David McConville, co-founder and lead cosmographer of Spherical, explores the interplay between technology and our understanding of Earth. He discusses the concept of 'living infrastructure' through Los Angeles as a case study, emphasizing community collaboration in mapping and sustainable practices. The conversation delves into how worldviews shape environmental challenges, water management, and the importance of imagination in comprehending ecosystems. McConville advocates for engaging communities to create resilient systems that honor local cultures and ecological needs.
Worldviews significantly shape interactions with our environments, influencing cultural practices and collective experiences deeply embedded in society.
The concept of living infrastructure promotes community participation in co-designing sustainable systems that respect local ecosystems and cultural contexts.
Imagination and active community engagement are essential for fostering meaningful relationships with the environment, driving transformative and resilient change.
Deep dives
Exploring Worldviews and Perspectives
Worldviews shape our understanding of existence and influence how we engage with our environments. They are deeply embedded in cultural practices, daily rituals, and collective experiences rather than just being abstract philosophical concepts. David McConville discusses the challenge of recognizing the invisible currents of thought that inform our actions and decisions. By framing worldviews as rivers, he highlights the importance of understanding their sources and trajectories to foster healthier interactions with the world around us.
Connecting Community and Infrastructure
Infrastructure acts as a physical manifestation of collective beliefs and societal values, influencing everything from urban planning to environmental policies. In Los Angeles, this manifests distinctly, as historical decisions often ignored the complexities of local ecosystems. McConville's work emphasizes the need for communities to participate in co-designing their infrastructure, integrating traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary planning. This approach acknowledges the deep interconnections between human systems and the natural world, fostering resilience and sustainability.
Rebuilding Through a Regenerative Lens
In the aftermath of wildfires in Los Angeles, there is a pressing need to rethink how communities rebuild. Emphasizing a slow, reflective reconstruction process allows for consideration of the historical context and ecological dynamics at play. Fostering practices like distributed stormwater management and community engagement ensures the reconstruction respects both human and environmental needs. By avoiding quick fixes that bypass regulations, communities can create infrastructure that genuinely enhances resilience and ecological health.
The Role of Imagination in Community Engagement
Imagination plays a crucial role in how communities envision and create their environments. While data and visualizations are important, the active participation and creativity of the community members are essential for successful outcomes. McConville underscores that actionable change comes not just from sharing information but from fostering a culture of inquiry and collective imagination. This transformative process allows communities to develop meaningful relationships with their surroundings, leading to more vibrant and sustainable ecosystems.
Living Infrastructure Framework
The Living Infrastructure Framework identifies key principles for creating resilient and thriving communities. These principles include honoring place, growing participation, embodying justice, fostering resilience, and regenerating life. By applying these lenses, project leaders can ensure that their initiatives are grounded in local context and responsive to community needs. This holistic approach maximizes positive impacts, encouraging interconnectedness and sustainability within evolving ecosystems.
David McConville is a transdisciplinary artist and researcher who explores how technology shapes our perspectives of Earth—from local places to our cosmic context. Our conversation examines how worldviews influence infrastructure, using Los Angeles as a case study. We explore the paradigm of "living infrastructure," discussing how David's studio Spherical collaborates with communities and organizations to develop mapping and co-design tools. Even if you’re not in LA, this episode offers valuable insights into how communities can work together to create resilient infrastructure systems that honor their unique cultural needs and local environments.
David McConville is co-founder and lead cosmographer of Spherical, a strategic design and integrative research studio based in xučyun / Oakland, CA. His PhD in Art and Media from Plymouth University examined how cosmological perspectives shape cultural imaginaries and ecological practices.
Look out for meditations, poems, readings, and other snippets of inspiration in between episodes.