Page 30 - JCAU-5-4

Journal of Chinese

Architecture and Urbanism

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
The seductive choreography of space: Learning

regenerative design strategies from (cyborg)
flowers

†
†
Rachel Armstrong , Anna Vershinina, and Rolf Hughes *
Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Campus Sint Lucas, KU Leuven, Ghent,
Brussels, Belgium
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Regenerative Architecture)

Abstract

Unlike traditional net-zero emissions approaches, regenerative methods not
only manage resources efficiently but also invigorate the environment. Architects
focusing on regenerative design can draw inspiration from flowering plants, whose
exceptional spatial strategies exemplify the choreography of ecosystem interactions
that sustain fertility. The paper introduces the concept of “XENO,” an artistic installation
comprising a robotic carnivorous plant, a mosquito, and a microbially-powered
fuel cell, exhibited at CIVA, Brussels in 2023. This installation serves as an epistemic
† These authors contributed equally object, exploring complex energy system diversity, ethics, and interactions. XENO’s
to this work. cyborgian elements encapsulate the intricate relationships and energy flows present
*Corresponding author: in ecological architecture, highlighting the ethical concerns that exceed conventional
Rolf Hughes eco-friendly practices, to explore life and death cycles, microbial decomposition, and
(rolf.hughes@kuleuven.be) material transformation within ecosystems — all of which form the basis for new
Citation: Armstrong, R., Vershinina, life. In this way, flower structures provide a creative lens for ecological architects to
A., & Hughes, R. (2023). The integrate scientific knowledge, societal values, and experience design in ways that
seductive choreography of space:
Learning regenerative design foster diverse and ethically resonant energy exchanges that contribute to a more
strategies from (cyborg) flowers. balanced and environmentally conscious future.
Journal of Chinese Architecture and
Urbanism, 5(4): 1006.
https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1006 Keywords: Flowering plants; Design-led research; Complex ecosystems; Epistemic artifact
Received: May 27, 2023
Accepted: August 15, 2023
Published Online: September 13, 2023 1. Introduction
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s). Sustainable design is currently framed around the concept of net-zero emissions (Zhao,
This is an open-access article
distributed under the terms of the 2022), where a system produces as much energy as it uses. Regenerative methods build
Creative Commons Attribution- on good resource management by also contributing in diverse ways to environmental
Non-Commercial 4.0 International
(CC BY-NC 4.0), which permits all liveliness just like natural systems. This paper argues that architects concerned with
non-commercial use, distribution, regenerative design can learn next-generation sustainable approaches and practices
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is for spatial protocols from the capacity of flowering plants (angiosperms) to generate
properly cited. extraordinary design strategies through what we are terming “the seductive choreography
Publisher’s Note: AccScience of space.” Flowers are culturally symbolic, valued for their diversity, scent, geometries,
Publishing remains neutral with patterns, and contribution to cuisine (citrus blossom, clover, daisies, dandelions,
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional hibiscus, honeysuckle, lavender, lilac, mums, nasturtium, pansies, roses, sunflowers,
affiliations. and violets) as well as medicine (chamomile, lotus, rose, chrysanthemum, marigold,

Volume 5 Issue 4 (2023) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1006