CELL OF LIFE
Basic information
Project Title
CELL OF LIFE
Full project title
CELL OF LIFE: Crowdsourcing citizens for Life sustainability and regeneration.
Category
Reconnecting with nature
Project Description
A hub for life towards a new life centric era.
The place where you can get inspired, learn, connect, play and act for life sustainability and regeneration.
Unique experiences as an explorer, scientist, producer, technologist, entrepreneur.
For children, for youth, for families, for all!
Join us to create a new way of life for a new life centric era. Beautiful, Sustainable. Together!
The place where you can get inspired, learn, connect, play and act for life sustainability and regeneration.
Unique experiences as an explorer, scientist, producer, technologist, entrepreneur.
For children, for youth, for families, for all!
Join us to create a new way of life for a new life centric era. Beautiful, Sustainable. Together!
Geographical Scope
Regional
Project Region
Attica region Greece (during the first pilot operation), Greece
Urban or rural issues
It addresses urban-rural linkages
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
CELL OF LIFE is a hub for life towards a new emerging life centric era. Crowdsourcing visitors to engage in Sustainability and Regeneration actions and missions.
An iconic landmark in the form of a geodesic dome. A simple, replicable, yet impressive structure which encompasses nature based solutions approach and blends in any human made or natural environment. A place to learn, play, discover, meet, experience, act, do…
The first CELL OF LIFE was launched Summer 2022 at the iconic development of The Ellinikon in Athens Greece and started operation by hosting the first official NEB satellite event in Athens (June 9-12 2022) in collaboration with World Human Forum.
Key objectives for its content and functions are the following:
- A center for Life monitoring and regeneration missions preserving the beauty of Nature leveraging the power of bottom up crowdsourcing
- A school for Life towards a new Life centric era where sustainability, beauty, harmony, inclusion, regeneration are key values
- An experiential hub to connect with Nature and all forms of Life
- A citizen science centre to explore and develop life centric multidisciplinary professions and technologies.
The CELL OF LIFE is addressed to families, children, youth, schools, the corporate sector and everybody and during its firrst pilot operation a range of significant outcomes has been achieved (described in detail later).
Overall we believe it has served well the triptych of our overall aim related with the key NEB values and the effort of going beyond towards a new Life centric era.
- Beautiful: Beyond only the Human built environment to all our planet by preserving and connecting with the beauty of Nature as well
- Sustainable: Beyond only Sustainability towards Regeneration
- Together. Beyond only Humans. Symbiotically together with all forms of Life.
An iconic landmark in the form of a geodesic dome. A simple, replicable, yet impressive structure which encompasses nature based solutions approach and blends in any human made or natural environment. A place to learn, play, discover, meet, experience, act, do…
The first CELL OF LIFE was launched Summer 2022 at the iconic development of The Ellinikon in Athens Greece and started operation by hosting the first official NEB satellite event in Athens (June 9-12 2022) in collaboration with World Human Forum.
Key objectives for its content and functions are the following:
- A center for Life monitoring and regeneration missions preserving the beauty of Nature leveraging the power of bottom up crowdsourcing
- A school for Life towards a new Life centric era where sustainability, beauty, harmony, inclusion, regeneration are key values
- An experiential hub to connect with Nature and all forms of Life
- A citizen science centre to explore and develop life centric multidisciplinary professions and technologies.
The CELL OF LIFE is addressed to families, children, youth, schools, the corporate sector and everybody and during its firrst pilot operation a range of significant outcomes has been achieved (described in detail later).
Overall we believe it has served well the triptych of our overall aim related with the key NEB values and the effort of going beyond towards a new Life centric era.
- Beautiful: Beyond only the Human built environment to all our planet by preserving and connecting with the beauty of Nature as well
- Sustainable: Beyond only Sustainability towards Regeneration
- Together. Beyond only Humans. Symbiotically together with all forms of Life.
Key objectives for sustainability
You cannot really care about Sustainability if you are not connected with Nature and if you are not taking the responsibility on your own to do something about it. So we need to be transformed into the actual heroes taking ownership and responsibility. Not only regarding sustaining but also about actively regenerating.
Therefore we have based our approach on the archetypical exemplary universal structure of the hero’s journey. A trilogy of the following key phases.
- Inspiration / Call to action
- Effort / Action
- Sharing / celebration
The above are materialized through the following.
