Reconnecting with nature
hypha_etc [education, theory, culture]
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Echoing the ideals of the New European Bauhaus, the Hypha_etc camp building seeks to pioneer an innovative new typology – a camp offering a pedagogical programme for artists, scientific researchers and educators – a platform for exchange and debate. The lightweight timber building both reflects and grows out of its rural context, offering accommodation and learning spaces, as well as serving as a tool for teaching sustainable building ecologies.
Romania
National
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Yes
2024-12-19
No
No
No
As a representative of an organisation
Conceived in 2017, Hypha_etc is a non-profit mutual education project connecting teachers, artists, social thinkers, scientists, and scholars. The camp is located in Câmpu Cetății, Romania, a rural setting that promotes creativity, hospitality, and exploration. More than a retreat, it functions as a platform for professional meetings, exchange of ideas, and interdisciplinary learning.
For the building to become a pedagogical tool in its own right, architect Alex Whitton has designed a modular ensemble that follows ecological principles, dismantles social hierarchy, and is in a symbiotic relationship with its environment (the building is conceived as an "elevated landscape"). The campsite building was recognized at the BATRA Awards 2023 for its sustainable and educational design.
From this vantage point, hypha_etc aims to develop mutual education models based on collaborative, experiential learning. As an extension of public schools, it aims to provide interactive education for children, university students and adults from various backgrounds, in form of free workshops, open calls for artistic and research residencies, and a summer school program, developed with partner insitutions such as UBB Cluj, Necc and the Save as... pedagogical group.
Scientific research and developing environmental literacy are central to the project, aiming to arouse curiosity about the natural world. Participants can use specialised equipment to observe the natural environment to gain insights into local ecosystems, in order to translate and contextualise issues around climate change into experiential understanding. A solar telescope and planetary observation tools encourage reflection on Earth’s place in the universe and the formation of elements that shape the physical world.
Hypha_etc encourages social reflection and critical thinking through free workshops and artistic residencies. The Summer School program brings together scholars and artists in a transdisciplinary exchange.
For the building to become a pedagogical tool in its own right, architect Alex Whitton has designed a modular ensemble that follows ecological principles, dismantles social hierarchy, and is in a symbiotic relationship with its environment (the building is conceived as an "elevated landscape"). The campsite building was recognized at the BATRA Awards 2023 for its sustainable and educational design.
From this vantage point, hypha_etc aims to develop mutual education models based on collaborative, experiential learning. As an extension of public schools, it aims to provide interactive education for children, university students and adults from various backgrounds, in form of free workshops, open calls for artistic and research residencies, and a summer school program, developed with partner insitutions such as UBB Cluj, Necc and the Save as... pedagogical group.
Scientific research and developing environmental literacy are central to the project, aiming to arouse curiosity about the natural world. Participants can use specialised equipment to observe the natural environment to gain insights into local ecosystems, in order to translate and contextualise issues around climate change into experiential understanding. A solar telescope and planetary observation tools encourage reflection on Earth’s place in the universe and the formation of elements that shape the physical world.
Hypha_etc encourages social reflection and critical thinking through free workshops and artistic residencies. The Summer School program brings together scholars and artists in a transdisciplinary exchange.
Education
Architecture
Biodiversity
Collaboration
Transdisciplinarity
Hypha_etc is built with sustainability at its foundation, integrating eco-friendly architecture and environmental education. The campsite's buildings were constructed using locally sourced wood and natural materials, and techniques of traditional craftsmanship, along the values of critical regionalism. The camp is designed to be both functional, but also serve as an educational tool, demonstrating sustainable design in action.
The camp utilises renewable energy, using solar power and aerothermal heating to reduce carbon emissions, with no fossil fuels utilised. A rainwater collection system is implemented, and waste is managed through recycling and composting for minimal environmental impact. Together, these systems are meant to create a self-sufficient, low-impact living space that encourages a responsible use of resources.
Beyond infrastructure, Hypha_etc aims to promote environmental awareness through education and research. Participants, including students, artists, and scientists, can explore biodiversity, climate science, and ecological restoration using microscopes and other monitoring and testing tools. Through experiential learning, in the form of camps, workshops, and summer schools, participants can gain practical skills in sustainability, bridging the gap between scientific research and an everyday, hands-on experience with ecosystems and the impact of climate change.
