Research Trip

Going to the Pyrenees to explore nature and understand how craftmanship can play a role in design.

The research trip was a bit of a mystery to me at first. I wasn't sure how it would connect to my studies about cities and energy. But as I got into it and stayed open to new ideas, I started seeing things differently. During the trip, we did all sorts of activities, like making ceramics and learning about plants. I liked the diversity of workshops offered as it allowed me some freedom to think how I relate to various topics. In the end the things that made me the most excited were the walks in nature and seeing how nature could inspire my research project.

The Stay & Activities

The research trip took place in a small French town called  Angostrine in the Pyrenees. Only 3,5 hours from Barcelona by train and situated just by the French-Spanish border, this place allowed for a lot of reflection on the concept of borders, nature and living. We spent our stay in this farmhouse called the Grande Maison Rouge, which was created by Merce and her partner as a place for trips to be organized and facilitate creative interactions between people. It was the perfect place to spend the duration of this week. 

For me the research trip was a bit of a mystery to me at first. I wasn't sure how it would connect to my studies about cities and energy. But as I got into it and stayed open to new ideas, I started seeing things differently.

During the trip, we did all sorts of activities, like making ceramics and learning about plants. I liked the diversity of workshops offered as it allowed me some freedom to think how I relate to various topics. In the end the things that made me the most excited were the walks in nature and seeing how nature could inspire my research project.

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Getting Inspired by Nature

When walking in the mountains nearby Angostrine France I started to notice various things, the first was the sound of the river and then as I continued to explore through my camera lens I started to notice more and more things. The first thing I really took note of was the various textures that are to be found and how my perspective changed when looking at a close up. The next thing I realized was the way that certain surfaces were covered in water droplets while others were empty. I wondered what caused this and how potential structures in nature might work better then others. Certain organisms stood out the most to me, the mushroom, the moss on the trees and the succulents that could be found all along the forest.

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The Problem

After spending the first days wandering around the town and surrounding nature, I took some time to go through what I had noticed and what I wanted to achieve during this trip. I came to realize that I wanted to relate the conducted research to problems that our world is facing right now. In Catalonia, where I live, there is currently a drought going on and with the ongoing climate crisis the climate will continue to shift to be hotter and drier. I have been contemplating the impact this shift will have on people’s day to day life and how one could design potential solutions to help people collect water at home. I had read an article a few years ago about how people in Chile were inspired by a regional beetle and how it collects water from the environment. I started to wonder about the things I had seen could also be used as inspiration for the future water collection. 

Experimenting with Different Methods

During my research, I tried out different methods and ideas because I believed that the problem I was working on could be looked at from many angles. I read up on how to collect water and found out that things like the shape of leaves and how much space they cover can make a big difference. One thing I did was make ceramic tiles that looked like mushroom gills to catch water. I also used fancy technology to make models based on nature, like 3D printing shapes that reminded me of plants. Although the results looked good, I had to make some changes to make sure they worked well for collecting water. Then, I tried something different by taking close-up pictures of moss to see how it's built. Even though the pictures weren't super detailed, they helped me understand how moss grows and how we can use that in the future. All these different things I tried helped me see how we can make designs that are good for the environment.

Future Applications Research

Throughout the week of experimentation, I envisioned potential future applications for the concepts I explored. Inspired by the efficiency of mushroom gills in capturing moisture from the air, I conceived a water collection device featuring vertically oriented structures resembling these gills, designed to attract and condense moisture for harvesting. Additionally, drawing from the water-absorbing capabilities of moss, I envisioned a device with surfaces mimicking moss's porous and hydrophilic properties to efficiently retain moisture from fog, mist, or rainfall. Both concepts aimed to maximize surface area exposure to incoming moisture, with the collected water directed towards central reservoirs for harvesting, offering innovative solutions for urban water scarcity challenges.

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AI generated visualization of using moss to grab water out of air

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AI generated visualization of water collection tiles

Reflecting on the Trip

Reflecting on my recent research trip, I was initially uncertain about its relevance to my academic focus on energy, city behavior, and sustainable habits. However, as I immersed myself in the experience and adopted a more open and flexible approach to my work, I began to see its profound significance.

One of the most striking revelations was the strong connection rural communities have with their surroundings and their sense of responsibility towards the environment. Witnessing how people in these communities live in harmony with nature and practice sustainable harvesting methods left a lasting impression on me. It made me realize the importance of incorporating these principles into urban environments to address issues like energy consumption and climate change.

The research trip also taught me the value of drawing inspiration from nature in design thinking. By observing natural forms and processes, I gained insights into innovative solutions for urban challenges, particularly in the realm of water retention. This creative approach, rooted in the principles of biomimicry, has the potential to revolutionize how we design and build sustainable cities.

Moreover, being immersed in a community directly impacted by climate change underscored the urgency of our global environmental crisis. It highlighted the need for tangible action and innovative solutions to mitigate its effects and adapt to a changing world.

In conclusion, my research trip was a transformative journey that expanded my perspective and deepened my understanding of design for emergent futures. It reinforced the importance of flexibility, sustainability, and community engagement in addressing complex societal challenges. Moving forward, I am inspired to continue exploring how design can contribute to a more resilient and sustainable world.

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