1. Purpose based Inspiration towards Sustainability (Inspiration)
All the activities, experiences and content of the Cell of Life (starting with the introductory inspiration film) are aiming to inspire and propose a new Life centric purpose with sustainability and regeneration at its core.
2A. Crowd based actions and missions towards Sustainability (Effort / Action)
Actions and missions towards Sustainability or Regeneration. Such as creating a biodiversity observation baseline for the region, monitoring environmental health with sensors and more
2B. Tech and citizen science towards Sustainability (Effort / Action)
At the two tech labs for Life (part of the Cell of Life offering), we learn, create, play and explore how technology can be leveraged towards sustainability and regeneration.
3. Community and content sharing towards Sustainability (Sharing / celebration)
Visitors are becoming part of the “Earth Xplorers” community and the heroes – protagonists of all actions. Celebrating together the outcome.
Furthermore the exemplary character is enhanced by developing a specific typology and naming of stations tasks and activities which can be easily reproduced and repeated (Life control centre / tech labs for life / Xplorers community, Ark of life and more). In a similar way as if we would develop a franchise concept inspired by Sustainability.
Therefore we have based our approach on the archetypical exemplary universal structure of the hero’s journey. A trilogy of the following key phases.
- Inspiration / Call to action
- Effort / Action
- Sharing / celebration
The above are materialized through the following.
1. Purpose based Inspiration towards Sustainability (Inspiration)
All the activities, experiences and content of the Cell of Life (starting with the introductory inspiration film) are aiming to inspire and propose a new Life centric purpose with sustainability and regeneration at its core.
2A. Crowd based actions and missions towards Sustainability (Effort / Action)
Actions and missions towards Sustainability or Regeneration. Such as creating a biodiversity observation baseline for the region, monitoring environmental health with sensors and more
2B. Tech and citizen science towards Sustainability (Effort / Action)
At the two tech labs for Life (part of the Cell of Life offering), we learn, create, play and explore how technology can be leveraged towards sustainability and regeneration.
3. Community and content sharing towards Sustainability (Sharing / celebration)
Visitors are becoming part of the “Earth Xplorers” community and the heroes – protagonists of all actions. Celebrating together the outcome.
Furthermore the exemplary character is enhanced by developing a specific typology and naming of stations tasks and activities which can be easily reproduced and repeated (Life control centre / tech labs for life / Xplorers community, Ark of life and more). In a similar way as if we would develop a franchise concept inspired by Sustainability.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The key objectives in terms of Aesthetics and Design are:
ICONIC
The Geodesic dome as an icon based on the natural and cosmic shape of a sphere. A structure which can easily blend both in a natural environment and in a human built environment.
SYMBOLIC
The Cell of Life dome is rich in symbols such as having the Ark of Life at it’s centre symbolizing the Life centric new era, having a circular perimeter symbolizing the circle of Life, having the Ark of Life cylindrical structure with a protected entrance as a sacred place and more.
INCLUSIVE
The design is open, accessible and inclusive to all! Not only by its physical structure and design, but also in terms of welcoming aesthetics with white and bright colours, open doors policy, hands on access approach
The key objectives in terms of Experience can be described based on the following:
DEEP EXPERIENCES (physical and digital)
We have designed “deep experiences” where the mind, body and soul are involved and aligned. Combining physical, mental, and emotional engagement and based on our overall “heroes journey” approach.
The immersive Deep Experience of the visit starts with the projection of a short film which acts as a justified passage to the rest of the labs, actions, missions and other activities (inspiration).
The journey continues with a selection of activities indoor or outdoor based on our booths, stations and activities available. Both physical and digital (action / effort).
Then the journey concludes with becoming part of the community in the Earth Xplorers mini TV studio (sharing/celebrating)
EXEMPLARY
The exemplary character of the above has to do first of all with the use of the Dome. An iconic shape that is recognizable but also can blend in both human made or natural environments.
All the other elements of the Aesthetics and the Experience parts as described are also unique and distinctive so that they can be instantly recognized and replicated in a scalable reproduction.
ICONIC
The Geodesic dome as an icon based on the natural and cosmic shape of a sphere. A structure which can easily blend both in a natural environment and in a human built environment.
SYMBOLIC
The Cell of Life dome is rich in symbols such as having the Ark of Life at it’s centre symbolizing the Life centric new era, having a circular perimeter symbolizing the circle of Life, having the Ark of Life cylindrical structure with a protected entrance as a sacred place and more.
