Practice of Unsettlement: Reimagining Our Urban Futures

ASIBA, a general incorporated association aiming to update the fields of architecture and urban planning for the next generation, and Poietica, LLC—a design-led research agency dedicated to a sustainable society—are launching the “Practice of Unsettlement” (hereinafter PoU) project as a response to environmental changes in the Anthropocene, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. The “Practice of Unsettlement” project champions the concept of “unsettlement” to challenge the unsustainability of current urban and residential forms and explore new possibilities for living that transcend them. To conceptualize and put “unsettlement” into practice, we have organized a collective of young researchers, artists, and designers, and will carry out our activities through collaboration and practical engagement with the architecture and urban planning sectors.

1. Designing “Ways of Living” with “Non-Settlement” as the Operating System

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The unfamiliar term “non-settlement” is a concept proposed by design thinker Tony Fry. Using this term, he points out that the forms of human habitation—settlement and urbanization—which have continued to develop since the Holocene, are fundamentally unsustainable.

At the same time, by introducing the term “non-sedentary” as a way to transcend sedentary living, he calls for us to think about and practice living, creating, and daily life with a completely new imagination.Rather than simply “living nomadically,” it might be helpful to view “non-sedentary living” as a “minimal system” or “operating system” for fundamentally rethinking the very act of living. Based on non-sedentary living, this project seeks to pose critical questions about modern and contemporary values and lifestyles by conceptualizing and creating the artifacts and ways of life that emerge from this foundation. For us, non-sedentary living serves as a framework and starting point for considering ways to create, inhabit, and live that differ from the present.

2. Two Practices for Outlining a Sustainable Future

At PoU, we will outline the concept of non-residence through two approaches.

2-1. Hosting a Curated Exhibition by PoU’s Young Artists

The first is the organization of curated exhibitions centered on PoU’s young artists. Together with these artists—who transform cutting-edge concepts into artworks—we will sketch out and present new lifestyles and forms of habitation through the lens of “non-residence.”

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2-2. Offering Workshops to Explore “Non-Residency” in Collaboration with Companies

The second initiative is a workshop for businesses. Based on the theme of non-sedentary living, we will offer workshops where participants reexamine existing architecture and construction businesses and collaboratively envision a new industry model to address climate change. Using the framework of non-sedentary living, this practical initiative aims to build a starting point for innovation—an area that has been a blind spot for humanity—by conceptualizing products and services that do not assume a sedentary lifestyle.

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In these workshops, we provide input and frameworks related to the concept of “non-residency,” along with programs that use the latest technologies—such as generative AI—to generate ideas that break away from existing typologies.

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Through these two initiatives, we will promote the “Practice of Unsettlement”—engaging professionals in the architecture and urban planning sectors as well as people across generations.

3. Collaborative Project Led by Two Young Design Studios

This project is a collaboration between the General Incorporated Association ASIBA and Poietica LLC. We are a group of young professionals who connect business and academia through design and architecture to implement initiatives for the future.

■ Overview of ASIBA (General Incorporated Association
) ASIBA plans, operates, and implements a three-month incubation program for architecture students, one-day “Architecture × [Topic]” workshops, and design studios that support the social implementation of ideas and business ventures. Company Name: ASIBA General Incorporated Association Location: Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo Established: January 2024 Representative: Yuta Nihei, Representative Director Business Activities: ・Incubation programs specializing in the field of urban architecture ・Conferences on the social implementation of architecture ・Networking sessions and pitch events ・Other activities necessary to achieve the association’s objectives

■ Poietica LLC Company
Name: Poietica LLC Location: Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City Established: May 2023 Managing Partner: Yuzo Okuda Business Activities: ・Research, concept development, and prototyping related to new business development ・Research and surveys related to design studies ・Various design and production services