Hypha_etc can be exemplary of sustainable development, where architecture and education work together in order to translate complex concepts of sustainability to tangible experience. Allowing people to directly interact with their natural surroundings, it encourages a deeper connection to nature and a commitment to ecological responsibility. The combination of these approaches – the building as a template for sustainable architecture, and our programming focused on future-oriented discussion and debate – can make the project exemplary for other initiatives.
The camp utilises renewable energy, using solar power and aerothermal heating to reduce carbon emissions, with no fossil fuels utilised. A rainwater collection system is implemented, and waste is managed through recycling and composting for minimal environmental impact. Together, these systems are meant to create a self-sufficient, low-impact living space that encourages a responsible use of resources.
Beyond infrastructure, Hypha_etc aims to promote environmental awareness through education and research. Participants, including students, artists, and scientists, can explore biodiversity, climate science, and ecological restoration using microscopes and other monitoring and testing tools. Through experiential learning, in the form of camps, workshops, and summer schools, participants can gain practical skills in sustainability, bridging the gap between scientific research and an everyday, hands-on experience with ecosystems and the impact of climate change.
Hypha_etc can be exemplary of sustainable development, where architecture and education work together in order to translate complex concepts of sustainability to tangible experience. Allowing people to directly interact with their natural surroundings, it encourages a deeper connection to nature and a commitment to ecological responsibility. The combination of these approaches – the building as a template for sustainable architecture, and our programming focused on future-oriented discussion and debate – can make the project exemplary for other initiatives.
Architect Alex Whitton, who designed the camp, describes the lightweight timber building as both a reflection of its rural surroundings and an extension of them. Blipsz Architecture developed Whitton's architectural concept, overseeing the process to execution and preparing it for permitting. The structure provides accommodation and learning spaces while also serving as a practical tool for teaching sustainable building ecologies. Its design emphasizes harmony with nature, energy efficiency, and flexible communal spaces.
The hypha_etc campsite therefore enhances the connections between architecture, nature, and education. The camp’s buildings use local materials and simple forms that blend harmoniously into the natural landscape. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide natural light and views of the surroundings, creating a strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. A planned green roof will help insulate the building, support biodiversity, and serve as an additional gathering space. The campsite’s layout encourages interaction and movement, allowing people to engage with both the environment and each other in new ways.
The architecture follows sustainable building principles. The wooden structures use locally sourced timber, reducing environmental impact. The design incorporates passive solar heating and natural ventilation, making the buildings energy-efficient and comfortable year-round. The multi-functional spaces can adapt to different needs, hosting workshops, discussions, and creative projects.
The camp is built for collaboration and communal living. Shared spaces like the café, lecture hall, and outdoor meeting areas all support various forms of group learning and social interaction. Flexible workspaces allow for individual study, group discussions, and hands-on activities, while outdoor areas provide additional places for informal gatherings, artistic work, and reflection.
The hypha_etc campsite therefore enhances the connections between architecture, nature, and education. The camp’s buildings use local materials and simple forms that blend harmoniously into the natural landscape. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide natural light and views of the surroundings, creating a strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. A planned green roof will help insulate the building, support biodiversity, and serve as an additional gathering space. The campsite’s layout encourages interaction and movement, allowing people to engage with both the environment and each other in new ways.
The architecture follows sustainable building principles. The wooden structures use locally sourced timber, reducing environmental impact. The design incorporates passive solar heating and natural ventilation, making the buildings energy-efficient and comfortable year-round. The multi-functional spaces can adapt to different needs, hosting workshops, discussions, and creative projects.
The camp is built for collaboration and communal living. Shared spaces like the café, lecture hall, and outdoor meeting areas all support various forms of group learning and social interaction. Flexible workspaces allow for individual study, group discussions, and hands-on activities, while outdoor areas provide additional places for informal gatherings, artistic work, and reflection.
Our programs are designed to be accessible, participatory, and inclusive, ensuring that people from diverse backgrounds and abilities can engage meaningfully. Our residency and free workshop programs are open to artists, educators, scientists, and members of the general public.
We strive to support social inclusion through free programs and workshops for children and adults from neighboring villages, particularly targeting those who have limited access to cultural and educational opportunities, in order to contribute to closing the urban-rural educational gap. Our programs target the national level, drawing participants from all over the country.