INCLUSIVE
The design is open, accessible and inclusive to all! Not only by its physical structure and design, but also in terms of welcoming aesthetics with white and bright colours, open doors policy, hands on access approach
The key objectives in terms of Experience can be described based on the following:
DEEP EXPERIENCES (physical and digital)
We have designed “deep experiences” where the mind, body and soul are involved and aligned. Combining physical, mental, and emotional engagement and based on our overall “heroes journey” approach.
The immersive Deep Experience of the visit starts with the projection of a short film which acts as a justified passage to the rest of the labs, actions, missions and other activities (inspiration).
The journey continues with a selection of activities indoor or outdoor based on our booths, stations and activities available. Both physical and digital (action / effort).
Then the journey concludes with becoming part of the community in the Earth Xplorers mini TV studio (sharing/celebrating)
EXEMPLARY
The exemplary character of the above has to do first of all with the use of the Dome. An iconic shape that is recognizable but also can blend in both human made or natural environments.
All the other elements of the Aesthetics and the Experience parts as described are also unique and distinctive so that they can be instantly recognized and replicated in a scalable reproduction.
Key objectives for inclusion
The project is deeply inclusive by design at different levels:
ACCESIBILITY LEVEL
Accessibility ramps, open doors policy and more physical elements secure and provide an open and truly accessible space and experience.
AFFORDABILITY LEVEL
The multistakeholder governing structure assures that all entry for everybody is FREE OF CHARGE!
AGE LEVEL
All activities, booths, experiences have been designed in order to easily accommodate everybody from children to elderly people
GOVERNING SYSTEMS / MODEL / EXEMPLARY
We have designed and implemented a multistakeholder approach for the Cell of Life project.
In order to create an innovative model where each stakeholder has both a contribution and a benefit (resulting among others in free admission).
The key stakeholders are the following:
- The Venue where it is hosted
- The Municipality or/and region of the area
- The local content and mission partners (Bottom up organizations and NGOs)
- The corporate partners (potential sponsors or value in kind partners)
- The local communities (schools, communities)
In our pilot project all of the above were mobilized while earning their benefits which briefly are the following for each of the above categories:
- The Venue benefited from another reason to visit and increased its visitors
- The Municipality and region leveraged the Cell of Life as an initiative for Sustainability and local communities.
- The local content and mission partners found a place to showcase their work and engage – recruit visitors and volunteers
- The corporate partners associated the Cell of Life with their ESG / CSR initiatives
- The local communities benefited from learning and doing for their own region
The above structure is by definition exemplary and replicable because the above main categories of stakeholders can be found everywhere and have similar interests and therefore also benefits to enjoy for their contribution.
ACCESIBILITY LEVEL
Accessibility ramps, open doors policy and more physical elements secure and provide an open and truly accessible space and experience.
AFFORDABILITY LEVEL
The multistakeholder governing structure assures that all entry for everybody is FREE OF CHARGE!
AGE LEVEL
All activities, booths, experiences have been designed in order to easily accommodate everybody from children to elderly people
GOVERNING SYSTEMS / MODEL / EXEMPLARY
We have designed and implemented a multistakeholder approach for the Cell of Life project.
In order to create an innovative model where each stakeholder has both a contribution and a benefit (resulting among others in free admission).
The key stakeholders are the following:
- The Venue where it is hosted
- The Municipality or/and region of the area
- The local content and mission partners (Bottom up organizations and NGOs)
- The corporate partners (potential sponsors or value in kind partners)
- The local communities (schools, communities)
In our pilot project all of the above were mobilized while earning their benefits which briefly are the following for each of the above categories:
- The Venue benefited from another reason to visit and increased its visitors
- The Municipality and region leveraged the Cell of Life as an initiative for Sustainability and local communities.
- The local content and mission partners found a place to showcase their work and engage – recruit visitors and volunteers
- The corporate partners associated the Cell of Life with their ESG / CSR initiatives
- The local communities benefited from learning and doing for their own region
The above structure is by definition exemplary and replicable because the above main categories of stakeholders can be found everywhere and have similar interests and therefore also benefits to enjoy for their contribution.
