Sebastian Gatz: public defence of doctoral thesis

Transmundane Architecture:
Architectural Control Relationships Through the Lens of More-than-Human Onto-Epistemologies, Degrowth Practices and Occulture

Architecture has traditionally focused on human-centered practices, emphasizing control over construction processes and creating internal environments that separate humans from their external surroundings. The growing interest in posthuman theories introduces the concept of nonhuman agency into this predominantly human-centric field. This research seeks to explore the potential tensions between traditional design practices, such as architecture, and the impacts of nonhuman agency on related design and construction processes.

Sebastian Gatz is an architect, artist and trained car mechanic working at the intersection of art, architecture and technology. He is currently pursuing the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Arts in Design. The doctoral studies have been undertaken in collaboration between HDK-Valand Academy of Art and Design, University of Gothenburg, and Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm.

Gatz’s research employs ficto-critical and posthuman methods to investigate relationships between humans, nature and technology. His interests include experimental metaphysics, degrowth practices and digital fabrication. Previously, he worked at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen at the Centre for Information Technology and Architecture (CITA), where he engaged with artificial intelligence, robotic fabrication and robot-plant hybrids.

Opponent
Hélène Frichot, Professor of Architecture and Philosophy, Melbourne School of Design

Examining committee
Isabelle Doucet, Professor, Architectural Theory and Method, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers

Anton Poikolainen Rosén, Postdoctoral researcher in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) focusing on designing for sustainable futures and the more-than-human world, Department of Computer Science, Stockholm University

Sven Quadflieg, Professor in principles of design at Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences, Germany