The University Ecological Design Center’s 18th annual Holistic Options for Planet Earth Sustainability conference took place on campus during the weekend, bringing students, faculty, design professionals and esteemed guests together to learn and share ideas for sustainable design. @@http://pages.uoregon.edu/hopes/@@
Organized by University students in the departments of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, HOPES is the only ecological design conference run entirely by students.
In years past, HOPES has brought famous architects to the University, figures such as Shigeru Ban, Samuel Mockbee and Michael Pyatok, who teaches in the Department of Architecture at the White Stag Building in Portland. @@http://aaa.uoregon.edu/node/1386@@ @@names also on HOPES page@@
This year’s speakers include Diana Balmori, an award-winning, internationally renowned landscape architect who works in New York City; Walter Hood, a professor of landscape architecture at the University of California, Berkeley; and architect Dan Phillips, whose work has focused on sustainability through the recycling of materials. @@http://pages.uoregon.edu/hopes/speakers/@@
The slate of guests reflects on this year’s theme: dirt.
“The goal of dirt is that it’s universal: everybody can relate to it, whether that’s growing food or playing in the mud in your backyard,” said Kim Demarest, HOPES director and third-year undergraduate student studying architecture. @@http://landarch.uoregon.edu/node/293@@
The subject attracted lots of landscape architecture students. Emma Froh, a graduate student in the landscape program, found Walter Hood’s lecture very inspirational.
“It was really great to see his projects, that they were idiosyncratic and showed his process and because of that they look very different,” Froh said. “Anytime you get to hear the thoughts of a designer that does amazing work, it’s beneficial.”
Lectures weren’t the only activities — Saturday afternoon was filled with a variety of panels and workshops ranging from a slow food discussion to a LED bicycle light workshop.
The two-day event closed with a meal, where students and professors could engage with the guests during a free dinner catered by Holy Cow Foods. After the dinner, students who had worked all day were able to show off their recycled outfits in the Trashy Fashion Show, a traditionally humorous event during the conference.
“Architecture school teaches you about the technical aspects: how to draft, how to use Photoshop. An event like HOPES can really make your education complete,” Demarest said.