Results in relation to category
THE CELL OF LIFE has operated for the first time four months during summer 2022 with a range of tangible and measurable results including the following:
- Hosting the first official NEB satellite event in Athens
- Attracting and actively engaging more than 35000 visitors and many schools from the region
- Populating the “Ark of Life” (part of Cell of Life) with more than 80 species therefore monitoring the biodiversity and creating a crowd sourced baseline for the location
- Creating alliances and cross partnerships with NGOs and other bottom up initiatives
- Introducing a citizen science Smart Nature platform to monitor the health of the location and ecosystem
- Shifting visitors perception, inspiring and motivating them to embark to a journey towards a new way of life
- Creating an inclusive community of the “Earth Explorers”
- Generating hundreds of publications, posts and media reach
- Acting as a launch pad and incubator to also initiate other projects and initiatives (Xplore Blue and others)
Overall we believe it has served well the triptych of our overall aim related with the key NEB values and the effort of going beyond towards a new Life centric era.
- Beautiful: Beyond only the Human built environment to all our planet by preserving and connecting with the beauty of Nature as well
- Sustainable: Beyond only Sustainability towards Regeneration
- Together. Beyond only Humans. Symbiotically together with all forms of Life.
We are looking forward and working to be able to scale and replicate the Cell of Life in order to create equally scalable results.
- Hosting the first official NEB satellite event in Athens
- Attracting and actively engaging more than 35000 visitors and many schools from the region
- Populating the “Ark of Life” (part of Cell of Life) with more than 80 species therefore monitoring the biodiversity and creating a crowd sourced baseline for the location
- Creating alliances and cross partnerships with NGOs and other bottom up initiatives
- Introducing a citizen science Smart Nature platform to monitor the health of the location and ecosystem
- Shifting visitors perception, inspiring and motivating them to embark to a journey towards a new way of life
- Creating an inclusive community of the “Earth Explorers”
- Generating hundreds of publications, posts and media reach
- Acting as a launch pad and incubator to also initiate other projects and initiatives (Xplore Blue and others)
Overall we believe it has served well the triptych of our overall aim related with the key NEB values and the effort of going beyond towards a new Life centric era.
- Beautiful: Beyond only the Human built environment to all our planet by preserving and connecting with the beauty of Nature as well
- Sustainable: Beyond only Sustainability towards Regeneration
- Together. Beyond only Humans. Symbiotically together with all forms of Life.
We are looking forward and working to be able to scale and replicate the Cell of Life in order to create equally scalable results.
How Citizens benefit
Cell of Life is by design a platform leveraging citizen engagement through crowdsourcing. Generating a bottom-up activation towards Sustainability and Regeneration. Towards Life.
In our pilot implementation, the summer of 2022 at “The Ellinikon” we wanted to engage citizens in the very core of the new Park development so that they develop a sense of ownership and active involvement.
So our CELL OF LIFE approach is structured in the following way:
- Engagement of local communities and especially schools and children
- Engagement of visitors attracted from the wider region but also from all over Greece
- Engagement of civil society and bottom up initiatives and NGOs as strategic partners.
- Engagement of regional and national communities through inviting representatives of Municipalities and heads of regions
- Engagement of international bodies and organizations through their participation in the NEB satellite Festival hosted by the Cell of Life (such as representatives from international architectural firms like FOSTER + PARTNERS and more)
The above citizen and civil society groups (more than 35,000 visitors) generated a bottom up impact with both tangible and intangible elements such as:
- Making a place where different voices, people, ages, initatives are meeting and actively participating
- Making a place where alliances and partnerships are formed especially after meeting and connecting with each other
- Demonstrating both the power of the “crowd” and the power of the individual when these are orchestrated together
- Develop a sense of ownership, connection and belonging with the surroundings of the Cell of Life (The Park)
- Therefore developing the feeling to actively care and protect.
- Creating unique moments such as when ANIMA (one of the NGO’s involved), released in the Cell of Life surrounding two rare birds after they have been treated from injury.
- Creating also measurable results such as creating a biodiversity baseline
In our pilot implementation, the summer of 2022 at “The Ellinikon” we wanted to engage citizens in the very core of the new Park development so that they develop a sense of ownership and active involvement.
So our CELL OF LIFE approach is structured in the following way:
- Engagement of local communities and especially schools and children
- Engagement of visitors attracted from the wider region but also from all over Greece
- Engagement of civil society and bottom up initiatives and NGOs as strategic partners.
