We are a coalition of designers. We are studying patterns of water consumption in international cities. We will inspire more thoughtful water habits, create a new norm!We are a catalyst.

In July 2011, 10 design students and professionals came together in Barcelona to design and propose an installation for the Barceló Raval.

Participants:Lisa KorpanPete StamPaul BrognaLuis FraguadaLori Hurley Dina KhodorkovskayaStephen KolackiMonica PenaAlexandria Vulpone

> Create networks that:

> connect hotel guests to each other > connect hotel guests to Barcelona (the host) > connect hotel guests to water

> Engage and motivate the hotel guests publicly and privately

> Evoke emotions (respect, wonder, awe)

> Emphasize the positive behavior (thoughtful water use) to spark a chain reaction!

> Express the “essence” and properties of water

WATER CULTURES BARCELONA AS A CASE STUDY IN URBAN ECOTOURISM

Recent studies in the field of social psychology have revealed the power of social networks in influencing behavior. We propose an exhibition that builds upon these methods, creating new social networks within the hotel environment by measuring and visually broadcasting the guests’ collective water usage.

We propose recording the water usage data for each guest room so that guests can privately monitor their own water usage during their stay, through a web site or Smartphone app. In this way, guests can have a tangible connection to the collective installations, which connects everyone, stabilizing the social network of the hotel.

In July 2011, Water Cultures held a workshop to design the installation, using the site of the hotel Barceló Raval as a case study. The installation will connect hotel guests to each other, to Barcelona, and to water in order to decrease water usage within the hotel and to disseminate new water habits.

“Social networks have value precisely because they help us achieve what we could not achieve on our own.”

-Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and HowThey Shape our Lives, Dr. Nicholas Christakis and Dr. James Fowler

individual > guest room

neighbor / community > hallway

collective > hotel lobby & rooftop lounge

world > take-home component / web site

rooftop terrace > collective engagement E

> Oase Flashwall Option 1: Competition Display

Water Cultures worked with Oase to explore designs of a Flashwall system for the existing rooftop terrace pool. Illuminated waterfalls at the existing “360 degree” rooftop pool would be used to display the graphic symbols of the guests with the lowest water usage. To expand international impact, the rooftop pool installation could also host interactive displays designed by online users.

rooftop terrace > collective engagement E

> Oase Flashwall Option 2: Competition Display

rooftop terrace > collective engagement

> Oase Flashwall: Special Event/ Interactive Display Example

rooftop terrace > collective engagement E

WATER CULTURES BARCELONA AS A CASE STUDY IN URBAN ECOTOURISM

FACT:

“Two out of every three people in the world will be facing water shortages by 2025. Global conflict will inevitably result...”

-United Nations

FACT:

In 2106, water will be the world’s most valuable resource.

Water is the new Oil.

March 22, 2011 UN World Water Day

WATER FOR CITIES: Responding to the Urban Challenge

FACT:

Today, 1 in 2 people on the planet live in a city. The world’s cities are growing at an exceptional rate and urbanization is a continuing trend.

“Water is everybody’s business.” -World Water Council, 2009

FACT: Our demand for water is increasing, but our supply is not. Averting water crises will require awareness at all levels, from the individual to the international.

In 2004, the first International Urban Ecotourism Conference highlighted the importance of ecotourism in encouraging the visitors and hosts of urban centers to become disseminators of sustainable practices.

WATER CULTURES BARCELONA AS A CASE STUDY IN URBAN ECOTOURISM

URBAN ECOSYSTEM / RESIDENTS

POTENTIAL VISITORS

WATER CULTURES: BARCELONA AS A CASE STUDY IN URBAN ECOTOURISM

VISITORS ENTER INTO THE URBAN ECOSYSTEM, RESULTING IN POTENTIAL FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGE (BEYOND ”SIGHTSEEING” )

WATER CULTURES: BARCELONA AS A CASE STUDY IN URBAN ECOTOURISM

WATER CULTURES: BARCELONA AS A CASE STUDY IN URBAN ECOTOURISM

VISITORS CARRY THEIR OWN SET OF HABITS INTO THE HOST ENVIRONMENT = POTENTIAL IMPACT AND / OR INFLUENCE ON RESIDENTS AND OTHER VISITORS

WATER CULTURES: BARCELONA AS A CASE STUDY IN URBAN ECOTOURISM

RESIDENTS HAVE ACQUIRED A SPECIFIC SET OF BEHAVIORS IN RESPONSE TO THEIR ENVIRONMENTAND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SHARE THESE BEHAVIORS AND IMPACT THE VISITORS’ BEHAVIORS

WATER CULTURES: BARCELONA AS A CASE STUDY IN URBAN ECOTOURISM

VISITORS RETURN TO THEIR HOME AND CAN DISSEMINATE THESE BEHAVIORS THROUGH WITHIN THEIR HOME ECOSYSTEM / NETWORK.