Physical accessibility has been taken into consideration in the design. The campsite, the apartments and the bathrooms are fully wheelchair-accessible, allowing participants with mobility challenges to navigate the space. Additionally, ramps and customized accommodations can be provided upon request, to ensure that individual needs are met.
Beyond physical accessibility, the design principles behind the project aim to create an inclusive environments for all participants, by encouraging social interaction, communal living and collaborative learning that connects individuals with different backgrounds.
Our educational philosophy is rooted in mutual education, a non-hierarchical model where knowledge is shared and flowing between participants rather than imposed from above by an authority. This ensures that participants from different socio-economic backgrounds, disciplines, and cultures can enter into meaningful dialogue with each other as equals, learning from one another instead of following a rigid, top-down teaching structure.
This collaborative approach to learning aims to develop critical thinking, social cohesion, and interdisciplinary collaboration, with the potential to make our project an exemplary model and a replicable template for inclusive approaches to pedagogy for other educational initiatives.
We strive to support social inclusion through free programs and workshops for children and adults from neighboring villages, particularly targeting those who have limited access to cultural and educational opportunities, in order to contribute to closing the urban-rural educational gap. Our programs target the national level, drawing participants from all over the country.
Physical accessibility has been taken into consideration in the design. The campsite, the apartments and the bathrooms are fully wheelchair-accessible, allowing participants with mobility challenges to navigate the space. Additionally, ramps and customized accommodations can be provided upon request, to ensure that individual needs are met.
Beyond physical accessibility, the design principles behind the project aim to create an inclusive environments for all participants, by encouraging social interaction, communal living and collaborative learning that connects individuals with different backgrounds.
Our educational philosophy is rooted in mutual education, a non-hierarchical model where knowledge is shared and flowing between participants rather than imposed from above by an authority. This ensures that participants from different socio-economic backgrounds, disciplines, and cultures can enter into meaningful dialogue with each other as equals, learning from one another instead of following a rigid, top-down teaching structure.
This collaborative approach to learning aims to develop critical thinking, social cohesion, and interdisciplinary collaboration, with the potential to make our project an exemplary model and a replicable template for inclusive approaches to pedagogy for other educational initiatives.
The conception of the campsite was preceded by intensive interdisciplinary collaboration among scholars, artists, educators, and various non-governmental and civic initiatives who had been developing projects together at tranzit.ro/Cluj, a cultural space in Cluj, active since 2012. The idea of creating a self-sustainable campsite emerged in 2017 when it was announced that the building rented by tranzit.ro/Cluj would be demolished. This news made it clear that in order to preserve these initiatives and programs, continue our work, and sustain our social and cultural engagement, a permanent, dedicated space was needed. With so many individuals and groups invested in the project, the goal became to transform our previous initiatives into an open-classroom format, incorporating summer schools, workshops, and other educational programs into the new space.
As soon as the foundation of the new building was laid, the programs began, even though construction was still far from complete. The first to use the camp was NECC (Nature, Education, Community, Center), a group of biologists who develop afterschool programs, for a biodiversity education program for young people. Shortly after, a two-day pedagogical workshop hosted three educational platforms: Space of Opportunity, Salvare ca… grup, and Talentum Elementary School. In 2022, young activists organized Utopias of Solidarity, and in the same year, sociologists and critical thinkers launched the Ecologies of Emancipation Summer School. The following year, quantum physicists from Bucharest developed The Telephone Without Wire (2023), followed by Green Line (2024). Artists and anthropologists from Budapest hosted the Summer School Zero Point (2023).
All of these individuals and organizations played an essential role in shaping the final design of the program, and as such they can be considered co-authors of this initiative. Without these decade-long partnerships we have built envisioning this project would not have been
As soon as the foundation of the new building was laid, the programs began, even though construction was still far from complete. The first to use the camp was NECC (Nature, Education, Community, Center), a group of biologists who develop afterschool programs, for a biodiversity education program for young people. Shortly after, a two-day pedagogical workshop hosted three educational platforms: Space of Opportunity, Salvare ca… grup, and Talentum Elementary School. In 2022, young activists organized Utopias of Solidarity, and in the same year, sociologists and critical thinkers launched the Ecologies of Emancipation Summer School. The following year, quantum physicists from Bucharest developed The Telephone Without Wire (2023), followed by Green Line (2024). Artists and anthropologists from Budapest hosted the Summer School Zero Point (2023).
