Ocean - Matters of Activity

»Syntopolis« reef prototype in STARESO. Design: Rasa Weber, rasaweber.com. Co-Design and Production: Atelier Marie Drouet. Photo: Till Timmermann

Die Spree fließt Queer

Artist Talk und Workshop zur Eröffnung der neuen Ausstellung im Humboldt Lab

Material Form Function | Biodesign | Climate | More-Than-Human | Ocean | Prototype / Model | Science Communication Anlässlich der Eröffnung der neuen Ausstellung im Humboldt Lab spricht Daniel Tyradellis mit MoA Mitglied Rasa Weber und Jakob Kukula darüber, wie künstlerische und immersive Praktiken unsichtbare Unterwasserökologien sichtbar machen, politische Diskurse erweitern und strukturellen Wandel anstoßen können. Im anschließenden Workshop mit Rasa Weber erfahren Besucher:innen, wie ein künstliches Riff entsteht und wirken mithilfe traditioneller Handwerkstechniken an der Fertigstellung eines solchen mit. more

CONQ, Heidi Jalkh & Angie Dub

CONQ at Biennale Architettura 2025

Associated Member Heidi Jalkh Presents Marine Biobased Building Materials in Venice

Material Form Function | Circular Economies | Biodesign | Ocean | Prototype / Model | Climate Cluster member Heidi Jalkh and Angie Dub have been invited to contribute to the Biennale Architettura 2025, curated by Carlo Ratti. The theme of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition is »Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective«. Their project »CONQ – Marine biobased building materials«, will be part of the Arsenale Exhibition: Matter Makes Sense. The Venice Biennale will be open to the public from Saturday, May 10th to Sunday, November 23th, 2025. more

»Syntopolis« reef prototype in STARESO, Rasa Weber & Atelier Marie Drouet. Photo: Till Timmermann, 2024

What if the Ocean Were a City?

Exhibition and Interactive Program

Material Form Function | ＿matter Festival 2025 | Ocean | Water | More-Than-Human | Science Communication Design researcher and diver Rasa Weber takes on the challenge of creating an artificial reef in the river Spree, a project she calls »Syntopolis«. Streamed into the re:future lab, the reef will transform the institute’s exhibition space into an immersive aquatic habitat for encounters, experiences, and reflections on shared ecological futures. The registration for the interactive program such as a boat cruise is now open! more

Still »¡Aquí Estoy!« with Heidi Jalkh (left) and Pía Castro (right). Copyright: DW

The Future of Construction Lies in Nature

Heidi Jalkh Interviewed for DW Format »¡Aquí Estoy!«

Material Form Function | Master Open Design | Fungi/Mycelium | Ocean | Biodesign | Achievements | Circular Economies | Climate | Science Communication | Waste Industrial designer and MoA Associated Member Heidi Jalkh has lived in Buenos Aires for 20 years, but has been traveling to Berlin for extended periods for the past 5 years. She combines experimental design, research and teaching around sustainable and nature-inspired materials. Her work explores how fungi, marine debris and other natural elements can transform the relationship between design and ecosystems. Her work has now been featured in Spanish in the Deutsche Welle format »¡Aquí Estoy!«, moderated by Pía Castro. more

Still of MAKING Artificial Reefs with Rasa Weber. Copyright: Matters of Activity

MAKING Artificial Reefs

This Episode of MoA Mini Documentary Series Highlights the Work of Rasa Weber

Material Form Function | Climate | More-Than-Human | Ocean | Science Communication | MAKING_ Ever wondered what it takes to build a reef — underwater? Rasa Weber does just that, diving into the depths with hammers and screwdrivers to create Syntopolis, a city-like structure designed for anyone who wants to call it home. In the latest episode of Making, join Rasa as she explores the fascinating world of artificial reefs, their environmental impact, and the challenges of constructing them. From sustainable design to marine conservation, this project could be one step in shaping the future of our oceans for the better. Watch the full episode now to see how innovation meets nature! more

Teaser »MAKING« with Anna Schäffner and her project »Soft Collision«. Production: Richard Ley & Maxim Landau. Copyright: Matters of Activity

MAKING_

New Documentary Series Takes Viewers Behind the Scenes of Matters of Activity

Science Communication | Robotics | Water | Ocean | Air | MAKING_ How can we make a robot feel? What does it take to build an artificial reef? And how do we design structures that move effortlessly like plants? Find out in the Cluster's new mini-documentary series, MAKING_. Here, our researchers share insights into their groundbreaking work in simple terms. We’re kicking off with Anna Schäffner's Soft Collision. On Thursday, January 23rd, the first episode will be released on the Cluster’s website and social media, followed by Rasa Weber's hidden coral cities on January 30th and Heidi Jalkh's auxetic materials on February 6th. more

Terminalia catappa in front of the compound of the lineage Delesolu. Drawings by Delphine and Elodie Chevalme, Ojé, October 2017, from Field/Works II, online exhibition 2024.

