OBEL Build – Transforming the Bioregion

Context & Approach In collaboration with the Obel Foundation and Atelier Luma, BC studies co-curated a five-day immersive workshop situated within the unique landscape of the Camargue. The program was designed not merely as a training session, but as a critical investigation into "geo-bio-urban" resources, exploring how the specific geological and biological context of Arles can inform a regenerative architectural practice. By embedding the workshop within the research infrastructure of Atelier Luma, the participants were able to leverage a deep library of local materials to challenge conventional design methodologies.

Material Pedagogy For BC studies, the core of the workshop lay in the translation of raw territory into building elements. The initial days were dedicated to hands-on material research, employing BC’s established pedagogical tools such as Carazas tests, plaster sampling, and rammed earth prototyping. This phase was essential to the "learning by doing" philosophy; participants were not just observing materials but actively assessing the qualities of local earth to understand its potential structural and aesthetic applications. This technical exploration was grounded in a broader understanding of the territory, reinforced by excursions to the Camargue and local quarries to trace the resource extraction process from the source.

Design Synthesis The material intelligence gathered during the research phase served as the foundation for an intensive design studio. Led by researchers from Luma and guided by the BC team, this segment required participants to synthesize their findings into a coherent architectural proposition. The design assignment challenged the group to move beyond theoretical sustainability and apply bioregional strategies to a concrete task, navigating the constraints and opportunities presented by the local vernacular and the specific properties of the harvested materials.

Cultural Ecosystem The workshop operated within the vibrant cultural ecosystem of the Parc des Ateliers. The technical and design work was contextualized by a series of lectures on bioregional strategies by Jan Boelen and inputs from Atelier Luma researchers, framing the physical act of building within a larger theoretical discourse. Visits to the Gehry Tower, the Magasin Électrique, and exhibitions by Bas Smets and Wael Shawky provided a contemporary backdrop, linking the workshop’s experimental output to the forefront of current artistic and architectural debate.