHAUSTED PARADIGMS DEFINED BY DICHOTOMIES - NATURE vs. CULTURE - IN ORDER TO DESIGN NEW HYBRID SYSTEMS, LANDSCAPES, DEVICES, AND EXPERIENCES.