HIT in International Sustainable Design Workshop with Universities from Greece and Cyprus

The "Sustainable Design and Circular Economy in Design and Architecture" workshop was recently held in Greece. 
 

Workshop participants. Photo: Gil Lupo

Approximately 40 faculty members and students of design and architecture from three leading academic institutions participated in this unique workshop: Democritus University in Xanthi, northern Greece; Frederick University in Cyprus; and HIT Holon Institute of Technology, Israel. The workshop took place at Democritus University, where participants engaged in practical and experiential applications of sustainable design and circular economy principles.

The workshop was initiated by architect Dr. Elias Messinas, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Design at HIT and was made possible through funding from the Ministry of Regional Cooperation and supplementary funding from the International Office at HIT.

The workshop focused on developing design and architectural ideas through the reuse of existing building materials taken from an unused industrial building. These materials became the raw materials for designing and constructing new installations and exhibits within the spaces of the building itself. The workshop's purpose was to learn how design can preserve materials and redirect the energy initially invested in manufacturing the materials and constructing the industrial building toward new designs. The workshop demonstrated how, without requiring new materials, existing materials could be reused to creatively design new things while simultaneously reducing the energy that would be invested in new construction.

The students worked in five interdisciplinary mixed groups of interior designers and architects from all institutions. During the work, professional and social connections were formed between participants, creating productive collaboration of research and experience from diverse perspectives and different schools of thought. During the workshop, participants visited a furniture recycling center of the Kavala Municipality and Jewish heritage sites in Kavala and Komotini. At the end of the workshop, students submitted proposals that included printed posters and digital presentations, drawings, sketches, videos, and physical models. The workshop's outputs will be exhibited later at the HIT campus.

HIT Holon Institute of Technology faculty members who participated in the workshop included: Architect Udi Cramsky, Head of the Interior Design Department; Architect Dr. Elias Messinas; Tzameret Harel Canot; Michal Tzarfati; and Asher Elbaz from the Faculty of Design.

From Democritus University, Greece, participants included Prof. Dimitris Polychronopoulos, Head of the Department of Architecture at Democritus University; Maria Grigoriadou; Natasa Kapandiriti; Christos Koutelis; Eirini Tsetine; and Tanya Saroglou, logistical coordinator and translator.

From Frederick University, Cyprus, participants included Prof. Byron Ioannou and Gregoris Katnis.

Additionally, the following students participated on behalf of the Institute: Noa Leah Ben Simon, Noa Bukai, Sapir Cohen, Michal Gov, Gabi Raveh, Alona Golovich, Rawnaq Wated, Noa Dror, Shani Arbiv, and Amit Mali Broker.

The Research Authority of HIT Holon Institute of Technology supported the submission and provided the guidance, planning, and implementation of this special workshop.