Temporalities of a DIY biocomposite through material exploration

Abstract

AbstractThe paper aims to unravel a do-it-yourself biocomposite’s relationship with time and its various implications from a theoretical standpoint. The study derives from shrinkage & warpage behaviour of bioplastics which are regarded as obstacles, especially in mass production. Controllable within tolerance, these inherent behaviours are proposed as a production method to design non-Euclidean bioplastic surfaces. Temporal by nature; the wooden frame-based biocomposite warps and finds its form over time and eventually biodegrades. This paper first introduces materials’ time in relation to polymers & biopolymers as a manifestation of the future by drawing attention to the nonlinear relationship between materials, authorship, and architecture. Secondly, parallels between recipes’ time and the openness of the future are emphasised. Thirdly, experiments’ time is discussed regarding the ‘artisan phase’ of crafting materials and heterogeneity. Lastly, building on an ecological realist view and with deep time thinking, the crisis’ time is considered as an opportune time to propose sustainable strategies.Keywords: DIY materialscrafting materialsbioplasticsbio-based materialsbiocompositetemporalitymaterials experienceDIY bioplasticseco-design Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsDeniz TümerdemDeniz Tümerdem received her bachelor’s degree in architecture & landscape architecture from Istanbul Technical University in 2010. She holds a master’s in advanced architecture degree from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia where her research line focused on Digital Tectonics (2011-12). She is a PhD candidate at Istanbul Technical University in the Architectural Design Computing Program. Her current research focuses on material-based design and bio-based material research and design.Leman Figen GülDr. Leman Figen Gül is a Professor of Architecture in the Department of Architecture and Architectural Design Computing Program at Istanbul Technical University since 2014. She completed her PhD in Architecture at the Key Centre of Design Computing and Cognition at the University of Sydney in 2007. Her research interests include parametric design and fabrication technologies, game and serious games, the use of virtual-world technology in the construction industry, virtual environments, augmented reality, artificial intelligence as design assistance, navigation, human design behaviour, collaborative design and cognitive design studies.