Co-Designing a Local Value Chain Sourcing Wool for Natural Building
Building
With Wool
BRIEF
Investigating wool as an unutilised resource and by-product of sheep farming that is incinerated in DK, to build new narratives and initiate behaviour change for it’s localised use.
PROCESS
Following a participatory design process to involve Danish sheep farmers, sheep shearers and natural builders in collective knowledge construction and ideation around uses for raw wool. The exchange of insights between participants formed the common goal of applying wool as a natural building material, with a focus on sharing experiences of it’s use to support the heritage cycle of Understanding - Valuing - Caring - Enjoying.
OUTCOME
The co-creation of a local value chain to source wool for building projects, accompanied by a research report, short documentary video and prototype for a knowledge exchange platform, uniting perspectives from across the design process to promote developing culture and community around wool as a natural building material.
All Images: Georgina Norris
Wool Storage at Lystbaekgaard Sheep Farm
→
A CULTURAL PROBE KIT
LYSTBAEKGAARD, ULFBORG (DK)
Site visit to Lystbaekgaard sheep farm and visitor centre, meeting Shepherdess Berit Killerich along with members of the community aiming to gather and share knowledge, observations, interactions, reflections and experiences based around wool.
Meeting Lystbaekgaard’s flock of 1000 Spaelsauer Sheep, used for grazing large heathland areas in Jylland (DK)
←
Examining wool samples whilst walking & talking with shepherdess Berit, covering an expanse of topics such as the quality of fibres produced by different sheep breeds and suitable uses for wool according to varying grades (depending on cleanliness) sorted after the shearing process.
←
Exploring the textile workshop with members of the craft community based at Lystbaekgaard, who work with wool directly from the sheep using textile techniques such as spinning, felting, weaving and knitting.
←
The full fleece of a Spaelsauer sheep from Lystbaekgaard after shearing
→
A CODESIGN LABORATORY
FRILAND ECO VILLAGE, DJURSLAND (DK)
The design and facilitation of a co-design laboratory with natural builders based at Friland Eco Village, to envision and rehearse possible scenarios for working with wool as a construction material.
Observing alternative applications of natural materials around Friland Eco Village, here mussel shells are used as building insulation
←
Mid-laboratory using experimental wool samples as props / artefacts to spark ideation and scenario building
←
A TRAVELLING DIALOGUE TOOL
GLAMSBJAERG (DK)
Creating an overview of the design process thus far through a dialogue tool, bringing this to the home of sheep shearer Peter Shepherd to contribute his perspective. The tool organised key quotes, images and insights from the earlier probe kit and laboratory based on the goal to co-create a local value chain for sourcing wool as a building material.
Exploring the home of sheep shearer Peter where he keeps his own small flock
→
Meeting Peter’s sheep dog
→
OUTPUTS
The final phase of the project experimented with different methods of bringing together what was collaboratively envisioned, sharing and refining outcomes with feedback from the participants.
Mapping research & materials
←
REFLECTIONS
The project demonstrates the value of inviting and connecting people through the design process, which resulted in forming a network between participants based on the future of local fibre and material systems. With much of the research based in areas such as Ulfborg and Djursland, we recognised the value of communities working with sustainable and regenerative practices on a local scale in rural settings of Denmark. Material research for the project currently continues with the aim of building a 1:1 demonstrator construction using wool at Lystbaekgaard.
Written article feature in Cellophane magazine
←
Co-Designing a Local Value Chain Sourcing Wool for Natural Building