Babylon Design School

Blue Sky Research, Action Design, Art

Outdoor Studio — (Re)connect with Nature
Waldwoche — Mit der Natur (wieder)verbinden
2017, 2018, Bregenzerwald/Austria

A deep desire to reconnect with Nature joins students and professionals from various disciplines to learn and to work together. Nature is the lab to learn the principles of circularity and sustainability. In 2017 and 2018 the woods and mountains of Bregenz Forest, an alpine region in the west of Austria, offered shelter and inspiration for 3 experimental summer schools:

Big Bang Planet B (Experimental Summer Camp)
Universium (Outdoor Studio Bregenz Forest)
Alphabet of Life (Biomimicry Learning Lab)







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Big Bang Planet B — Experimental Summer Camp
Urknall 2te Erde — Experimente im Wald
29 July—4 August 2018, Hittisau, Andelsbuch, Bregenzerwald

On the occasion of the Earth Overshoot Day 2018 ⤑ With Rhizomatic Circus, Dream Academia, and others.
Im Sommer 2018 war der Bregenzerwald Startrampe und zugleich Landebahn für Experimente, um nach dem Vorbild der Natur eine 2te Erde zu erfinden, welche wiederum als Modell für die 1te und einzige Erde taugen könnte. In einem spontanen Akt entstand ein Alphabet, daraus erblühten Worte, Ideen und Taten.




Big Bang in the woods



A is for Alphabet



z is for zero-emission



Rhizomatic Circus — Artists, acrobats, actors, dancers, musicians, performers, designers, producers and more
Dream Academia — Worldwide community to share, exchange and spur dreams and visions















The programme
Waldwoche, workshops, events, special activities
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The team
Initiators: Elisabeth Kopf (University of Applied Arts Vienna) & Claus Schnetzer (Fryraum) Organization, management, design: Design Buero Baustelle Artists: Rhizomatic Circus, Dream Academia, Astrid Seme, Thomas Geiger, Ulli Kammerzell, Katrin Pachinger, Gregor Pils Sponsored / supported by: Land Vorarlberg, Werkraum Bregenzerwald, Design Buero Baustelle, Fryraum, Jasmin Vigl, ZIRP Insects, Landscape Honey Austria Photos: Gregor Pils, Elisabeth Kopf, A.de.Le. Archive Artistic Letter Collages: Elisabeth Kopf







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Universium — Outdoor Studio Bregenz Forest
Universium — Wanderklasse Bregenzerwald
23—30 June 2018, Schnepfegg, Andelsbuch, Bregenzerwald

With Gesine Grotrian and design students from the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle ⤑
Design students spent one week in the Austrian Alps. The aim was to re-connect with nature and to get inspiration by the ecosystem of the forest and by the abundant local culture and tradition.




Group experience



Outdoor lecture with biologist Timo Kopf



Universium sketchbooks





Universium sketchbook library
designed for the exhibition Alphabet des Lebens in Werkraum Bregenzerwald












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Alphabet of Life — Biomimicry Learning Lab
Alphabet des Lebens — Biomimicry Lernworkshop
24—29 July 2017, Andelsbuch and immediate environment, Bregenzerwald

A week of transdiciplinary training in Nature-inspired design and innovation. With Regina Rowland, Elisabeth Kopf, Thomas Geisler and many others. Hosted by Werkraum Bregenzerwald ⤑ In support of the exhibition project Alphabet of Life ⤑






Video by diaméter ⤑


Werkraum Bregenzerwald



Workshop at Bahnhof Andelsbuch



Kinestetic modeling
Innovation and design concepts inspired by Nature








Herbology
Cooking with herbalist Jasmin Vigl






Special guests:
Biologist Timo Kopf, farmer Kaspanaze Simma, designer Stefan Sagmeister






The magazine, by diaméter ⤑
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The team
Workshop lead: Regina Rowland (University of Applied Sciences Burgenland) Organization, management, design: Elisabeth Kopf (University of Applied Arts Vienna) Scientists-at-the-design table: Timo Kopf (University Innsbruck), Christian Rammel (Vienna University of Economics and Business), Birgit Gschweidl, Carina Niedermair, Peter Feuersinger, Christian Natter, Jasmin Vigl Craftspeople-at-the-design table: Thomas Geisler, Helmut Fink, Simon Hofer, Anton & Annika Machnik Sponsors: Werkraum Bregenzerwald, Kulturverein Bahnhof, Gute Stube Participants: Students and professionals from various disciplines from across Europe Special Guests: Stefan Sagmeister, Kaspanaze Simma A.de.Le. Photo Archive: Elisabeth Kopf, Regina Rowland, diaméter, Gregor Pils, Claus Schnetzer, Thomas Geisler






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