In the office building of Entropic, you might spot a photo of an innocuous-looking bridge perched up above Geoffrey Eberle’s desk. But, like everything to do with this world-leading urbanist design collective, it turns out be far more than meets the eye.
'That’s the Himlavalvet, one of ours in Sweden,' he says proudly. 'The carbon sequestration properties of the wood we used can overcome the steel used in the construction of the bridge, so we’re starting to build infrastructure which actually has a carbon reduction for the atmosphere. And this sort of thing gets me really excited.'
Geoffrey’s work is full of this sort of solution-building - simple insights blended with high-tech engineering that remains practical and enhances the urban landscape.
Geoffrey’s company, Entropic, is a dynamic design firm that has been pushing the boundaries of sustainable architecture. At the helm of this innovative venture sits Geoffrey himself, a British-born architect based in the creative centre of Barcelona. With a penchant for exploration, Geoffrey's journey has taken him across five different countries before finding his current home in one of Spain’s great cities.
The more you learn about Entropic, the more it becomes evident that the team not only creates vast, beautiful structures, but rather delves into the very core of contemporary life, embracing the yin and yang of simplicity and complexity in ways that feel like a signpost towards a modern theory of design.
'Our guiding principles are rooted in embracing the vast complexity of contemporary life, acknowledging the shift from a highly organised modern world to a realm of freedom and opportunity within the built environment,' he says. 'We want to create generic objects like, say, bricks that can be seamlessly incorporated into projects promoting ecological design.'
Bricks may seem humdrum in contrast to the towering glass and steel structures that characterise much of modern building design across Europe, but Geoffrey sees it differently.
'These simple building blocks democratise sustainable design principles, empowering individuals to become architects of their own regenerative habitats,' he says.
A graduate of the Delft University of Technology, Geoffrey’s vision is a world where design sits in harmonious coexistence with the natural environment.
The world is changing, and so should our approach to architecture. That’s our goal at Entropic: to redefine how we build and interact with our surroundings.
Geoffrey
Navigating through Entropic's portfolio, it’s easy to be struck by the blend of artistry and social conscience that runs through each project. The team have created awe-inspiring structures that serve a purpose beyond aesthetics, making a positive impact on the environment and its communities. It’s this exact approach that caught the attention of the EIT Community, beginning a fruitful collaboration that’s helped shape Entropic's trajectory.
'Our journey with the EIT Community began through the New European Bauhaus (NEB) programme, which celebrates projects that embody their core principles of sustainability, inclusivity, and beauty,' Geoffrey says. 'We were thrilled to secure the NEB’s EIT Community Catalyse support for our concept of our generic building blocks that promote ecological design and regeneration. It was a significant validation of our vision which opened the door to a world of opportunities.'
The partnership with the EIT Community proved transformative for Entropic, nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship across sectors and disciplines in a way that appealed to the Entropic team. 'They offered a supportive ecosystem that really helped our team bridge the gap between design and business,' he says.
Through the NEB Entropic ended up in EIT Community’s flagship Climate-KIC programme. From there they became immersed in a network of passionate entrepreneurs and experts who encouraged them in their vision to push the boundaries of sustainable design.
The Climate-KIC was an eye-opener for us,' Geoffrey reflects. 'It provided us with valuable educational resources, business support, and unparalleled networking opportunities. Being part of this ecosystem exposed us to diverse perspectives and fresh ideas, enriching our design philosophy. The feedback and insights we received from other start-ups and mentors were instrumental in refining our designs and making them practical.'
One such project that stands as a testament to Entropic's commitment to regeneration is the aforementioned Himlavalvet - Heaven's Vault in English - bridge. Designed with a timber deck, the bridge actively sequesters carbon, effectively creating an infrastructure with a negative carbon footprint. But this is not merely an ecological marvel; it is a space for sociability, encouraging community engagement and connections with nature.
'Seeing the structure’s supporting arc, we proposed the idea that people could walk to the top of it, so there would be a way of seeing over the entire river and the landscape, and actually for this to become a moment of sociability,' says Geoffrey.
This, Geoffrey tells, goes back to the idea of entropy: creating more opportunities, more chaos, and more complexity within our built environments. Looking ahead, Geoffrey envisions an exciting future for Entropic and the EIT Community.
We have high hopes for our partnership with the EIT Community. As Entropic continues to grow and innovate, we seek further engagement with community members, collaborating with like-minded individuals in the sustainable design space.
Geoffrey
Geoffrey predicts growth in Entropic’s future, upwards and outwards in as many directions as possible. 'Our aspiration is to expand the impact of our projects globally, addressing diverse environmental challenges while maintaining our strong emphasis on regeneration and social consciousness.'
Finally, Geoffrey signs off with some valuable advice for aspiring architects who wish to follow a similar path of sustainable and socially minded design.
'Stay curious,' he urges. 'Embrace diversity and challenge conventional thinking wherever you can. Surround yourself with a network of like-minded individuals who share your passion for positive change. Be open to collaboration and engage with various disciplines to create holistic and impactful solutions. Remember, sustainable design is a journey, and every small step towards regeneration counts.'
With projects in the works across Europe and the Middle East, Geoff and Entropic's unwavering dedication to sustainability and their pioneering spirit continue to shape the landscape of our built environments, leaving a lasting impact on both the ecosystems and communities they work in. Looking to the future, the EIT Community eagerly anticipates more of their groundbreaking projects coming to fruition, each a testament to the harmony between architecture and the planet we call home.
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