All of these individuals and organizations played an essential role in shaping the final design of the program, and as such they can be considered co-authors of this initiative. Without these decade-long partnerships we have built envisioning this project would not have been
Hypha_etc is based in Câmpu Cetății, Romania, a rural area ideal for immersive artistic and educational experiences, in close contact with nature. While rooted in a rural setting, it maintains connections to urban networks through collaborations with national and international institutions.
The project was initiated by four individuals: curator and cultural manager of tranzit.ro/Cluj Attila Tordai-S., photographer Nelson Fitch, novelist Veronica Roth, and educator Kata Tordai-Soós, headmaster of Talentum Elementary School. After it was announced that the tranzit.ro/Cluj space—an NGO that has been part of an international network promoting contemporary art and interdisciplinary programs since 2012 in Cluj—would be demolished and its funding from Erste Stiftung discontinued, they pooled their resources, aiming to ensure the continuity of educational and cultural programs. The idea of a self-sustaining, environmentally conscious and forward-looking mutual education camp was born. The project, rooted in an interest to overcome poor access to critical education, was designed to be complemented by defending scientific values and by exploring new ways of artistic expression.
To make the project functional long-term, the initiators conceived the camp as a social business, to create a permanent space for on-site programs and a continuous flow of knowledge that could be archived and shared. This decision created opportunities to organize residency programs and professional meetings in a contextualized space, in partnership with universities, faculties, and academics who had been collaborating on multidisciplinary projects for over a decade. Having a fixed location also allowed running inclusive programs for children in neighboring villages in the region. By renting the apartments, event spaces, and facilities to external schools and professional groups, the project is able to generate income, which supports the development of future curatorial and pedagogical initiatives.
The project was initiated by four individuals: curator and cultural manager of tranzit.ro/Cluj Attila Tordai-S., photographer Nelson Fitch, novelist Veronica Roth, and educator Kata Tordai-Soós, headmaster of Talentum Elementary School. After it was announced that the tranzit.ro/Cluj space—an NGO that has been part of an international network promoting contemporary art and interdisciplinary programs since 2012 in Cluj—would be demolished and its funding from Erste Stiftung discontinued, they pooled their resources, aiming to ensure the continuity of educational and cultural programs. The idea of a self-sustaining, environmentally conscious and forward-looking mutual education camp was born. The project, rooted in an interest to overcome poor access to critical education, was designed to be complemented by defending scientific values and by exploring new ways of artistic expression.
To make the project functional long-term, the initiators conceived the camp as a social business, to create a permanent space for on-site programs and a continuous flow of knowledge that could be archived and shared. This decision created opportunities to organize residency programs and professional meetings in a contextualized space, in partnership with universities, faculties, and academics who had been collaborating on multidisciplinary projects for over a decade. Having a fixed location also allowed running inclusive programs for children in neighboring villages in the region. By renting the apartments, event spaces, and facilities to external schools and professional groups, the project is able to generate income, which supports the development of future curatorial and pedagogical initiatives.
The project has been envisioned, designed and implemented in the intersection of architecture, natural sciences and social sciences.
The camp, located in the Transylvanian Mountains, is equipped with technical instruments, measuring and monitoring devices, archives, and laboratories to support and facilitate the work of environmentally sensitive educators. It also functions as an inclusive space for artistic and creative exploration, welcoming young artists and professionals. More than just a site for learning, it serves as a platform for people from different disciplines and parts of the world who wish to share dilemmas and critical ideas in an interdisciplinary environment, including arts, poetry, critical thinking, education, and scientific methodology.
In early 2018, Stuttgart-based Scottish architect Alex Whitton was contracted to design the camp building. He developed a practical, beautiful, and environmentally conscious compact, multi-modular concept that uses architecture as a catalyst for exploring the themes incorporated into the program. He finalized the plans at the end of 2018, and construction began in 2020, after obtaining the necessary permits from local authorities. Since tranzit.ro/Cluj was not abandoned by Erste Stiftung and continued to receive funding, the four initiators registered the Hypha_etc Association in May 2023, ensuring the long-term management and operation of the site’s programs.
Different partnerships were established with universities, especially with Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj. The Film and Theatre Department played a key role in organizing, in partnership with tranzit.ro/Cluj, three editions of the Ecology of Emancipation Summer School. A close connection exists with the Biology Department, which contributes to programs such as the Citizen Science Camp, Bird Banding (Ornithology Course), and NECC’s biodiversity program for youth. The Philosophy Department has also benefited from the camp’s free workshop program.