WATER CULTURES: BARCELONA AS A CASE STUDY IN URBAN ECOTOURISM

VISITORS MAY ALSO DISSEMINATE THE BEHAVIORS WHEN VISITING OTHER ECOSYSTEMS.

In 2004, the first International Urban Ecotourism Conference highlighted the importance of ecotourism in encouraging the visitors and hosts of urban centers to become disseminators of sustainable practices.

Sustainable water practices are a critical component of this challenge, especially on Spain’s Mediterranean coast.

WATER CULTURES BARCELONA AS A CASE STUDY IN URBAN ECOTOURISM

Mediterranean Coast:

> Home to 44% of Spain’s population> one of the world’s most visited tourist destinations > very productive agriculture

The coastal region The coastal region requires more water than is naturally available.

Barcelona:> Metropolitan population over 5 million> 7 million tourists each year> drought conditions > drought conditions worsened since the 1990s

Barcelona has struggled to keep up with the demand for domestic water.

Sustainable water habits Sustainable water habits have become a necessary part of daily life.

WATER CULTURES: BARCELONA AS A CASE STUDY IN URBAN ECOTOURISM

CHICAGO51 in. 2010

WATER CULTURES: BARCELONA AS A CASE STUDY IN URBAN ECOTOURISM

BARCELONA (BCN) BCN HOTELS = HOSTS

BCN VISITORS: POTENTIAL IMPACT @ HOME BCN VISITORS: POTENTIAL GLOBAL IMPACT

WATER CULTURES BARCELONA AS A CASE STUDY IN URBAN ECOTOURISM

APPLY NOW.

WATER CULTURESResponsive Design WorkshopBarcelona, SpainJuly 11-29, 2011

www.watercultures.net

DESIGN. INFLUENCE. EXPLORE.

JOIN US.

We will design an exhibition for the Hotel Barceló Raval in Barcelona. We will visually express visitors’ water usage.We will spark a change in behavior patterns.

Inspire more thoughtful water habits; create cultural change.

Learn real-time data modeling; explore information display concepts;fabricate full-scale study models; meet local professionals.

Water is a critical element of every person’s culture. We are in the midst of the United Nations “Water for Life” International Decade for Action, and World Water Day 2011 will kick-off the “Water for Cities” initiative. The search for water sustainability will be a concern for every country in the near future. Water Cultures will address issues of conservation and waste that will be relevant to other locales.

Barcelona, Spain Fresh water is scarce in dry Barcelona, and efficient water consumption is a necessary part of daily life. As a crossroads of international tourism, Barcelona is in a key position to inspire its visitors to engage in more thoughtful habits. Tourists will become ‘nodes’ in an international network, sparking a change in behavior patterns.

Exbibition Water Cultures: Barcelona, a responsive architectural installation, will measure and visualize the guests’ water usage at the Hotel Barceló Raval. By connecting the guests to each other and the residents of Barcelona, the exhibition will create social networks within the hotel environment, inspire more thoughtful water habits, and spark cultural exchange.

Responsive Design Workshop The schematic design of the exhibition will be implemented by a summer workshop, facilitated by UrbanBuddy, and held at the Institute of advanced architecture of Catalonia (IaaC). Participants will: study theories of social networks; explore real-time data modeling, responsive display concepts, and innovative spatial concepts; gain familiarity with Rhino, Grasshopper, and digital fabrication through team creation of scale study models; experience the culture and innovation of Barcelona; meet local professionals. Students will work on small teams. The workshop will present the parameters of the installation as a design challenge and participants will work together to proposea series of design interventions.

1.1Data Collection1.2Associative Modeling 1.3Display Concept Development

Information Display Concepts

2.1Social Network Theory2.2Integrating Spatial Concepts2.3Exhibition Design Schematics

3.1Intro to Tooling and Fabrication3.2Digital Fabrication: Study models3.3Final Exhibition Proposal

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Water Cultures seeks participants who are passionate about design and sustainability, and are interested in working on an interdisciplinary team. The studio is relevant to students and professionals of: architecture; interior architecture; exhibition design; industrial design; communications design; new media arts; information architecture; computing.

week 1

Social Networks and Spatial Concepts

week 2

Digital Fabrication andDesign Development

week 3Dates: July 11-29, 2011Typical class times: Monday-Thursday 10 am - 2pm Location: Institute of advanced architecture of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain Course Fee includes studio course, studio space at the Institute of advanced architecture of Catalonia (IaaC), 24 hr UrbanBuddy support, cultural events, local design firm tours, Welcome Reception at the 360 rooftop bar. Ask us how to receive academic credit!

