Lexicon

The afterlife of a material refers to the stages and processes it undergoes after its initial use. With the focus on composting, the aim is to enrich the soil and avoid the negative impact disposal has on the natural environment.

The afterlife of a material refers to the stages and processes it undergoes after its participation in a designed form. In the context of compostable materials, the focus is on returning materials to the ecosystem, transforming waste into nourishment. Designing for the afterlife avoids harmful disposal and supports ecological regeneration.

In ancient Greek, the concept of an archive (from ‘arkheion’ meaning ‘home of the ruler’) was connected to storing records of rulers and government officials. This implies an element of ‘protection’: storing something as it is and preserving it.

Describes a material's ability to break down naturally through the action of microorganisms and other decomposers. Biodegradable materials return to the earth as part of natural cycles, leaving no toxic residues and helping to reduce long-term environmental impact.

Biodesign is an interdisciplinary design field which combines biological processes with technology, design and art. It is a practice inspired and informed by nature, which also uses natural organisms to design products and build parts.

The lab at the HfG Karlsruhe where students can go to develop and experiment with biomaterials.

A creative and experimental space at the HfG Karlsruhe where students engage with living systems and biomaterials. The lab encourages interdisciplinary exploration and hands-on material research focused on sustainability and innovation.

Founded in 2020 during Bruno Latour’s ZKM exhibition, ‘Critical Zones’ - the Bio Design Lab is a hybrid and evolutive environment that exists in both the digital and physical space. Conceived as a platform for connection and collaboration with local partners and using local resources, the Lab hosts the presentation, education and transmission of knowledge. As students and experts are invited to work on biodesign related projects, visitors can explore and interact with the Lab’s production and lines of inquiry. Projects within the Lab focus on the local region, its materials and possibilities, and actively aim to reshuffle and rethink modes of production in Karlsruhe and the south of Germany. To interact with these themes and related materials, both within the digital and physical space, the Lab invites local experts and visitors alike.

A material derived from raw materials produced by living organisms. Biomaterials are typically renewable, biodegradable, and designed to have minimal environmental impact throughout their life cycle.

A region defined by geological (e.g. mountain ranges) and ecological borders (e.g. rivers) rather than political borders. American eco-activists in the 70s proposed to use these borders to create new self-sustaining communities. Currently, the term refers to a critical form of cartography which questions traditional mapping practices in favour of a more holistic approach to maps of natural environments.

A type of academic seminar or lecture which emphasises discussion between students and external guests.

Compost is decayed organic matter used as a natural fertiliser and soil enhancer. Unlike synthetic fertilisers, it nourishes plants indirectly by sustaining soil microbes like bacteria, fungi, and worms. This natural recycling process enriches the soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties.

Compost is organically transformed matter that enriches the soil by nourishing its living communities. This biological process improves soil structure, fertility, and biodiversity, offering a regenerative alternative to the depletion caused by synthetic fertilisers.

Describes a material’s ability to break down under controlled composting conditions - adequate heat, moisture, oxygen, and microorganisms - within a specified timeframe into CO₂, water, and nutrient-rich biomass without leaving harmful residues. Unlike “biodegradable,” compostability is tied to specific standards (e.g., disintegration rate, residual particle size, and toxicity limits) and often certification, ensuring the resulting compost is safe for soils and plants.

A bin or container used to decompose organic waste materials into nutrient rich compost through the natural process of decomposition facilitated by fungi, worms and microorganisms.

A bin or container that facilitates the decomposition of organic waste into compost. Fungi, worms, and microorganisms break down the material, transforming it into nutrient-rich soil.

Decay is the process of gradual decomposition and deterioration of organic matter, primarily through the action of bacteria, fungi, and other organisms. This process breaks down dead material, playing a crucial role in the nutrient cycle and ecosystem sustainability.

Decay also carries a positive connotation when it refers to something that, while decomposing, goes back to nature and to life following a sustainable and eco-friendly process.

A natural process in which organic matter is broken down over time by decomposers such as bacteria, fungi, and insects. While often associated with deterioration or loss, decay is essential for sustaining life: it recycles nutrients, enriches soil, and supports the health of ecosystems. By returning once-living matter to the earth, decay enables the ongoing regeneration of life.