- Engagement of regional and national communities through inviting representatives of Municipalities and heads of regions
- Engagement of international bodies and organizations through their participation in the NEB satellite Festival hosted by the Cell of Life (such as representatives from international architectural firms like FOSTER + PARTNERS and more)
The above citizen and civil society groups (more than 35,000 visitors) generated a bottom up impact with both tangible and intangible elements such as:
- Making a place where different voices, people, ages, initatives are meeting and actively participating
- Making a place where alliances and partnerships are formed especially after meeting and connecting with each other
- Demonstrating both the power of the “crowd” and the power of the individual when these are orchestrated together
- Develop a sense of ownership, connection and belonging with the surroundings of the Cell of Life (The Park)
- Therefore developing the feeling to actively care and protect.
- Creating unique moments such as when ANIMA (one of the NGO’s involved), released in the Cell of Life surrounding two rare birds after they have been treated from injury.
- Creating also measurable results such as creating a biodiversity baseline
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
Innovation is reflected in a range of elements.
1. Introducing a new world view, narrative, and mindset. From Human centric to Life centric
Starting with the introductory video, and expanding to all experiential and design elements a new Life centric need and worldview is introduced
2. New participatory role (hero’s journey).
Becoming the hero and the protagonist is of great importance and this is built systematically as described in all the aspects of the project
3. New experiential format. Deep experiences, role playing and more
Deep experiences, but also role playing, a combination of indoor and outdoor experiences, fun and serious elements which all together contribute towards an innovative overall offering
4. Productizing sustainability and regeneration
The Cell of Life brings Sustainability and Regeneration in the front stage and not only as a back stage requirement. Making it an actual offering which can be attractive and interesting for people
5. Innovative application areas in a range of sectors including Tourism
By “productizing Sustainability” and transforming it to an actual offering that can attract people, we open the path for applications in places where people are there and present and also have the availability of time and mood to get involved.
This can help transform industries such as Tourism. Leisure, Entertainment by transforming the notion of “free time”
6. Leveraging the power of crowd sourcing and citizen science
A novel way to use the power of crowdsourcing combined with citizen science. Going beyond volunteering and providing a platform which makes people wanting to get involved
7. Innovative internal structure and stakeholder scheme
The internal structure, leads by design to a free for all sustainable offering and multiple win wins
8. Design and identity
Finally the overall design, aesthetics and identity also provide a very distinct and innovative character
1. Introducing a new world view, narrative, and mindset. From Human centric to Life centric
Starting with the introductory video, and expanding to all experiential and design elements a new Life centric need and worldview is introduced
2. New participatory role (hero’s journey).
Becoming the hero and the protagonist is of great importance and this is built systematically as described in all the aspects of the project
3. New experiential format. Deep experiences, role playing and more
Deep experiences, but also role playing, a combination of indoor and outdoor experiences, fun and serious elements which all together contribute towards an innovative overall offering
4. Productizing sustainability and regeneration
The Cell of Life brings Sustainability and Regeneration in the front stage and not only as a back stage requirement. Making it an actual offering which can be attractive and interesting for people
5. Innovative application areas in a range of sectors including Tourism
By “productizing Sustainability” and transforming it to an actual offering that can attract people, we open the path for applications in places where people are there and present and also have the availability of time and mood to get involved.
This can help transform industries such as Tourism. Leisure, Entertainment by transforming the notion of “free time”
6. Leveraging the power of crowd sourcing and citizen science
A novel way to use the power of crowdsourcing combined with citizen science. Going beyond volunteering and providing a platform which makes people wanting to get involved
7. Innovative internal structure and stakeholder scheme
The internal structure, leads by design to a free for all sustainable offering and multiple win wins
8. Design and identity
Finally the overall design, aesthetics and identity also provide a very distinct and innovative character
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
The project has many aspects and a wide range of needs and requirements to be synthesized, integrated and work seamlessly together towards a clear direction.
Both internally (on how it is designed and implemented) and externally (on what the impact and the outcome is). These include the following:
- Architectural design
- Experience design
- Content production
- Event design and production
- Multimedia and interactive applications
- Technology (sensors, IOT, AI)
- Learning and edu-tainment
- Biosciences
- Biodiversity and Environmental sciences
- Nature based solutions
- Sustainability
- Regeneration
- Business operations (Mkt, logistics etc)
We have formed a team of 10 experts in the above fields. Some were from universities such as the Agricultural University of Athens, others from Research Institutions such as the DEMOKRITOS institution in Greece, others from our NGO partners such as the World Human Forum and others from our own team and company.
The above team included both young members (students) and senior members (University professors, NGO leaders and also leaders and senior executives from our company).
The team representing all the above disciplines and knowledge fields acts as the strategic design developer and has contributed in a wholistic approach and – we believe – also result.
