Edit: Does the time spent in the summer school and the experience offered by the Critical Concrete initiative change the attitude and approach of students? Is there a noticeable change?
Samuel: It largely depends on personality, so it is absolutely individual. Some students already come with a lot of technical skills, so for them it can be most interesting to gain knowledge about how such a project works, what it means in terms of education. Their time with us also gives them knowledge about project and team management. Other participants are very lost or even frightened at first. They are intimidated by the tools and the need to work on a 1:1 basis, but when they discover what power lies in their hands, they become extremely confident and courageous. Others come to us to deepen their knowledge of sustainable technologies, social processes or seek inspiration to experiment further. Each time we start the school, and also after it ends, we ask the participants why they came to us and what they learned, with what experiences and impressions they leave us. The answers are varied and very individual. In the midst of these many stories, one can sense the seeds of transformation.
preparing stone substrate for wall panels
© Critical Concrete
Edyta: You mentioned that not only students are involved in the remodeling process, but also mentors. Do they also receive some information about the project before the workshop begins? What does your cooperation look like?
Samuel: Yes. Before school starts, we prepare an interview with the family, an inventory of the house, and develop photo and video documentation. This is the material that we share with the mentors, so that they can familiarize themselves with the subject. In this way, we gain confidence that they will be fully prepared to lead the remodeling. In addition, we confer with mentors before the workshop, discuss the process, and consider possible design scenarios. This is only an introduction and no decisions are made without the students. All design discussions, final drawings, solutions and details are worked out with the participants.
Edyta: How do you select the team of presenters?
Samuel: Virtually all of our mentors are architects with exceptional skills in communicating their ideas and imparting knowledge. Of course, they are people who are fluent in English, which is important when working with students from different countries. In addition, we want them to have experience in implementing and supervising projects, an awareness of the construction process and, above all, the ability to guide a group of students through all the intricacies of contracting. At first glance, the characteristics I have outlined may seem uncomplicated, but in reality it is very difficult to find people who will meet these requirements. The designers who work with us are truly exceptional, full of the patience needed to understand the other person, transfer knowledge, convince of solutions, and manage the team and the process. Another equally important, if not more important, is that they share our passion for the scope of sustainable low-tech design. In every project, we try to avoid typical, non-environmental and technology-saturated solutions. Over these few years we have developed a steady team of collaborators, but we try to look for new mentors every time. Finding them, however, is really not an easy task.
cardboard and lime wall panels
© Critical Concrete
Edit: Since we're talking about design philosophy, do the presenters you invite contribute to your research? To what extent are you open to collaboration?
Samuel: A great deal depends on the field in which a person specializes. In 2019, we got in touch with Ana Perdigão Antunes, who works mainly with rammed earth structures and buildings. At first we thought that her knowledge and skills, while very interesting, might not quite match our requirements and needs. We operate in an urbanized environment, and we associated earthen structures mainly with suburban or even rural spaces. However, since we really liked her work, we invited her to give a lecture during the summer school. During subsequent organizational meetings, as we learned more details about her work, it became clear that she would be an excellent instructor at the construction school. So we try to share knowledge and be open to new skills and ideas, but it is important that we share the same design philosophy.
Edyta: As an organization, you work with low-tech solutions in the field of construction. During the summer school you try to educate students about them by implementing these technologies into projects. Are your residents also willing to apply the aforementioned solutions to their homes?
Samuel: First of all, we don't use or put into widespread use methods that we are not fully convinced about. If the owners know what our intentions are, what solutions we want to use, how they work and what they are, they usually have no objections. During the workshop, we are mediators between the family and the students, referring to technical knowledge and timeframes, we explain that all the solutions made will be correct and efficient. Currently, we are working on mycelium thermal insulation in our workshop, but the project is still in the experimental stage and cannot be used on a wider scale. We need to master the stability of the material and solve many technical problems before we can offer such thermal insulation in anyone's home.
mycelium insulation panels
© Critical Concrete
Edyta: Can you tell us more about other projects you are conducting in your lab-workshop?
Samuel: Projects in the workshop sometimes overlap, so we have to change our priorities and be flexible. We are currently focused on developing technology for green roofs. We already have all the necessary details and drawings prepared. In the longer term, we plan to work on the construction of walls with a hybrid stone and wood structure. We also want to launch activities on tire and gravel foundations. Improvements in the design of mycelium thermal insulation and do-it-yourself stoves also await us. Every year we make several prototypes, which we refine so that at the end we can install the finished product in someone's home. Each of our projects is backed up by research, observations and comes with a manual or instructions. Unfortunately, the possibility of developing the work depends on the funds we have. Our funding is quite irregular and depends on grants, funds or private earmarked donations.
Edyta: Finally, can you tell us how one can get involved in Critical Concrete's activities?
Samuel: The summer school is a three-week intensive training, filled not only with hard work on site, but also with lectures and workshop group meetings. During this time, you get to learn about a wide variety of sustainable construction methods and practices, as well as how to manage a project. Unfortunately, we had to suspend this option. The summer schools were a prelude to further educational activities for us. We are now transforming into a slightly quieter and more elaborate formula under the name Criti.Co Sustainability online learning network. In addition, we are developing a project in cooperation with ESAP, an architecture school in Porto. We have successfully completed the first year of the Sustainable-Sustainable Architecture postgraduate course. The course we developed focused on creating architecture that is both environmentally and financially sustainable. There were ninety hours of lectures and two hundred and ten hours of practical classes on sustainable construction, participatory design and community project management. The classes were taught by well-known specialists, and the program was enriched by guest lectures from many practitioners. As part of the course, students work together to design and build social facilities in Portugal. The course was combined with a project that aims to renovate the homes of the lowest income earners and remodel the spaces of local communities. However, if someone would like to engage in a longer collaboration, it is possible to join through the Erasmus+ or Erasmus Entrepreneur programs. In this case, one can work with us for periods ranging from six weeks to a year. We also offer a woofing stay. We can offer a place for three-four people to join the ongoing activities. For the sake of the organization's financial stability, we cannot accept only volunteers without any financial support as security for them to work with us. We cordially invite you, if anyone has the desire and time to join us!
Edyta: Thank you for the interview.
interviewed: Edyta Skiba
Illustrations provided courtesy of the organizers of Critical Concrete
