Solarpunk started out as a speculative fiction genre. Now it informs sustainable architecture and design

Sun, 5 May 2024 12:27:24 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-07/solarpunk-design-architecture-sustainable-future/103667452>

'Who knew the iconic Hills Hoist could be considered solarpunk?

Solarpunk is a futurist movement that began in speculative fiction and sci-fi
films and has since spread to architecture and design. Practitioners envision a
clean and green future built on principles of sustainability, social justice,
and collective action.

The name spells it out. "Solar" signals optimism and a strong association with
renewable energy, while "punk" reflects a DIY ethos and an anti-capitalist
philosophy.

Jay Springett, a UK writer and podcaster, has been involved in the solarpunk
community for 10 years.

He describes solarpunk as "a container for ideas about the future … whether
it's a picture of a lean-to greenhouse or [street] curb cuts for … managing
street runoff into basins for trees," he says.

Despite its futuristic ambitions, solarpunk design can be surprisingly
low-tech, with people using everyday objects to make their homes and
communities more sustainable.

"It's basins in your garden, it's water tanks, it's filters and making biochar
[a form of charcoal], it's keeping chickens," Springett says.'

Share and enjoy,
               *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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