Circular Strategies Symposium 6: Cultivating Matter. Is the future alive?

The global scale of destabilization of environments and rhythms calls for an urgent transformation of our strategies, also in architecture and building. Biology is the only other model we have to shape another future towards a more integrated world. The symposium “Cultivating Matter. Is the future alive?” serves as a platform for presenting and discussing approaches as well as case studies in architecture and design, that explore learnings from biology and the integration of organisms in materials and structures. Aliveness is based on processes that require stable patterns of flow of energy and matter, resilient and adaptable to changes. Cultivation is the design of an environment of existence, growth and stability for other living systems. Adopting aliveness in architecture implies long-term strategies of design and care, by developing new patterns of circularity and living together.

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PROGRAMME

Thursday, November 20, 2025
Welcome Address: Ulrike Kuch, Rector of the University of Applied Arts Vienna.
Introduction: Petra Gruber, Institute of Architecture, University of Applied Arts Vienna
Keynote “Renewing Nature: Enacting Biodesign to Restore Ecosystems” by Carole Collet.
Sessions: Design with organisms, Bio-inspiration, Artistic approaches, Poster and Protoype presentations in the main Atrium.

Friday, November 21, 2025
Keynote “Design Against Extinction” by Mitchell Joachim.
Sessions: Prototyping/ Fabrication, Bioreceptivity, Critical reflection.
Closing words: Camille Breuil, Institute of Architecture, University of Applied Arts Vienna

Conference Agenda
During the event, an exhibition of the ROOTARCH research project will be on display in the main atrium (ROOTARCH by Petra Gruber, Camille Breuil, Clemens Preisinger, Damjan Minovski, Andreas Körner, Rebekka Waters, Dominik Einfalt —funded by INTRA 2024).