The camp, located in the Transylvanian Mountains, is equipped with technical instruments, measuring and monitoring devices, archives, and laboratories to support and facilitate the work of environmentally sensitive educators. It also functions as an inclusive space for artistic and creative exploration, welcoming young artists and professionals. More than just a site for learning, it serves as a platform for people from different disciplines and parts of the world who wish to share dilemmas and critical ideas in an interdisciplinary environment, including arts, poetry, critical thinking, education, and scientific methodology.
In early 2018, Stuttgart-based Scottish architect Alex Whitton was contracted to design the camp building. He developed a practical, beautiful, and environmentally conscious compact, multi-modular concept that uses architecture as a catalyst for exploring the themes incorporated into the program. He finalized the plans at the end of 2018, and construction began in 2020, after obtaining the necessary permits from local authorities. Since tranzit.ro/Cluj was not abandoned by Erste Stiftung and continued to receive funding, the four initiators registered the Hypha_etc Association in May 2023, ensuring the long-term management and operation of the site’s programs.
Different partnerships were established with universities, especially with Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj. The Film and Theatre Department played a key role in organizing, in partnership with tranzit.ro/Cluj, three editions of the Ecology of Emancipation Summer School. A close connection exists with the Biology Department, which contributes to programs such as the Citizen Science Camp, Bird Banding (Ornithology Course), and NECC’s biodiversity program for youth. The Philosophy Department has also benefited from the camp’s free workshop program.
Hypha_etc stands apart from mainstream educational and artistic initiatives by combining science, art, and community engagement into a new model of interdisciplinary education. The project aims to arouse curiosity about the micro and macro world, helping participants explore everything from the smallest biological structures to the vast interconnected systems of Earth, its resources, and its future. Understood this way, the project serves as an "extended green classroom" where one can explore, with the help of specialized equipment, the flora and fauna on site, the microbiological world, as well as the night sky, to gain an understanding not just the embeddedness in our local ecosystems but also the broader context of our planetary existence. Through this approach, we encourage reflection on social and economic realities, environmental limits – such as planetary boundaries and questions around the limits of the Earth's resources –, and the evolution of education itself.
A key element of our innovation is the concept of hypha structures, a framework that allows participants to examine the natural and scientific processes that shape life on Earth. By exploring the elements formed in stars, biological life cycles, and planetary systems, we help participants develop a broader, more interconnected understanding of their place in the world.
Another innovative aspects of hypha_etc is its commitment to rethinking traditional education. Instead of following hierarchical, instructor-led models, we emphasize mutual education, where knowledge is shared among participants rather than dictated by a single authority. Our residency programs, workshops, and summer schools create an interactive learning environment where artists, scientists, and educators collaborate as equals, allowing ideas to cross-pollinate between disciplines.
A key element of our innovation is the concept of hypha structures, a framework that allows participants to examine the natural and scientific processes that shape life on Earth. By exploring the elements formed in stars, biological life cycles, and planetary systems, we help participants develop a broader, more interconnected understanding of their place in the world.
Another innovative aspects of hypha_etc is its commitment to rethinking traditional education. Instead of following hierarchical, instructor-led models, we emphasize mutual education, where knowledge is shared among participants rather than dictated by a single authority. Our residency programs, workshops, and summer schools create an interactive learning environment where artists, scientists, and educators collaborate as equals, allowing ideas to cross-pollinate between disciplines.
This future-oriented approach not only promotes scientific literacy but also actively defends scientific values against misinformation, pseudo-science, and obscurantism. In an era where air pollution, climate change, and environmental damage are measured through scientific data and monitoring devices, it is crucial that young people understand how scientific methods work rather than simply consuming technology passively. We are not a scientific research institute, but by defending the achievements of science, we aim to inspire a long-term commitment to critical thinking and evidence-based understanding among younger generations.
A major challenge in modern education is that while technology plays an increasingly dominant role in young people’s lives, it does not necessarily lead to scientific literacy. Many young people are proficient users of technology but lack an understanding of the scientific principles behind it. Our programs seek to bridge this gap by providing participants with hands-on experience using observational tools to engage with the biological and physical tools. Through our summer school program, we encourage discussion and debate on topics such as Green Chemistry, Urban mining, Circular Economy, Degrowth, and the Quantum future. By engaging with these tools and questions in an artistic and theoretical context, participants develop an interdisciplinary mindset, enabling them to think holistically about scientific, social, and artistic challenges.
