Climate change and biodiversity loss are driving changes in agricultural practices. Through his residency, designer Valentin Patis is developing a reflection on alternative techniques, particularly in viticulture. He is working here with the waste from the wine and sheep farming industry to create bio-materials applied to a row-covering tile system. This project is an extension of his diploma work completed at the Design Academy in Eindhoven, focusing on the regeneration of polluted soils in the Champagne region.

Valentin Patis graduated in object and space design from Reims School of Art and Design and with a master’s in social design from Eindhoven Design Academy. At first, he was interested in the development of materials and shapes inspired by natural processes. Through his research, he develops materials based on the resources of a region.

As a result of this, his work tackles social and environmental challenges from the agricultural and rural world. Convinced of design’s important role as a tool for transformation and mediation, his work aims to contribute towards helping evolve practices and generational dogmas. In 2022, he founded a collective of Champagne winemakers (Val Ross) whose aim was to develop sustainable practices for commons (shared resources) and to promote the regeneration of ecosystems.

A selection of these works was presented at Dutch Design Week, WaterSchool M4H+, and was published in issue number 14 of Design Unlimited and the 2022 edition of Graduation Show.