In April 2024 at STEAMhouse, a diverse group of designers, architects, artists, and material researchers gathered for a three-day future-scoping workshop, to explore alternative material futures within the context of the climate emergency and urban landscapes. The event provided an immersive, hands-on experience, bringing together interdisciplinary thinkers and practitioners to rethink the role of materials in shaping sustainable cities.

The workshop set out to challenge participants to develop resource-efficient systems that could enable a healthier and more sustainable future. Cities, as ecosystems of change, became the focal point for discussion, as attendees explored how disruptive and regenerative action could transform the urban landscape. The sessions emphasized the need to redefine our understanding of connection—between people, materials, and the spaces we inhabit.

Through collaborative material-based prototyping, participants experimented with biomaterials, waste-derived composites, and digital fabrication techniques to develop speculative yet tangible responses to the climate emergency. The process encouraged collective problem-solving and highlighted the potential for alternative material solutions in local environments.

The workshop was facilitated by leading thinkers in the field, offering a mix of technical expertise and creative exploration:

• Kaitlin Ferguson introduced her research on how technology can reconnect people with nature, examining the environmental and social impacts of the Anthropocene.

• Blast Studio showcased their work transforming urban waste into artefacts and architecture, demonstrating how cities could function as regenerative ecosystems.

• Sarah King from Earthli Projects, the workshop host, guided participants through Circular Design and Biofabrication processes, illustrating how alternative materials could reshape civic spaces.

The structured sessions blended expert-led discussions, experimental prototyping, and peer collaboration, providing an opportunity for attendees to test ideas and explore the boundaries of material innovation.

By the end of the workshop, participants had developed a range of conceptual and physical prototypes, exploring the viability of sustainable materials within urban spaces which was presented as a temporary pop-up exhibition on the final evening of the event.

The workshop successfully created an experimental and open space for future material exploration. It brought together a network of change-makers, fostering knowledge exchange and collaborative innovation whilst bridging the gap between theory and application. A deep sense of connection was fostered by 20 strangers in the short space of three days. This was a moment of such value to hold onto as we continue to build our capacity to support positive change in the space.

STEAMhouse Blog