Christoph Hesse Architects

The firm Christoph Hesse Architects addresses the challenges of rural areas by questioning and reinterpreting traditional structures of villages and landscapes in unconventional ways. Raised on a farm in the Hochsauerland region of Germany, Christoph Hesse brings his deep connection to nature and agricultural life to the projects, which are often developed in collaboration with local and international partners. Focusing on five central themes, Rural Rebellion presents a selection of spatial interventions through striking models, large-scale panoramic drawings, films, portrait photos and statements by the ‘Rural Rebels’. The exhibition illustrates how the projects create social, environmental and economical focal points, enabling a future-oriented transformation – one that not only improves life in the countryside, but also redefines it as a source of innovation and societal progress.

Following Grounded (2019), Rural Rebellion is the second monographic exhibition by Christoph Hesse Architects at Aedes Architecture Forum

Christoph Hesse spent his childhood and youth on a farm in Referinghausen in the Hochsauerland region. His experiences with intensive interaction with nature and agricultural work in solidarity form the basis of his architectural and cultural visions. These experiences are expressed in a regenerative way of thinking and taking action that is oriented towards the natural rhythm of the seasons of the year – from the sowing of seeds to the harvest.

The term agriculture is derived from the Latin word ‘agricultura’, which in its original sense denotes ‘cultivation’. What is meant is a conscious approach to nature through working sustainably rather than exploiting its resources. For Christoph Hesse, respect and understanding for nature are reflected in this position. The projects he initiates are thus shaped by this approach and emphasize considered, responsible action in which human beings and their relationship to the environment are central.

With its collaborative projects, the team of Christoph Hesse Architects with its international network responds to an increasingly individualised society. Against this backdrop, the projects are regarded as both an impetus for a change in thinking and precise interventions in existing structures. They represent a rebellion against the lack of responsibility of people towards their environment and in favour of more self-efficacy in the community. What therefore stands in the centre of the exhibition at Aedes is a future-oriented change of perspective.

EXHIBITION
One important component of the exhibition Rural Rebellion are the impressive models of already realised projects and ones still under construction. They are supplemented by the statements and portraits of ‘Rural Rebels’ as well as large-format panorama drawings on linen banners and films providing extensive insights into the firm’s visions and methods. The exhibition invites visitors to contemplate the challenges and potentials of rural areas, which will be of crucial significance for coming generations.

The exhibition is structured in five thematic fields:

Perspective Changing
The Open Mind Places – a series of twelve installations by ‘rural rebels’ from Referinghausen in the Sauerland region – open up new perspectives on rural regions and promote self-efficacy.

Visionary Seeding
Projects like the House of Knowledge in Xinyang, China, and the Circle of Life in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, promote the connection to nature and impart knowledge about regenerative agriculture.

Collaborative Growing
International collaborations show how global partnerships lead to local solutions, including the Ways of Life project on Edersee, the Garden House in Bad Wildungen, and the Mosque of Nature in Cairo.

Resourceful Pioneering
The ‘Rural Rebels’ from Titmaringhausen in the Sauerland region are pursuing sustainable transformation. The self-sustaining Villa F stands for the transition to a CO2-neutral lifestyle, independent of fossil energy sources.

Regenerative Harvesting
This form of ‘harvesting’ contrasts with the conventional use of resources – only what regrows is picked. Examples such as the Siebenhof in Ginseldorf show how regenerative principles promote ecological renewal and function as a social anchor.

Exhibition Talk "Rural Rebellion"

with Xu Tiantian, Christoph Hesse, David Basulto

Date: Friday, 25 October 2024, 5pm
Venue: Aedes Metropolitan Laboratory, Christinenstr. 18–19, 10119 Berlin
Registration: Please register for the talk at www.eventbrite.de
Format: The event will take place in English. Admittance is free