This team was formed with a clear Life centric purpose about their role and also the end result and objective.
Therefore it also acted as an actual real life analog of our overall approach which is about the need to overcome our cultural, or individual, or scientific and other differences and work together towards a common life centric purpose.
The key word was Synthesis instead of Analysis. It is about merging different skills, ideas, views, knowledge. And we believe it worked quite well judging from the reactions and the response of the more than 35,000 visitors during our pilot implementation in The Ellinikon Park.
Both internally (on how it is designed and implemented) and externally (on what the impact and the outcome is). These include the following:
- Architectural design
- Experience design
- Content production
- Event design and production
- Multimedia and interactive applications
- Technology (sensors, IOT, AI)
- Learning and edu-tainment
- Biosciences
- Biodiversity and Environmental sciences
- Nature based solutions
- Sustainability
- Regeneration
- Business operations (Mkt, logistics etc)
We have formed a team of 10 experts in the above fields. Some were from universities such as the Agricultural University of Athens, others from Research Institutions such as the DEMOKRITOS institution in Greece, others from our NGO partners such as the World Human Forum and others from our own team and company.
The above team included both young members (students) and senior members (University professors, NGO leaders and also leaders and senior executives from our company).
The team representing all the above disciplines and knowledge fields acts as the strategic design developer and has contributed in a wholistic approach and – we believe – also result.
This team was formed with a clear Life centric purpose about their role and also the end result and objective.
Therefore it also acted as an actual real life analog of our overall approach which is about the need to overcome our cultural, or individual, or scientific and other differences and work together towards a common life centric purpose.
The key word was Synthesis instead of Analysis. It is about merging different skills, ideas, views, knowledge. And we believe it worked quite well judging from the reactions and the response of the more than 35,000 visitors during our pilot implementation in The Ellinikon Park.
Methodology used
1. THE NEED
We started with a fact and a need. That our world is at a tipping point and a new era is emerging (or about to emerge).
So we need to shift our view and mindset and transition from the current Human centric Anthropocene era to a new Life centric “Symbiocene” era. We need to evolve our species and become ambassadors and protectors of Life,
The one most important asset we have, on the only known planet where Life exists.
THE WHAT
We continued by realizing that we can not really protect or nurture anything if we do not really care about it.
And we can not really care if we do not have any connection.
So we envisioned a place and a project which could act as a hub to connect with Nature and Life in all it's forms.
Easily replicable, scalable and recognizable.
THE HOW
With the above as guidelines we created an initial brief document focusing mainly on the WHY and WHAT acting as an initial inspiration.
Based on this we have formed a multidisciplinary team (as described) with different background, age, sex, culture but with the same inspirational purpose and goal to work together. The work was structured in the following phases.
Design:
A one full day design charette launched the project and then we had weekly get togethers and monthly reviews in a design development phase which lasted approximately 4 months.
Partnerships and optimization together
Having the project in a mature but not yet completed state, we initiated the quest for additional partners as described so that they would not only be a part of it, but also actively contribute. Testing and optimizing also the elements and their during their production both functionally but also design and experience wise.
Production.
We then entered the production phase including both soft elements (videos, interactives, s/w etc) and hard elements (sets, dome, structures etc).
Implementation and operation
The last phase after approximately 9 months of work
We started with a fact and a need. That our world is at a tipping point and a new era is emerging (or about to emerge).
So we need to shift our view and mindset and transition from the current Human centric Anthropocene era to a new Life centric “Symbiocene” era. We need to evolve our species and become ambassadors and protectors of Life,
The one most important asset we have, on the only known planet where Life exists.
THE WHAT
We continued by realizing that we can not really protect or nurture anything if we do not really care about it.
And we can not really care if we do not have any connection.
So we envisioned a place and a project which could act as a hub to connect with Nature and Life in all it's forms.
Easily replicable, scalable and recognizable.
THE HOW
With the above as guidelines we created an initial brief document focusing mainly on the WHY and WHAT acting as an initial inspiration.
Based on this we have formed a multidisciplinary team (as described) with different background, age, sex, culture but with the same inspirational purpose and goal to work together. The work was structured in the following phases.
Design:
A one full day design charette launched the project and then we had weekly get togethers and monthly reviews in a design development phase which lasted approximately 4 months.
Partnerships and optimization together
Having the project in a mature but not yet completed state, we initiated the quest for additional partners as described so that they would not only be a part of it, but also actively contribute. Testing and optimizing also the elements and their during their production both functionally but also design and experience wise.
