Researchers in residence:
Steven Heyde, Pieter Veen, Helena De Smet, Tim Duerinck
When:
1 February 2025 to 31 January 2028
Rewilding Materials:
Rewilding Materials is a research project that explores the possibilities of lesser-known biomaterials from regenerative landscapes. With a strong emphasis on practical applications in the manufacturing industry, this project connects landscape architecture, interior design and broader manufacturing practices. During their residency, landscape architects Steven Heyde and Pieter Veen and product designers Helena De Smet and Tim Duerinck will spend three years researching this topic, together with the Textile Gardeners of Texture as their practice partner.
Through design-based research, we are working on ways to make our society more resilient and future-proof.
RESIDENCY
In the first year, the properties of different fibre plants will be explored. The focus will be on their integral sustainability and usability in design practice. Using flax as a reference, the Textile Gardeners will extract fibres from different plants during the summer months. In the second year, best practices will be used to work on concrete practical cases: material research will transition into design research and prototyping. This will involve investigating how fibre cultivation can be a lever for the development of regenerative landscapes. It will also explore the potential for using fibres from regenerative landscapes to create biofibre composite materials and design applications.
Two strong candidates for our research into possible biomaterials are nettles and cattails.
PRESENTATION
Would you like to participate in this practical project? On 6 July 2025, the research group will introduce you to the process of extracting fibres from wild fibre plants in a practical workshop. We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers who are willing to process fibre plants at home during the summer months, following clear instructions.
The entire chain from landscape to biomaterial and design will be visualised in an exhibition at Texture in the autumn of 2027. The results will be compiled on an online platform.
Residency in collaboration with the Futures Through Design research group at Hogent
