*habiting v. in the process of creating practices of place. The term habitation derives from habitare ORIGIN C18 from Latin ‘it dwells’. To dwell is to live but also to think and to speak at length about. [Emma Smith, Practice of Place, Bedford Press, 2015, p.20].
Led by artist Emma Smith, Practices For Future Habitation is a public cross-disciplinary gathering to consider future capacities for human habitation with a focus on the body and sustainable structures. Bringing together experts across the fields of art, architecture, eco-design, computer science, sociology and earth science, the event asks what practices might we develop for co-habiting successfully in our future world? Taking as its premise, the view that all matter is in a constant state of becoming; this summit asks how human cognition and practices of being in (and of) the world should evolve whilst ensuring positive ecological impact.
Presented as a round table discussion and workshop in four parts. The full schedule and speakers is listed below:
HABITING FUTURE BODIES (2pm) Speakers: Emma Smith / Dr Christoff Lutteroth, University of Bath / Matthew Young, CAMERA, University of Bath
Speakers consider the future potential of the body to go beyond its physical ends and means: vicarious feeling, prosthetics, simulation and robotics.
HABITING FUTURE STRUCTURES (2.30pm) Speakers: Wendy Perring & Darren Bray, PAD Studio / Xavier Llarch Font, The Decorators / Anne Thomas, Sustainable by Design
Speakers explore the future of ecological building and architecture, considering the materiality of structures for bodies to live in and co-habit as both public and private spaces.
HABITING FUTURE SPACES (WORKSHOP) (3.15pm) Led by Nicola Spurling, Institute for Social Futures, Lancaster University
A workshop for all in attendance (speakers and public) exploring utopian future-day life. Design and discuss future-day objects, spaces and dwellings.
HABITING SUSTAINABLY (4.15pm) Featuring: Peter Harper, Environmentalist / Doug King, Building Performance Consultant / All previous speakers
Setting in a context of climate change and environmental concern the event will conclude by considering how we might begin to conceive of such future possibilities through an open round table discussion.
FREE ENTRY: BOOKING ADVISABLE
Presented during Global Climate Change Week (10-16 Oct) and as part of the Edge Arts platform The Next 50 Years Of Knowledge. A year-long consideration of the discoveries, innovations and ideas our knowledge economy could generate between 2016 and 2066, and look at cogent impacts in health, ecology, learning, culture and international standards of living. To picture such futures, the Edge galleries, foyer and website will become sites of collective understanding on such matters, marking the University of Bath’s 50th Anniversary since founded as a higher education institution in 1966.