Generating Ecologies of Trust

Online Exhibition Curated by Maxime Le Calvé and Jen Clarke

Object Space Agency | Ocean | Sound | Sand | Water For anthropologists and artists »doing fieldwork« in contemporary worlds, art can be much more than an object of investigation. Curation and creation through visual, audio, and performing arts are integral to our practices and enrich writing as a medium of thought and knowledge sharing. This online exhibition curated by MoA member Maxime Le Calvé and Jen Clarke was funded by EASA as part of the EASA2024 conference in Barcelona. The selected works explore various modes of living with: with nature, infrastructures, family – through connections to fish, plants, water, land, and sound. From the Salish sea, to plant life in Africa, considering sound and water pollution in Barcelona, and food and seeds in New Zealand. more

»Kiki Prototype«. Design: Rasa Weber, rasaweber.com. PhD Project: «SymbiOcean». Location: STARESO - Calvi (FR). Diver: Noémie Chabrier. Installation team, assistance and monitoring: Arnaud Boulenger, Sandra Bracun, Noemi Chabrier, Mélodie Chapat, Sylvain Coudray, Stéphane Jamme, Leonie John, Teal Jordan, Michael Karle, Mathieu Kelhetter (design intern), Michaela Roger, Bram van der Schoot, Kelly Stiver, Anja Wegner, Lena Wesenberg, Aubin Woehrel. Date: June 2023. SNF research project: «Interfacing the Ocean». Hosting University: Zurich University of the Arts & University of Art and Design Linz. Photo: Stéphane Jamme @stepp_aquanaute.

The Whispering World: Words by a Silent Sea

Exhibition by Rasa Weber Opens at Berlin Science Week

Material Form Function | Biodesign | More-Than-Human | Ocean | Prototype / Model | Temporality We're delighted that MoA associated member Rasa Weber will be part of the Blue Talk: »Science and Design for Marine Ecosystem Restoration« at this year's Berlin Science Week. The event is part of the preparation for the Third United Nations Ocean Conference jointly organized by France and Costa Rica (June 2025 - Nice, France) and takes place at the French Embassy in Berlin. The panel discussion will be followed by the official opening of the exhibition »The Whispering World: Words by a Silent Sea«, showcasing Rasa's work in developing a prototype of an artificial reef that provides a substrate and structure for pioneer organisms to form a habitat. more

Samples from the CONQ project, 2024. Copyright: Angie Dub and Heidi Jalkh

In a Seashell

Workshop with Angie Dub and Heidi Jalkh at Berlin Science Week 2024 Fully Booked - Save Your Last Spot on the Waiting List!

Material Form Function | Biodesign | Ocean | Science Communication | Prototype / Model We're thrilled to share that we will contribute to this year's Berlin Science Week with a workshop about connecting marine-based industries and construction for more sustainable architecture. Each year, over 10 million tonnes of shells—mostly from oysters, clams, scallops, and mussels—are discarded as waste despite their high calcium carbonate content. How could we make better use of the potential of these ingenious materials? Let’s explore this together! With inputs from MoA member Christiane Sauer, Kika Brockstedt from the material data platform revalu, and many more. more

Ever Given, 2021. Copyright: Suez Canal Authority

Aquatic Mobilities / Littoral Cultures

Exploratory Workshop about Cultural Techniques and Material Cultures at Sea

Filtering | Ocean | Temporality The workshop aims to foster research into the historical interplay between mobility, cultural techniques, and material culture within maritime and coastal contexts. By examining how cultures, cultural techniques, and nature have historically shaped life, work, and travel at sea, we seek to develop new research questions that can lead to future grant applications. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, participants will explore themes such as maritime technologies, littoral knowledge production, and the material manifestations of aquatic and coastal communities. more

Coral bleaching on Caribbean Coast. Photo: Rasa Weber. Diver: Jota Uparela. From the Project: »Symbiotic Coral Nurseries« in collaboration with The Polynesian Institute of Biomimicry IPB, Andry Carrasquilla, Paraiso Dive Center. Location: Tierra Bomba (COL), 2023

Blasted Seascapes

Two New Articles by Rasa Weber

Material Form Function | Biodesign | Climate | Doctoral Program | More-Than-Human | Ocean | Publications Two articles by Cluster member Rasa Weber were published recently: In kritische berichte. Zeitschrift für Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte, Rasa writes about »Queer Reefs – A Queer Ecological Journey into Blasted Seascapes«. Moreover, »Of Other Reefs: Designing Habitats in Blasted Seascapes« has been published by Cambridge University Press. Both publications are open access. more

Exhibition of research objects during the MoA PhD presentations 2024. Posterlayout Ada Favaron. Copyright: Matters of Activity

testing un/common grounds

Presentations Doctoral Program 2024

Weaving | Filtering | Material Form Function | Object Space Agency | Bacteria | Bauhaus | Biodesign | Cellulose | Circular Economies | Climate | Doctoral Program | Forest | More-Than-Human | Ocean | Prototype / Model | Wood | Water | Textiles | Tree Bark | Robotics Under the title »testing un/common grounds«, the Matters of Activity doctoral cohort impressively presented the progress of their diverse research projects during the Cluster retreat. The event included the three moderated panel discussions as well as an exhibition of selected research objects that were at the core of the format. With their various disciplinary backgrounds ranging from art, architecture, engineering and design to the humanities and natural sciences, the group explored this interdisciplinary ›un/common ground‹ and aimed to develop forms of common knowledge that respect locally-based actors and embrace collaborations with diverse agencies and species. more

