Eso 2024 – Down to earth

This year’s theme of the ESO Conference, “Down to Earth,” initiated a dialogue on the climate crisis and political ecology, at the intersection of art and architecture. The synergies between construction, production, and design were promoted as catalysts for a healthier planet.

The “journey down to earth” was guided by internationally renowned speakers and pioneers in ecological design and architectural innovation, combining tradition with technology, and craftsmanship with digital precision.

Towards Architecture with a Negative Carbon Footprint
The built environment is responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions. Until recently, attention was primarily focused on reducing operational energy and the related carbon emissions. However, the concept of embodied carbon has now become crucial in the design, construction, and renovation of buildings.

New Design Possibilities
While the integration of nature into construction is not new, “Down to Earth” questions its sufficiency. The conference explores topics such as innovative bio-based materials, high-profile timber skyscrapers, bio-materials, the principles of circular economy, regenerative design, and construction performance.

Redefining Craftsmanship in the Post-Digital Age
Can traditional construction techniques address the climate crisis? Craftsmanship is not only a legacy of codified knowledge, but also a dynamic process of creating high-quality objects through technical expertise. We also explore the notion of digital craft: How can we combine historical knowledge and technique with contemporary practices? What defines the “traditional” in modern architecture and design? How can traditional knowledge, in harmony with nature, support future innovations?

The Critical Role of Data in Architecture
Technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) plays a crucial role in architecture, enhancing our ability to design and manage the built environment effectively. In “Back to Earth”, we explore the potential and pitfalls of the widespread use of AI in architecture. Can excessive reliance on AI limit the spontaneity and unpredictability that often lend a distinctive quality to architectural spaces?

Speakers

Erieta Attali
Areti Markopoulou
Konstantinos Pantazis – Point Supreme
Panos Dragonas – Dragonas Studio
Dimitris Papanikolaou – Urban Synergetics Lab
Andreas Fries – Herzog & de Meuron
Ryan Neiheiser – Neiheiser Argyros
Stella Pieri – Pieris Architects
Ora ïto
Olaf de Nooyer – Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Olga Tourlomousi – On-site representative of RPBW in Athens
Jette Cathrin Hopp – Snøhetta

During ESO 2024, the sixth Archisearch Lifetime Achievement Awards honored and celebrated the work and personality of Tasos Biris (Emeritus Professor at NTUA), Manolis Korres (Head of the Acropolis Monuments Maintenance Service (AMMS) and full member of the Academy of Athens since 2017), and the leading Greek ceramic artist Eleni Vernadaki. The awards were presented by Dr. Panagiotis Pangalos, Associate Professor at the University of West Attica, and Dr. Andreas Kourkoulas, Emeritus Professor at the School of Architecture, NTUA.

The event was held under the auspices of the Hellenic Institute of Architecture