The DIY materials movement is a design, art, and innovation approach in which people develop, produce, and experimentally use their own materials - often outside of traditional industrial processes. Here, materials are understood not as neutral resources, but as active agents that carry local ecological meanings.

A dynamic system of living organisms such as plants, animals, fungi, and microbes, interacting with each other in their physical environment. Healthy ecosystems support biodiversity, regulate climate, and sustain life.

Concerned with the protection of ecosystems in which different life forms coexist.

Relating to the natural world and the interconnected ecosystems in which all forms of life coexist. An environmental perspective considers the impact of human activity, emphasising interdependence, biodiversity, climate health, and the responsible care for living systems for long-term ecological balance.

A garden (from the Middle English ‘gardin’ meaning ‘enclosed space’) is a place where people cultivate and care for living organisms. Rather than a place that is fixed in time, it is a constantly changing ecosystem that cannot be ‘stored’. To cultivate is to actively be involved in the growth of plants, alone or with a group of people.

A university for art and design in Karlsruhe, Germany, known for its interdisciplinary approach that connects design, art, media, and theory. It is the home and context of the Living Library project.

A list of our own definitions of the most commonly used words in the Living Library.

The Lexicon is a living collection of terms used in the Living Library, created to foster a shared language around sustainable and bioregional material practices. It supports clear communication across disciplines and reflects the evolving values, assumptions, and meanings embedded in words. Like the words it names, the Lexicon will continue to grow and adapt over time.

The Living Library is an archive of sustainable materials that can be used for art and design practices. All materials are created using ingredients sourced within a 50-kilometre radius of the HfG Karlsruhe. These materials are designed to be fully compostable after use, ensuring an eco-friendly lifecycle.

An evolving archive of sustainable, locally sourced materials developed for art and design practices. All materials featured in the Library are sourced and created within a 50-kilometre radius of the HfG Karlsruhe and are designed to be compostable after use.

All resources that can be found within a 50-kilometre radius around the HfG Karlsruhe.

For the Living Library project, ‘local’ has been defined as everything within a 50-kilometre radius around the HfG Karlsruhe. This imaginary boundary takes into account local geology, ecology, and culture.

The most important resources that can be found outside the 50-kilometre radius around the HfG Karlsruhe.

Materials and resources sourced beyond the 50-kilometre radius around the HfG Karlsruhe. While they are less aligned with bioregional principles, they are included when no suitable local alternative exists or when they play an essential role in the making process. Their inclusion is always intentional and carefully considered.

Available on the World Wide Web (from the 1950s ‘online’ meant ‘connected to a system’), the word now implies instant access from anywhere, at any time, via a browser.

A combination of ‘permaculture’ and ‘computing’, this term draws a comparison between the current lack of sustainability in digital technologies and issues found in industrial agriculture, proposing a more sustainable, regenerative approach to the internet inspired by the principles of permaculture.

Materials that restore, renew, or revitalise ecosystems, enhancing the capacity to support life by increasing biodiversity and improving soil health.

Describes materials or practices that actively restore and enhance ecosystems, rather than merely sustaining or extracting from them. Regenerative approaches support the Earth’s capacity to sustain life by improving soil health, increasing biodiversity, and contributing to long-term ecological resilience and renewal.

Soil is the top layer of the Earth’s surface composed of mineral particles, organic matter, water and air. It serves as a medium for plant growth, a habitat for organisms, and plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling and water filtration.

The upper layer of the Earth’s surface is composed of minerals, organic matter, water, and air. It supports plant life, hosts countless organisms, and plays a key role in nutrient cycling and water purification.

All resources that can be found within and closely around the HfG Karlsruhe.

Refers to sourced materials from the immediate surroundings of the HfG Karlsruhe. These materials often require no transportation, are sometimes gathered by hand, and offer the lowest environmental footprint. Super-local sourcing supports transparency, traceability, and a deep connection to place.

Everything that can be found in the immediate surroundings of the HfG Karlsruhe. This includes materials that can be harvested from one’s own body, all resources within the university building, and businesses located on the same street.

A material or process that promotes the long-term conservation of ecological balance by minimising the environmental impact. Sustainable materials derive from natural resources and renewable raw materials.

Describes materials and processes that maintain ecological balance by minimising environmental harm. Sustainable practices favour renewable, biodegradable, or recyclable resources and aim for longevity and reduced waste.