(N)ON - Material Atmospheres

From 17 to 28 August 2026, the Smart Living Lab welcomed students and researchers from Switzerland and South Korea for the 4th edition of ARC-HEST – Architecture for Human Environment with Smart Technologies. Under the theme “(N)ON – Material Atmospheres”, international teams explored how architectural materials shape the way spaces perform, feel and are experienced, using public baths – both open-air and enclosed – as a case study.

Over two intensive weeks, participants combined architecture, technology and human factors through workshops, fieldwork and hands-on experimentation, transforming their ideas into physical prototypes and exploring how material choices can generate distinct spatial atmospheres. The programme culminated in final project reviews and a closing event bringing together the ARC-HEST community and representatives of the Republic of Korea and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).

The journey continues in early 2027. During the Winter Workshop, from 25 January to 5 February 2027, participants will reunite in South Korea to build on the projects, ideas and collaborations that began in Fribourg.

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