Production.
We then entered the production phase including both soft elements (videos, interactives, s/w etc) and hard elements (sets, dome, structures etc).
Implementation and operation
The last phase after approximately 9 months of work
How stakeholders are engaged
Based on the internal structure of the Cell of Life we have the following key stakeholders:
- The Venue / host
- The Municipality or region
- The local content and mission partners (Bottom up organizations & NGOs)
- The corporate partners (potential sponsors or VIK partners)
- The local communities (schools etc)
- The international network
The Venue (which is the Park at The Ellinikon development) played a key role in the implementation since it hosted the Cell of Life. This was mutually beneficial from the alignment of key values (sustainability, togetherness, beauty, design and inclusivity) between the Cell of Life and the Park. At the same time the added value for Cell of Life was that it benefited from the existing footprint and the visitors of the venue, while the venue benefited from offering a new anchor attraction.
The Municipality & region were involved in the implementation, but also in the design of some of the activities and content in order for them to be better applicable for the local community and especially children and schools. Therefore the Municipality participated n organizing school visits and also directing citizens to visit. Which again added value for the Cell of Life as well.
The local content partners (NGO’s) contributed with content, missions and events. Therefore an association, an alliance and a common interest was formed which resulted in a wider acceptance of the project itself.
The corporate partners were involved by adopting and supporting the project, therefore making it more accessible with free access for all while they were also benefiting from their association with the innovative project as part of their ESG/CSR initiatives.
Finally at a European international level, the Cell of Life hosted the first official satellite NEB event in Greece! This was a perfect opportunity to create a strong association with the NEB values and objectives, while also creating an opportunity for international presence.
- The Venue / host
- The Municipality or region
- The local content and mission partners (Bottom up organizations & NGOs)
- The corporate partners (potential sponsors or VIK partners)
- The local communities (schools etc)
- The international network
The Venue (which is the Park at The Ellinikon development) played a key role in the implementation since it hosted the Cell of Life. This was mutually beneficial from the alignment of key values (sustainability, togetherness, beauty, design and inclusivity) between the Cell of Life and the Park. At the same time the added value for Cell of Life was that it benefited from the existing footprint and the visitors of the venue, while the venue benefited from offering a new anchor attraction.
The Municipality & region were involved in the implementation, but also in the design of some of the activities and content in order for them to be better applicable for the local community and especially children and schools. Therefore the Municipality participated n organizing school visits and also directing citizens to visit. Which again added value for the Cell of Life as well.
The local content partners (NGO’s) contributed with content, missions and events. Therefore an association, an alliance and a common interest was formed which resulted in a wider acceptance of the project itself.
The corporate partners were involved by adopting and supporting the project, therefore making it more accessible with free access for all while they were also benefiting from their association with the innovative project as part of their ESG/CSR initiatives.
Finally at a European international level, the Cell of Life hosted the first official satellite NEB event in Greece! This was a perfect opportunity to create a strong association with the NEB values and objectives, while also creating an opportunity for international presence.
Global challenges
Our approach is based on synthesizing the global challenges into one core challenge: The current decadence of LIFE. Viewing it not as a challenge but as an opportunity. Providing a positive, hope (not fear) based narrative with the role each one can play as a hero & protagonist.
This meta-approach gives the opportunity for Cell of Life to address a wide range of challenges. This is also enhanced by the concept of “MISSIONS” which are an organic part of the Cell of Life and their role is to act as modular and location based sub-projects to serve specific local challenges.
The “Existing” challenges are what have been already implemented in the pilot and the “Under development” are the new.
EXISTING
- BIODIVERSITY LOSS. Through the “Biodiversity mission” and the “Ark of Life” booth, visitors observe, collect and register the biodiversity of the local environment creating a scientific baseline to monitor and protect
- CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. Visitors install, maintain and monitor sensors creating a local Smart Nature grid which is viewed and controlled in the LIFE MISSION CONTROL station (implications of climate change, pollution, temperature rising and more)
- HUMAN – NATURE DISCONNECTION AND SENSE MAKING. We believe this is one of global challenges as well and the Cell of Life provides a platform to reconnect with Nature and Life. Providing at the same time learning, awareness and perhaps more importantly opening a new path to the journey of sense making and finding meaning and purpose.
