Hardware Stories: DIY practices as more-than-human material activism

Antonio Bernacchi; Alicia Lazzaroni

Hardware Stories: DIY practices as more-than-human material activism

Publications: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

Abstract

In relation to an understanding of the symbiotic nature of living organisms, the project “Hardware Stories” is presented as a counternarrative to modernist hygienist standardization. It is a set of diegetic prototypes of construction elements, with relative manufacturing and maintenance tools, and is showcased through a floor component. This work questions how much the mechanism of production of architectural construction materials, with its quality control mechanisms and the economic scale that its implementation requires, actually prevents any form of alternative approaches. The project proposes to consider DIY practices as a form of mundane resistance that can empower multiple actors as a practice of material activism. Through the description of material sourcing, properties, manufacturing processes, and installation, this visual essay aims to explain how these enable to conceive different relationships of cohabitation that are critically framed through the concept of “domestication-as-rewilding”, introduced by anthropologist Anna Tsing.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Design for Rethinking Resources : Proceedings of the UIA World Congress of Architects Copenhagen 2023
Editors	Mette Ramsgaard Thomsen, Carlo Ratti, Martin Tamke
Number of pages	16
Publisher	Springer Nature Swizerland AG
Publication date	Dec 2023
Edition	1
Pages	77-92
Article number	7
Chapter	1
ISBN (Print)	978-3-031-36553-9
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-031-36554-6
Publication status	Published - Dec 2023
Event	UIA World Congress of Architects 2023 Copenhagen - København, Denmark Duration: 2 Jul 2023 → 6 Jul 2023 Conference number: 28 https://uia2023cph.org/

Conference

Conference	UIA World Congress of Architects 2023 Copenhagen
Number	28
Country/Territory	Denmark
City	København
Period	02/07/2023 → 06/07/2023
Other	The UIA World Congress takes place every third year with 10-15.000 participants from all over the world.<br/>The 2023 World Congress of Architects will take place on 2-6 July 2023 in Copenhagen, Denmark. With the theme “Sustainable Futures- Leave No One Behind”, the Congress aims to promote, discuss, create and showcase architecture as a vital tool to achieve the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. It will share sustainable solutions and examine the latest research results.
Internet address	https://uia2023cph.org/

Series	Sustainable Development Goals Series
ISSN	2523-3084

Keywords

DIY
material activism
diegetic prototype
more-than-human
domestication-as-rewilding

Artistic research

Yes

Cite this

Bernacchi, Antonio ; Lazzaroni, Alicia. / Hardware Stories : DIY practices as more-than-human material activism. Design for Rethinking Resources : Proceedings of the UIA World Congress of Architects Copenhagen 2023. editor / Mette Ramsgaard Thomsen ; Carlo Ratti ; Martin Tamke. 1. ed. Springer Nature Swizerland AG, 2023. pp. 77-92 (Sustainable Development Goals Series).

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title = "Hardware Stories: DIY practices as more-than-human material activism",

abstract = "In relation to an understanding of the symbiotic nature of living organisms, the project “Hardware Stories” is presented as a counternarrative to modernist hygienist standardization. It is a set of diegetic prototypes of construction elements, with relative manufacturing and maintenance tools, and is showcased through a floor component. This work questions how much the mechanism of production of architectural construction materials, with its quality control mechanisms and the economic scale that its implementation requires, actually prevents any form of alternative approaches. The project proposes to consider DIY practices as a form of mundane resistance that can empower multiple actors as a practice of material activism. Through the description of material sourcing, properties, manufacturing processes, and installation, this visual essay aims to explain how these enable to conceive different relationships of cohabitation that are critically framed through the concept of “domestication-as-rewilding”, introduced by anthropologist Anna Tsing.",

keywords = "DIY, material activism, diegetic prototype, more-than-human, domestication-as-rewilding",

author = "Antonio Bernacchi and Alicia Lazzaroni",

note = "The prototype/artwork discussed in the paper has been co-authored by Animali Domestici (A. Lazzaroni \& A. Bernacchi), Jakob Sieder-Semlitsch, and Lynn Hyun Kieffer; UIA World Congress of Architects 2023 Copenhagen, UIA CPH ; Conference date: 02-07-2023 Through 06-07-2023",

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month = dec,

language = "English",

isbn = "978-3-031-36553-9",

series = "Sustainable Development Goals Series",

publisher = "Springer Nature Swizerland AG",

pages = "77--92",

editor = "\{Ramsgaard Thomsen\}, Mette and Carlo Ratti and Martin Tamke",

booktitle = "Design for Rethinking Resources",

edition = "1",

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}

Bernacchi, A & Lazzaroni, A 2023, Hardware Stories: DIY practices as more-than-human material activism. in M Ramsgaard Thomsen, C Ratti & M Tamke (eds), Design for Rethinking Resources : Proceedings of the UIA World Congress of Architects Copenhagen 2023. 1 edn, 7, Springer Nature Swizerland AG, Sustainable Development Goals Series, pp. 77-92, UIA World Congress of Architects 2023 Copenhagen, København, Denmark, 02/07/2023.

Hardware Stories: DIY practices as more-than-human material activism. / Bernacchi, Antonio ; Lazzaroni, Alicia.
Design for Rethinking Resources : Proceedings of the UIA World Congress of Architects Copenhagen 2023. ed. / Mette Ramsgaard Thomsen; Carlo Ratti; Martin Tamke. 1. ed. Springer Nature Swizerland AG, 2023. p. 77-92 7 (Sustainable Development Goals Series).

Publications: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

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AB - In relation to an understanding of the symbiotic nature of living organisms, the project “Hardware Stories” is presented as a counternarrative to modernist hygienist standardization. It is a set of diegetic prototypes of construction elements, with relative manufacturing and maintenance tools, and is showcased through a floor component. This work questions how much the mechanism of production of architectural construction materials, with its quality control mechanisms and the economic scale that its implementation requires, actually prevents any form of alternative approaches. The project proposes to consider DIY practices as a form of mundane resistance that can empower multiple actors as a practice of material activism. Through the description of material sourcing, properties, manufacturing processes, and installation, this visual essay aims to explain how these enable to conceive different relationships of cohabitation that are critically framed through the concept of “domestication-as-rewilding”, introduced by anthropologist Anna Tsing.

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KW - domestication-as-rewilding

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ER -

Hardware Stories: DIY practices as more-than-human material activism

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

Artistic research

Other files and links

Activities

UIA World Congress of Architects 2023 Copenhagen

Cite this