Reed - craft and culture

Material Talks is a series of conversations bringing together architectural and artistic knowledge curated and moderated by Line Kjær Frederiksen, Center for Material Studies (CEMAS). Through critical dialogue the talks explore aspects of selected materials for broadening the understanding of their meanings and significance. This is the third talk in the series with renowned artist Simon Starling and Kasper Pilemand, architect and partner in Dorte Mandrup.

Today reed is becoming increasingly interesting as a renewable, biogenic building material. Reed is a plant found worldwide in wetland areas. 

In various regions of the world such as Iraq, Peru, Japan and Denmark, where reed is a locally growing resource, the material is used in vernacular traditions. Through historical heritage and craftmanship, reed holds significant cultural values as a building material. In Denmark thatch is the predominant use of reed, where in places such as Peru and Iraq reed is used to build boats, floating islands and entire dwellings. 

This talk brings together the renowned artist Simon Starling and Kasper Pilemand, architect and partner in Dorte Mandrup, who will present their projects working with reed in the public sculpture Houseboat for Ho and the award winning Wadden Sea Center respectively. 

Where the Wadden Sea Center uses the craft of thatch innovatively for contemporary construction, Houseboat for Ho brings together the cultures of Danish thatch and Bolivian boatbuilding. Both the sculpture and the building are located in proximity to each other, speaking to the material origin of reed and the low-lying lands of the Danish West Coast vulnerable to accelerating sea level rises. 

Free and open to everyone, but please rsvp to lfre@kglakademi.dk

Spoken language is English.