- FUTURE OF WORK AND UNEMPLOYMENT. Cell of Life provides a range of possibilities for new professions, technologies and entrepreneurial ideas that can – or should – shape the future of work, based on a Life centric purpose and approach
UNDER DEVELOPMENT
- FOREST FIRES AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION. Drones, AI recognition and 5G networks for monitoring, fire prevention, detection
- FOREST REGENERATION. Based on Miyaki method
- FOOD: Seeds for life
This meta-approach gives the opportunity for Cell of Life to address a wide range of challenges. This is also enhanced by the concept of “MISSIONS” which are an organic part of the Cell of Life and their role is to act as modular and location based sub-projects to serve specific local challenges.
The “Existing” challenges are what have been already implemented in the pilot and the “Under development” are the new.
EXISTING
- BIODIVERSITY LOSS. Through the “Biodiversity mission” and the “Ark of Life” booth, visitors observe, collect and register the biodiversity of the local environment creating a scientific baseline to monitor and protect
- CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. Visitors install, maintain and monitor sensors creating a local Smart Nature grid which is viewed and controlled in the LIFE MISSION CONTROL station (implications of climate change, pollution, temperature rising and more)
- HUMAN – NATURE DISCONNECTION AND SENSE MAKING. We believe this is one of global challenges as well and the Cell of Life provides a platform to reconnect with Nature and Life. Providing at the same time learning, awareness and perhaps more importantly opening a new path to the journey of sense making and finding meaning and purpose.
- FUTURE OF WORK AND UNEMPLOYMENT. Cell of Life provides a range of possibilities for new professions, technologies and entrepreneurial ideas that can – or should – shape the future of work, based on a Life centric purpose and approach
UNDER DEVELOPMENT
- FOREST FIRES AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION. Drones, AI recognition and 5G networks for monitoring, fire prevention, detection
- FOREST REGENERATION. Based on Miyaki method
- FOOD: Seeds for life
Learning transferred to other parties
The Cell of Life is designed and aspires to be replicable and transferrable both as a whole project or/and as partial elements:
The partial elements include the following:
- The “Life centric” approach which can be transferred to a very wide range of initiatives, products and services and can be supported by tangible elements such as the introductory video and narrative
- The “Productizing Sustainability” approach which can be also replicated in Tourism, Leisure or other industries in order to develop products and services
- The booths and activities which are designed anyhow as modular elements with the potential to also act as stand alone. These for example include the ARK OF LIFE which is located at the centre of the Dome and can be included for example in a hotel or resort who wants to engage visitors in activities of biodiversity monitoring and registration. The LIFE MISSION CONTROL screen which can be used in any location as a Smart Nature monitoring station connected with IOT sensors. The LABS FOR LIFE, the EARTH XPLORERS mini studio, and more.
Furthermore of course the Cell of Life is designed to be replicable, scalable and transferrable as a whole concept and project. Creating a network of Cells of Life which have a clear structure and identity but at the same time their specific content, function and activities are adapted to the specific destination / location. In a very similar way with the cells on any living organism!
The beneficiaries and context for both the above possibilities include industries and areas of activity such as Tourism, Leisure, Entertainment, Environmental Education, ESG/CSR, Nature protection and regeneration, Real Estate developments and more.
The partial elements include the following:
- The “Life centric” approach which can be transferred to a very wide range of initiatives, products and services and can be supported by tangible elements such as the introductory video and narrative
- The “Productizing Sustainability” approach which can be also replicated in Tourism, Leisure or other industries in order to develop products and services
- The booths and activities which are designed anyhow as modular elements with the potential to also act as stand alone. These for example include the ARK OF LIFE which is located at the centre of the Dome and can be included for example in a hotel or resort who wants to engage visitors in activities of biodiversity monitoring and registration. The LIFE MISSION CONTROL screen which can be used in any location as a Smart Nature monitoring station connected with IOT sensors. The LABS FOR LIFE, the EARTH XPLORERS mini studio, and more.
Furthermore of course the Cell of Life is designed to be replicable, scalable and transferrable as a whole concept and project. Creating a network of Cells of Life which have a clear structure and identity but at the same time their specific content, function and activities are adapted to the specific destination / location. In a very similar way with the cells on any living organism!
The beneficiaries and context for both the above possibilities include industries and areas of activity such as Tourism, Leisure, Entertainment, Environmental Education, ESG/CSR, Nature protection and regeneration, Real Estate developments and more.
Keywords
Crowdsourcing sustainability and regeneration
Introducing a Life centric era
Experiential Citizen science
Iconic
Phygital