This cross-disciplinary learning rooted in experience allows for developing a deep connection with nature and the environment, encouraging participants not just to study these issues but to experience and interpret them creatively. Our goal is to equip individuals with the tools, knowledge, and critical perspectives needed to understand an increasingly complex world, ensuring that education remains non-hierarchical, inclusive, and relevant to the challenges of our time.
A major challenge in modern education is that while technology plays an increasingly dominant role in young people’s lives, it does not necessarily lead to scientific literacy. Many young people are proficient users of technology but lack an understanding of the scientific principles behind it. Our programs seek to bridge this gap by providing participants with hands-on experience using observational tools to engage with the biological and physical tools. Through our summer school program, we encourage discussion and debate on topics such as Green Chemistry, Urban mining, Circular Economy, Degrowth, and the Quantum future. By engaging with these tools and questions in an artistic and theoretical context, participants develop an interdisciplinary mindset, enabling them to think holistically about scientific, social, and artistic challenges.
This cross-disciplinary learning rooted in experience allows for developing a deep connection with nature and the environment, encouraging participants not just to study these issues but to experience and interpret them creatively. Our goal is to equip individuals with the tools, knowledge, and critical perspectives needed to understand an increasingly complex world, ensuring that education remains non-hierarchical, inclusive, and relevant to the challenges of our time.
The models and approaches applied in the project are designed to be adaptable and transferable, showcasing tangible processes that other communities, institutions, and alternative learning spaces can implement. The name hypha_etc reflects the growing structures of hyphae (the branching filaments that form fungal mycelium), that work as distinct units that enable expansion, underground communication, and decentralized connection, yet together form a single organism. The _etc in the name signals that the project remains open-ended, evolving with new functions over time. It also highlights our focus areas: education, theory, and culture. Like the self-replicating structures of hyphae, the knowledge and experience generated at the campsite can replicate and grow beyond the limits of the camp.
The mutual education models developed at hypha_etc are also highly replicable. The methodologies used encourage collaborative, non-hierarchical learning, where knowledge is exchanged between participants rather than being passed down in a rigid structure. These approaches can be transferred and adapted to different learning environments, including schools and universities, cultural institutions, as well as grassroots initiatives. The camp promotes education that can be interactive, interdisciplinary, and community-driven, and this can serve as a model for other programs that aim to combine environmental awareness, artistic processes, and critical thinking.
Hypha_etc also offers a practical example of sustainable infrastructure. The use of renewable energy, the natural materials used, and waste reduction strategies implemented here all ensure that the camp operates with minimal environmental impact. Other educational spaces can adopt these sustainability principles to create environmentally conscious, low-impact learning environments that can make the problems and solutions connected to climate change tangible and approachable.
The mutual education models developed at hypha_etc are also highly replicable. The methodologies used encourage collaborative, non-hierarchical learning, where knowledge is exchanged between participants rather than being passed down in a rigid structure. These approaches can be transferred and adapted to different learning environments, including schools and universities, cultural institutions, as well as grassroots initiatives. The camp promotes education that can be interactive, interdisciplinary, and community-driven, and this can serve as a model for other programs that aim to combine environmental awareness, artistic processes, and critical thinking.
Hypha_etc also offers a practical example of sustainable infrastructure. The use of renewable energy, the natural materials used, and waste reduction strategies implemented here all ensure that the camp operates with minimal environmental impact. Other educational spaces can adopt these sustainability principles to create environmentally conscious, low-impact learning environments that can make the problems and solutions connected to climate change tangible and approachable.
The biggest global challenges we are addressing are the environmental crisis and the future of education. Both have local implications and require careful consideration along with practical, actionable solutions. By relocating the campsite to a remote rural area, surrounded by nature, we aimed to create a dedicated space for meaningful discussions on these critical issues. The proximity to nature encourages a stronger sense of connection to the environment, sparking deeper reflection on our role within it. The dark skies serve as a symbolic and practical reminder of our responsibility toward the planet, while the educational principles we emphasize are designed to be long-term, forward-thinking and solutions-oriented.
One of the most important lessons we have learned is that environmental crises must be made personal and relatable. People need to understand how these issues directly impact their lives and recognize that their individual actions matter. Without this personal connection, inspiring meaningful change is difficult.
