Learning through making | Sami Rintala | TEDxBodø

Quick Overview

Architect Sami Rintala argues that contemporary success, characterized by a singular trajectory of development, has trapped humanity, leading to the loss of cultural and human biodiversity, which he illustrates by contrasting traditional, context-specific building methods using local materials like wood with modern reliance on materials like steel and concrete, advocating for a return to experiential learning and diverse thinking exemplified by his design-build workshops.

Key Points: The current societal trajectory is stuck on a single path of development, causing humanity to become prisoners of its own success by losing cultural and human biodiversity. The word 'Poesy' (making) originates from Greek 'poiesis,' which means making things, including poems, suggesting creation is fundamental. Anthropological research suggests ancient civilizations had diverse ways of life and building that adapted to local climates, unlike modern monocultures. Wood is presented as a 'democratic material' because it is locally available, requires fewer energy inputs (negative CO2 creation/storage) compared to steel, brick, and concrete, and fosters direct engagement. Rintala references his teaching experience, noting that students often value experiential learning (like building) over abstract theoretical study. The workshop method, 'The Study of Things,' involves seven steps: de-mystify, get real, communicate, create physical change for mental change, empower, learn more & faster, and learn together (non-absolutism). Projects like the Vopnafjordur Boathouse sauna in Iceland, built using recycled materials, demonstrate the value of local, context-specific, and collaborative building.

Context: Sami Rintala, an architect and professor who has been teaching design-build workshops for 20 years worldwide, discusses the concept of 'The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity' and how modern civilization has become narrowly focused, leading to a loss of cultural diversity analogous to species extinction. He contrasts this singular trajectory with older, more diverse ways of living and building that were deeply connected to local environments, emphasizing experiential learning and the use of readily available, low-impact materials like wood.