game development

The key ingredients of this Bioregional Approach (characters, materials, crafts, labs, processing facilities etc) were transformed into elements for game play.

Over the period of two months these were developed, tested, retested and restested. In game development one of the main focuses is a the dynamic ie. to make the game engaging, fun and ensuring the main principles are conveyed.

initial sketches of the game dynamics and phases first prototypes of the game by Studio Inscape identified key principles / brief for the design of the game

LINA Fellows: Studio Inscape

About the Research Residency

During a period of 5 months we learned about the work of Atelier LUMA and their bioregional design approach. This approach is an interdisciplinary approach that follows the local territory and seeks responses to environmental, social and economic challenges of the region. With the guidance of both Jakob Travnik and Daniel Bell we learned about the region and had several interviews with the people who work at Atelier LUMA. This would form the base for an instrument to make the bioregional design approach more accessible to a wider public and navigate new projects of the Atelier. The instrument is a game as we see play as an important factor of teaching and learning new methods. At the opening of the new building of Atelier LUMA we showed and played a prototype of the instrument. Players were invited to follow the steps of the bioregional design approach in the Camargue by stepping into the shoes of a specific character role. Slowly but surely the players would work together to turn all waste of the bioregion (by-products of industries or undervalued materials) into useful products for the region. The goal is to use the steps of the game to make a more abstracted version which can be used for new terrain.

The research outcome, The Bioregional Game, was presented and demonstrated between the 25-27 May 2023. It was presented to 22 journalists, 10 Institutions & Design Companies and around 230 members of the public (see dissemination report).

exhibition setup of the ‚bioregional model‘presentation and the bioregional game at the iniauguration

Atelier Luma‘s new building ‚Magasin Electrique‘ table setup of the bioregional game prototype called ‚Entropoly‘ second rounds of play with visitors of the exhibition playing the game with Atelier Luma‘s artistic director Jan Boelen and members of BC architects first rounds of play with visitors of the exhibition

Research Outcomes

The LINA Research has been a great success. We had not imagined that by the end of a 5 month period we would have reach such clarity, especially with the development of this Bioregional Game. We used the opportunity of the Inauguration of the building to not only exhibit the results of the research but also to get as much attention on the research as was possible. We also used the event to invite key players in the architecture, design and the general sustainablility world. We have collected valuable feedback from these sessions.

Following the successful demonstrations we already in active discussions about the research can now be taken further. There is insterest from a wide range of people, both internally in the Atelier Luma, but also outside the Atelier. It has proven how one approach to architecture and design that focus on sutainable and locality at its core can be translated into an instrument for education, in this case a game board. This will be used to share our approach for the coming years.

Résultats de la Recherche

La recherche LINA a été un grand succès. Nous n‘avions pas imaginé qu‘à l‘issue d‘une période de cinq mois, nous serions parvenus à une telle clarté, en particulier avec le développement de ce jeu biorégional. Nous avons profité de l‘inauguration du bâtiment pour non seulement présenter les résultats de la recherche, mais aussi pour attirer autant d‘attention que possible sur la recherche. Nous avons également profité de l‘événement pour inviter des acteurs clés du monde de l‘architecture, du design et de la durabilité en général. Nous avons recueilli des informations précieuses à l‘issue de ces sessions. À la suite des démonstrations réussies, nous avons déjà entamé des discussions actives sur la possibilité d‘approfondir la recherche. Un grand nombre de personnes s‘y intéressent, tant au sein de l‘Atelier Luma qu‘à l‘extérieur. Le projet a prouvé qu‘une approche de l‘architecture et de la conception axée sur la durabilité et la localité peut être traduite en un instrument d‘éducation, en l‘occurrence un plateau de jeu. Celui-ci sera utilisé pour partager notre approche dans les années à venir.