For more info visit www.watercultures.net

Water Cultures Barcelona, Spain

July 11-29 2011www.watercultures.net

UrbanBuddy is a global network devoted to connecting people to place. With a focus on supporting the student and traveler 24-hours a day, UrbanBuddy has developed a unique menu of services to offer personal support and expert advice during the pre-departure, on-location and re-entry experience. Housing, air travel, communication, currency and banking– whatever your needs UrbanBuddy will provide the necessary support. www.UrbanBuddy.com

Live architecture Network approaches architectural development through interdisciplinary collaborations enabled by DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION. LaN’s mode of operation is PARAMETRIC in nature, and seeks to re-associate architecture with a flexible, collaborative, & data-rich practice of SPATIAL DESIGN. www.livearchitecture.net

The Hotel Barceló Raval, a 186-room, 10-story hotel in the Raval district of Barcelona will serve as the exhibition venue. Water usage data will be captured from each room and broadcast by the installation. The contemporary interior space and rooftop terrace provide several potential locations for a public exhibition that will engage the hotel’s international guests. Centrally located, the exhibition has the potential to become a unique destination for Barcelona’s many visitors and residents. www.barceloraval.com

PAUL BROGNALocal Designer, Barcelona, Spain Founder, UrbanBuddy

YOLANDA CARRIÓN Marketing & ComunicaciónBarceló HotelsBarcelona, Spain

INTI VELEZDirector, Wanda BarcelonaBarcelona, Spainwww.wandabarcelona.com

ADDITIONAL GUEST CRITICSTo Be Announced

LUIS FRAGUADAInstructor, Institute of Advanced Architecture of CataloniaCo-Director, Live Architecture NetworkBarcelona, Spain

LISA KORPAN Adjunct FacultyColumbia College, Art + DesignChicago, USAwww.lisakorpan.net

PETE STAM Designer Extraordinairestam.p designProgram Director, UrbanBuddyChicago, USA

Founded by Chicago-based designer and educator Lisa Korpan, and developed jointly with UrbanBuddy,Water Cultures [barcelona] is a collaboration between the following partners:

The Water Cultures [barcelona] workshop will be held at the Institute for advanced architecture of Catalonia (IaaC). Individual studio space will be available for all participants, including 24-hour access and free WiFi. IaaC is a cutting edge education and research center dedicated to the development of architecture capable of meeting the worldwide challenges of habitability in the early 21st century. Based in Barcelona, one of the world’s capitals of architecture and urbanism, IaaC is a platform for the exchange of knowledge with faculty and students from over 25 countries. Housed at IaaC, Fab Lab Bcn uses digital last generation machines to create prototypes and scale models for architecture, construction, and industrial design. www.fablabbcn.org

APPLY NOW. www.watercultures.net

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Week 1 - Information Display Concepts

10:00

Program orientation Social theory + project research IaaC orientation Site Visit - Hotel Barcelo Raval + reception

Introduction to data collection + analysis Associative data modeling

Introduction to data display concepts Work session - Early data display concept

Work session - Data display development Presentation - Data display concepts

UrbanBuddy bicycle tour (optional)

Tour - Local precedents (optional)

Week 2 - Spatial Concepts

Work session - Early spatial concepts

Work session - Initial concept development

Introduction to tooling + fabrication

Tour - Local design office (optional)

Introduction to spatial design + social networks Site Visit - Venue + explanation of constraints

Critique - Concepts

Week 3 - Digital FabricationWork session - study model production (FAB LAB) Tour - Local design office (optional)

Work session - study model production (FAB LAB)

Work session - study model production (FAB LAB)

Presentation - Study models Work session - design development based on study model findings

Presentation - Final concept to venue rep Final workshop debrief

Responsive Design WorkshopSchedule

12:00 14:00UrbanBuddy farewell event (optional)

Typically daily sessions take place Monday-Thursday from 10am -2pm / 10:00 - 14:00.

Additional activities may take place outside of these hours as shown

WATER CULTURES Barcelona, Spain

July 11-29 2011www.watercultures.net

jul 11

jul 18

jul 25

UrbanBuddy social event (optional)

UrbanBuddy social event (optional)

UrbanBuddy social event (optional)

Local UrbanBuddy Event (optional)

Work session - Final concept + study model

Presentation - Concepts

Combining spatial concept + data display

LISA KORPAN Chicago, USA; lkorpan@gmail.com; www.lisakorpan.net