To address this challenge, we have created a space for open debate and collaboration, where locally embedded scholars, including environmentalists, biologists, sociologists, scientists, educators, and cultural experts, work alongside international specialists. Through these interdisciplinary discussions, we aim to contribute directly to finding viable solutions to the global crisis. (For further insights, see the paper by Jacob Hasselbalch and Cornel Ban, published by Routledge, in which they express their gratitude to the think tank at our summer school.)
As an educational platform, we are more than just a physical space. We are a hub for discourse, discussion and continuous knowledge generation. We believe that our interdisciplinary programs and curated events can inspire others to develop similar initiatives.
One of the most important lessons we have learned is that environmental crises must be made personal and relatable. People need to understand how these issues directly impact their lives and recognize that their individual actions matter. Without this personal connection, inspiring meaningful change is difficult.
To address this challenge, we have created a space for open debate and collaboration, where locally embedded scholars, including environmentalists, biologists, sociologists, scientists, educators, and cultural experts, work alongside international specialists. Through these interdisciplinary discussions, we aim to contribute directly to finding viable solutions to the global crisis. (For further insights, see the paper by Jacob Hasselbalch and Cornel Ban, published by Routledge, in which they express their gratitude to the think tank at our summer school.)
As an educational platform, we are more than just a physical space. We are a hub for discourse, discussion and continuous knowledge generation. We believe that our interdisciplinary programs and curated events can inspire others to develop similar initiatives.
Hypha_etc has hosted a diverse range of summer schools, bringing together students, researchers, and professionals in a context of interdisciplinary learning. The Zero Point Summer School (2023) explored architecture, speculative design, and biodiversity, while the Ecologies of Emancipation series (2023, 2024) examined themes of polycrisis, legal theory, and political ecology. The Telephone Summer School (2023) bridged STEM and humanities to critically analyze technology, while the Green Line Summer School (2024) focused on audiovisual communication and the green transition. The Marxism & Ecology Summer School (2024) explored themes of ecosocialism and degrowth.
hypha_workshop is our flagship free workshop program, providing educators, researchers, and artists with space, facilities, and accommodation free of charge for short-term educational activities. The Field Ornithology Workshop (April 2024) trained biology students in bird monitoring at the surrounding Natura 2000 site, while the Cluj Architecture Students’ Association Workshop (May 2024) explored creative approaches to architectural design. Following an open call, three workshops were selected for autumn 2024: Take the Lead, which trained youth workers in workshop facilitation; The Relationship Between Intellectual Roles, Ideology, and Philosophy, a doctoral research seminar on Hungarian philosophy in 20th-century Romania; and Land and Art, where art students create site-specific installations and explore environmental themes.
Our residencies saw architect Alex Whitton, educator Virág Lődi, and curator Katalin Erdődi carry out research projects.
Awards and Recognition:
Featured in the Local Value | 3rd National Salon of Architecture at Műcsarnok, Budapest.
Nominated for the BATRA '23 awards, section of Architecture of Socio-Cultural Facilities.
Featured in issue #68-69/2024 of ARTA Visual Arts Journal, Issue Title "How Do You Bring a Classroom to Life as if It Were a Work of Art?".
hypha_workshop is our flagship free workshop program, providing educators, researchers, and artists with space, facilities, and accommodation free of charge for short-term educational activities. The Field Ornithology Workshop (April 2024) trained biology students in bird monitoring at the surrounding Natura 2000 site, while the Cluj Architecture Students’ Association Workshop (May 2024) explored creative approaches to architectural design. Following an open call, three workshops were selected for autumn 2024: Take the Lead, which trained youth workers in workshop facilitation; The Relationship Between Intellectual Roles, Ideology, and Philosophy, a doctoral research seminar on Hungarian philosophy in 20th-century Romania; and Land and Art, where art students create site-specific installations and explore environmental themes.
Our residencies saw architect Alex Whitton, educator Virág Lődi, and curator Katalin Erdődi carry out research projects.
Awards and Recognition:
Featured in the Local Value | 3rd National Salon of Architecture at Műcsarnok, Budapest.
Nominated for the BATRA '23 awards, section of Architecture of Socio-Cultural Facilities.
Featured in issue #68-69/2024 of ARTA Visual Arts Journal, Issue Title "How Do You Bring a Classroom to Life as if It Were a Work of Art?".
