21/05/2026
🌱This year’s topic focuses on regenerative construction futures and in particular, rethinking architecture in an age of ecological urgency through structures and facades made from wood and biobased materials.
♻Timber, agricultural fibres, mycelium, and plant-based composites can store carbon and regenerate, thus providing a unique opportunity to support circular material cycles, and reconnect construction to living systems rather than extractive ones. Nevertheless, materials are never neutral: they are embedded in cultural practices, labour conditions, and local ecologies. Thefore, a systemic approach is required.
🪵By working with timber and biobased components, participants are encouraged to reflect on the issues of sourcing, forestry management, land use, and community impact. Who produces these materials, under what conditions, and for whom? How can a more intelligent architectural use of timber and biobased materials lead to not only environmental regeneration, but also enhance social resilience and collective identity?
👷♀️👷Over the course of the first three days, participants will have the opportunity to meet several key actors in the regenerative value chain in the NL and work together with experienced tutors to design a small building at the Hortus Botanicus. During the following five days, we will construct 1:1 scale prototypes of the building’s detailing using the facilities and experts of our own construction ecosystem here in Delft: namely at the Hortus Botanicus and The Green Village.
🗓Please note the Full Program has limited spots available. More spots are available for the 3-day Program.
💻More info & registration:
https://www.tudelft.nl/en/architecture-and-the-built-environment/study/summerschools/summer-school-on-circularity-in-the-built-environment
