Justinas Dūdėnas
"Architectural brief for the Sun"
We run a civilization which sits on a fireball with a thin crust, gets blasted by enormous energy of the Sun and is on a path to overheating because of false perception of lack of energy.
Earth is suffering from excess of energy (not scarcity!). To survive as a civilization, we urgently need to learn using enormous supply of Solar radiation instead of burning fossil fuels and creating additional excess.
The role of architecture in this task is significant. Built environment is responsible for more than a third of all human greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the majority of housing units even in Lithuanian climate yearly consume less energy than it is radiated by the sun in merely 15 square meters.
This research addresses the lack of diversity in architectural tools for managing solar energy, with initial focus on controlling sun rays via mirror-based systems. Artistic inquiry deals with experimental practices for domestic use of solar energy. Re-imagined uses of energy are supported by prototypes of spatial equipment and tested in social environments.
This research is not seen as a direct means to tackle climate crisis, but rather as an exploration of cultural tools, ranging from DIY hacking to solarpunk-ish visions, which are aimed at accelerating and politicizing the public imagination for solar architecture, necessary for our planet.
