Birkenwerk

Design Research
Material Exploration
Regenerative Design
Design Strategy

Birkenwerk is a design research project exploring the possibilities of regenerative material culture rooted in forest ecosystems. Taking birch bark as a case study, the project investigates alternative methods of sourcing, treating, and crafting bio-based materials without harming the environment, guided by indigenous knowledge and future-facing values.

Material from the past for a regenerative future.

Birch bark is a regenerative material that has been used for millennia by many indigenous cultures across continents. Naturally water-resistant and buoyant, birch bark is well-suited to support water-based activities. One of the project’s key explorations is its use as a sustainable alternative to conventional surfboard materials, which are often derived from fossil fuels and are environmentally harmful, produce microplastics, and are hard to recycle.

Regenerative Design as an approach.

Adopting the framework from the Design Council's newly released reports on Skills for Planet Blueprint, I reflected on what I had done, and apparently, I have used these 5 key processes while working on my project.

Surfboards rely on epoxy for a waterproof coating, making them dangerous to the environment.

The water resistance test on the birch bark surfaces showing promising result.

Credit:

Innovation Design Engineer:
Wigy

Collaborators:
Tinker Bubble
Social Designs
Wimbledon and Putney Common Rangers
Evolving Forests
Sagaan - Germany