About
The Living Library is a transdisciplinary exploration of materials, making, and circular design, unfolding at the Bio Design Lab since April 2024. Over two years, it functions as a temporary, evolving material archive that rethinks artistic and design practice through regionally sourced, biodegradable materials.
The project fosters experimental, practice-based learning focused on local raw materials, making techniques, and sustainable production. Through seminars, workshops, and field trips, materials are gathered, developed, activated, and eventually returned to the soil. The process and outcomes are documented in a digital archive and will culminate in an open-access publication.
Coordinator
Julia Ihls
Material Curator
Fara Peluso
Digital Curators
Pleun van Dijk and Jaap Knevel
Student assistants
Cornelia Herzog, Luzia Holzbach, Benjamin Kaltenbach, Pauline Kuch, Lilith Stumpf, Sebastian Schilbach
Network
Graphic Designer (Open Access Publication)
Severin Geißler
Programmer
Simon Knebl
Makers
Freia Achenbach, Atelier Schaft, Vik Bayer and Michael Reindel, Verena Brom, Prof. Filipa César, Nina Flaitz, Loana Flores, Simon Gehring, Nina Havermans, Franziska Müller-Reissmann, Liene Kazaka, Florian Knöbl, Carolin Schelkle, Dario Schmid, Hannah Segerkrantz
Experts
BAFA Hanf GmbH, Börner & Vogel GbR, Markus Bier, Reiner Dick, Joachim Dittus, Fiber Engineering GmbH, Friedrich Feldmann GmbH, Forstamt Karlsruhe, Theodor Hellinger, Franziska Müller-Reissmann, Scheck-in Center Karlsruhe, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe, Urbane Gärten Karlsruhe, Zentrum Holzbau Schwarzwald