Maps

The Living Library began with a commitment to the local area in and around the HfG Karlsruhe. Grounding the research in place was essential not only for reducing transport-related impacts but also for teaching students to recognise the existing resources directly around them, to explore how these might feed into their own artistic practice, and to build on existing knowledge, crafts, and traditions.

By anchoring research in the bioregion, the Living Library cultivated a mode of design education that is situated, experimental, and responsive. Students learned to work locally while connecting with global discourses, building a methodology that can continue to evolve through new contributions and adaptations elsewhere.