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From Smart to Smartacular Built Environments: A Holistic Approach

Project description

Rethinking design through local wisdom

As the climate crisis escalates, it is imperative to build sustainably. However, modern design often overlooks the wisdom of vernacular building cultures. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SMARTACULAR project aims to bridge that divide. By integrating local knowledge with cutting-edge sustainability measures, it intends to create built environments that are both globally responsible and locally responsive. Through interdisciplinary research, participatory research, and experimental prototyping, SMARTACULAR will deliver an open-source design matrix tool. It will aid developers in the creation of not just energy-efficient and resilient spaces, but also culturally responsive spaces. Essentially, the project promotes a new design ethos that listens, learns, and builds smarter through fidelity to place.

Objective

SMARTACULAR seeks to reimagine the future of the built environment by intertwining local vernacular insights with academic excellence. The project's heart lies in its ambition to shape built environments that harmoniously blend cutting-edge sustainability practices with local contexts' rich essence and soul. To this end, it poses an overarching research question: How can we design built environments that align with the pressing global sustainability demands while remaining contextually relevant? This is further broken down into three sub-questions that delve into the vernacular domain's contributions, translating these insights into practical guidelines, and understanding the challenges and opportunities of integrating these insights with current technological advancements.
In pursuit of these objectives, SMARTACULAR employs a robust, interdisciplinary methodology, encompassing a blend of theoretical studies, grassroots-level participatory research, and qualitative analyses. The research journey is methodically structured into four key work packages that range from establishing a foundational understanding of global best practices to the hands-on piloting of devised tools in real-world scenarios. At its core, SMARTACULAR is dedicated to crafting a qualitative matrix tool – a blueprint that empowers developers to tailor designs to both global sustainability imperatives and local sensibilities. This approach promises structures that are 'smart' in function and deeply resonant with the essence of their locales. Underpinning the project is an inclusive dialogue platform, bridging diverse disciplines and championing collaborative efforts to ensure holistic and impactful results. The resulting tool is envisioned as an open-source tool, poised to spark further innovation, exploration, and locally tailored applications, igniting a paradigm shift in how we conceptualise and manifest our built environments.

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Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM
Net EU contribution
€ 291 145,20
Total cost
No data

Partners (1)