Bioregional Design Practices

How can we use local resources in ways that make environmental and social systems stronger? Atelier LUMA, a program of LUMA Arles, has been exploring bioregional design practices in the South of France and elsewhere since 2016. In contrast to territories, which have human-made borders, bioregions are defined by ecosystems and environmental conditions, and by how people have lived in and alongside them.

A biodesign lab, Atelier LUMA developed a four-part methodology for building bioregional assemblages of materials and know-how: find, connect, engage, and share. During each phase, it works closely with local stakeholders and specialized partners. Currently establishing new partnerships around the world, Atelier LUMA is guided by the idea that production systems must be scaled to match local resources and needs. Going beyond the notion of a conventional circular economy, Atelier LUMA aims to build dense and complex networks, weaving ties between different kinds of stakeholders. These networks will contribute to resilience in the face of the climate crisis and societal pressures by making new paths forward possible.

As part of the LINA platform the Atelier hosted a number of residents at our headquarters in Arles, France.

Collaboration with LINA fellows

The selected LINA fellows were Studio Acte (NL), Anna Perugini (ITL), and Superposition (IRE). Each Fellow worked on separate topics that will be explored here in more detail. These were organised into three Research Residencies taking place between January 2024 and June 2024.

LINA fellows Superposition

>> Background: Unwanted species

The UICN (Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature) has defined invasive alien plant species (EVEE for Espèce Végétale Exotique Envahissante) as the third leading cause of biodiversity loss worldwide.

Since 2018, Atelier Luma has been bringing together botanists and designers to list all the invasive alien species present in the Camargue region. To make the most of this biomass that has been uprooted and is destined to be destroyed, Atelier LUMA has decided to elevate invasive plants to the status of renewable raw material, despite their seasonal and irregular nature.

The Atelier LUMA fitout of Magazin Electrique revealed a real need for wood in the construction and fitting out of the building. Most of the structural elements and coverings were designed using raw materials available in the region, and with local expertise. The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region is the second most forested region in France, with 51% forest cover (1.6 million hectares). This forestry is highly fragmented, with 64% privately owned. Each year, only 25% of the annual forestry growth is harvested (870,000 m3), comprising cedar, cork oak, regional pine and Aleppo pine.

Despite this, the project had to turn to the Alps to provide for the timber elements of the project.

>> Last Logs

Research Question: How to create structural typologies made of local wood identified within the Unwanted Species Project (Atelier LUMA research initiative)?

This Research Residency focused on the potential to use undervalued local wood species, in particular aleppo pine, to make structural components for architectural use. The research was, in part, based on an ongoing research project in the Atelier called Unwanted Species.

The Unwanted Species project looks at a wide range of both invasive and native plants that are unwanted, undervalued and/or unused. For the LINA Research Residency and in collaboration with Superposition there has been a focus made on Aleppo Pine.

The research was planned over four phases of investigation, design, implementation and transmission. Throughout the course of the work 3 research field trips were planned to Arles where the LINA fellows Superposition worked in close collaboration with Atelier LUMA members.

LINA fellow Anna Perugini

>> Ongoing Olive Research

Atelier Luma started working with Olive by-products in 2019, when a local mill cooperative Moulin Cornille contacted the Atelier to valorize its by-products. Several types of residue have been investigated including Olive Pomace (or pit), Olive Pulp (leftovers of pressing) and Filtered Olive Oil Residue. From these three main by-product types the Atelier has worked on and formulated a number of material applications.

>> Deconstruction of an Olive

Anna Perugini is an Italian designer who has developed the project “Deconstruction of an Olive”. An ongoing material research exploring olive pomace, the by-product of olive oil, and its potential for designing objects.

Situated in Cartoceto, Italy, the project aims to propose less extractive design practices by connecting local knowledge, small-scale farms, mills and research. Through an auto-ethnographic approach, the material research observes the relationship between food systems, agricultural waste, and design practices.

>> Olive By-Product Valorisation

Research Question: How to create value from the small mills olive oil co-products with a strong integration into local culture and economy ?

Research Objectives:

1. Establish a comparison between small-scale, high-quality olive oil production in Marche (ITL) and Alpilles (FR).

2. Identify regional resources suitable for creating a malleable paste that can be used in object manufacturing.

3 Develop a material processing method suitable for medium-scale production, which can be transferred to olive oil producers for implementation.

4. Envision a practical application for this material that fulfils the local community’s needs.

LINA fellows Studio Acte

The research aims to highlight the potential of reused materials coming from deconstruction for the implementation of low-tech designs within construction and exhibition fields. Through a work of harvesting and mapping, focusing on the region of Arles, the project tends to identify and reveal dynamics and active networks of Deconstruction to support the reuse of local construction materials and products. Through the assembly of reused components, the design of different variations of scenography set-ups aims to compose a practical tool providing flexible combinations for various exhibition events.

Since the collection of reused materials questions the very notion of “local”, this research spans multiple geographies, and interacts with diverse narratives. The centrality and proximity of deposits of geo-sourced or reused materials must be questioned on an urban, but also territorial scale, transforming borders and our relationships with distance. Focusing on the region of Arles, this research encompasses various cities and metropolitan areas such as Avignon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nimes and rural fragments of the territory as a field of resources.

Research Question: How can we consolidate the existing networks of Deconstruction to better support the reuse of local construction materials and products, and what is the potential of reuse in the field of scenography?

>> Research Objectives:

1. Identification of Reclaimed Materials and Recover Infrastructures: Investigate reclaimed construction materials and prevailing infrastructures for the recovery and reuse of construction materials/products at the local level, with the flexibility to expand the research scope if deemed necessary.

What construction materials in the region are suitable for reclamation? What predispositions does the region have (infrastructures, systems, know-how) around reclaimed construction materials? What local issues / opportunities exist?

2. Documentation and Mapping: Mapping existing infrastructures, types of reclaimed materials and networks that currently exist around these to create valorisation streams. Where, and in what quantities, can these materials be located?

3. Low-Tech Integration Proposals: Propose low-tech methods for reintegrating reused construction materials in scenography. How can these materials be assembled using low-tech methods? What are procedures for dismantling or installing these materials? What real-life constraints are we confronted with?

4. Scenography & Prototyping: Develop 1:1 prototypes of low-tech design assemblies using reused materials coming from deconstruction.