CollActive Materials’ Workshop »Open Lab Abend: Wachsende Architektur – Co-Design mit Pilzen« im Futurium Lab, 13. Juni 2024. Copyright: Matters of Activity

Holitopia 2024

Several MoA Members Contribute to the Festival on Future Design

Object Space Agency | Material Form Function | Science Communication | Speculative Design | Biodesign | Ocean | Fungi/Mycelium | XR | Climate | Collactive Materials | Stretching Materialities Witness future design and art coming together to turn visions into reality: futures you can see and touch! MoA members Christian Stein, Rasa Weber, Natalija Miodragovic, Dimitra Almpani-Lekka, Antje Nestler and Kristin Werner contribute to this year's Holitopia Festival with a keynote, panel, discussion and speculative workshop at Campus Wilhelminenhof of HTW Berlin. Don't miss your chance for a reduced ticket for the conference day. But there are also lots of free activities, such as the exhibition »Above the Sea of Air« with works from the Cluster. more

Breathe. Diving with the Medusa

Rasa Weber spricht bei »Humano Biotop II« im Roten Salon

Material Form Function | Science Communication | Ocean Am 13. Dezember spricht Rasa Weber im Rahmen der Veranstaltung »Humano Biotop II« im Roten Salon der Volksbühne. Die Reihe wird präsentiert vom Künstlerinnenkollektiv POEM (Despoten der Migration) und nähert sich posthumanistischen Körpern, ekstatischen Futuritäten und der Zukunft des Sex...

Design of soft robots. Research on form, its deformation and possible function. Copyright: Anna Schaeffner

Symbiosis

Cluster Members Anna Schaeffner and Rasa Weber Presented at Major Event on the Global Electronic Art Scene ISEA2023

Filtering | Material Form Function | Robotics | Doctoral Program | Ocean | More-Than-Human On May 17th and 18th Cluster Members Anna Schaeffner and Rasa Weber Presented at a major event on the global electronic art scene, that aims to strengthen the dialog between artists, researchers, engineers, designers and entrepreneurs from the cultural and creative industries who participate in the advances of research and creation. Anna Schaffner gave an artist talk »For a Design of Deformation« and Rasa Weber presented her paper »A Sympoietic Ocean. Design Research with/in the Marine Holobiont«. more

Poster PhD presentations 2022. Layout: Ada Favaron

Scaling Matters: From the Lab to the Field

Doctoral Presentations at the MoA Retreat 2022

Weaving | Filtering | Cutting | Material Form Function | Object Space Agency | Doctoral Program | Climate | Haptics | More-Than-Human | Ocean | Robotics | Textiles | Tree Bark | Wild Silk | XR | Water | Science Communication The 2022 presentation of the Doctoral Program »Matters of Activity« at the MoA Retreat in September at Landgut Stober was both a review and an outlook of the doctoral research conducted at the Cluster between 2020 and 2022. Under the title »Scaling Matters: From the Lab to the Field, «Pre-Doctoral Researchers at varying stages of their research — from the very beginning to the final phase of their theses — presented their heterogeneous work whilst continuing to negotiate common themes, methods, questions and tools. The format combined talks and an exhibition and invited MoA Members to engage individually with the presentation and a selection of their research objects. Thanks to everyone involved for making possible this all-around successful event. Enjoy some visual impressions of the exhibition, as well as the talks and have a look at the booklet. more

Sand ruler captured at the labs of Deltares in Delft, Michaela Büsse, 2021

Materializing Futurity

Sand | Ocean »Materializing Futurity« investigates the ambiguous relationship between design and planning tools, environments and matter in reimagining and renaturating polluted landscapes. more

SymbiOcean

PhD Project Rasa Weber

Doctoral Program | Ocean | More-Than-Human The practice-based design research project «SymbiOcean» explores cultivating marine habitats with/in other-than-human marine environments as a form of «Sympoïetic Design». Inspired by the process of ocean mineral accretion by electrolysis for the construction of artificial reefs developed by Wolf Hilbertz and Thomas Goreau under the name Biorock (1970), the project brings together design, anthropology and marine biology to develop a new approach to the creation of artificial reefs. more

CONQ samples. Copyright: Heidi Jalkh and Angie Dub

CONQ

Marine Biobased Materials for the Built Environment

Biodesign | Ocean | Circular Economies | Prototype / Model Environmental architect Angie Dub and experimental designer Heidi Jalkh, based in Buenos Aires, are finding ways to turn sea shell waste into a sustainable material for the built environment. By combining crushed seashells with algae-based biopolymers, they create a heat-free bioceramic made entirely from marine biomass. In the current phase, material samples are undergoing testing to determine their physical properties and characteristics. These evaluations will inform and guide the exploration of possible implementation scenarios for the material in various applications. more