Despite the growing demand for design strategies to reduce our petroleum use, education has yet to address the issues of post-petroleum design that will shape our studentsÕ future. Post-Petroleum Design Lab brings these issues to the fore, sharing the work of 14 architecture students challenged to research, evaluate, and select materials, technologies and design strategies to meet the growing demand for sustainable design, plastic-free materials and process energy conservation. Each student used the design and construction of a unit of furniture to address these issues and conduct life cycle analysis of their work. Projects
included:
* Eames-inspired seaweed bioplastic chair
* Mushroom mycelium bench/table console
* CNC-milled recycled paper/bioresin hybrid cabinetry
Students were challenged to strive for design and construction processes using zero plastic and zero energy and created zero waste. They developed the skills and experience they will need to lead us into a future beyond fossil fuels.