This book addresses the alarming state of the planet and considers a potential new role for architecture in the Anthropocene. It explores ways in which architecture could contribute to solutions, as well as how the discipline should prepare for the future. Drawing on other disciplines such as bioregionalism, animalism and decolonial thinking, it demonstrates how architecture can extend its relevance. The book introduces new theoretical approaches that encourage completely different ways of thinking, showing and designing. It introduces concepts such as human energy, decolonial bioregionalism, and emancipatory architecture, which serve to challenge anthropocentric theories and promote more sustainable architectural practices. This book makes an ethical appeal to architects and non-architects alike, proposing new strategies for thinking, teaching and creating a wholly different kind of architecture for a rapidly changing world. In doing so, it addresses the challenges facing contemporary societies and ecological changes, demonstrating how the ecological humanities can transform architecture as a field and radically alter its history, references, values, and aims. The book aims to contribute to a metamorphosis of architecture towards greater ecological and emancipatory capacity, and towards pluriversal bioregions.

Critically analyses contemporary architecture and its future in view of current ecological imperatives Shows how the ecological humanities may deeply renovate the architectural field Develops a multiplicity of solutions, concepts, grounds and strategies for thinkers, teachers and practitioners

Autorentext

Mathias Rollot (born 1988) is an associate professor at the École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Grenoble Université Grenoble-Alpes and a researcher at the CRESSON research laboratory (CNRS). After training as an architect in 2011 and completing a PhD in Architecture in 2016, he went on to achieve an 'habilitation to conduct research' (HDR) in 2023. He is now one of the leading figures of ecological thinking in architecture in France. He is the author of numerous papers and books, including L'obsolescence (MétisPresses, 2016); Critique de l'habitabilité (L&S, 2017); Les Territoires du vivant, un manifeste biorégionaliste (Wildproject, 2023); and Décoloniser l'architecture (Le Passager clandestin, 2024).

Inhalt

Chapter 1. Architectural research and the Anthropocene: an ethical imperative.- Chapter 2. Critical models, compasses & scenarios for contemporary architecture.- Chapter 3. The possibility of emancipatory architectures.- Chapter 4. Architecture & living beings: more than just inspiration.- Chapter 5. Bioregional architectures toward decolonization.