Design Hotels Arena 2022 conference, Crete

Katie Treggiden chaired a panel for Design Hotel's annual Arena* conference in Crete in May 2022. The discussion covered the innovations taking place in biomaterials that combine ancient knowledge with new applications as well as how to close the loop by turning waste into valuable new objects with longevity. Together the panel (which included Henna Burney, project manager and material designer at Atelier LUMA, Lucas De Man, founder and CEO of New Heroes, Nienke Hoogvliet, founder of Studio Nienke Hoogvliet and Suzanna Laskaridis, founder and director of BlueCycle) learned about interior tiles made from salt, dyes made from sewage and seaweed, 'leather' made from fish skin, and sun loungers made from ocean plastic.

The 2022 Arena* theme was Circle Back Circle Forward. As the world accelerates, Arena invited attendees to gather to contemplate where the past and present meet, and how the bonds of infinite circularity connect us. The event offered an exploration of circular economies and thinking, the path envisioned towards the sustainable future of travel and living.

The program of diverse talks and workshops covered Design Hotel's core pillars of art, design and architecture, bringing cross-industry innovators to share their visions and ideas for the future – from regenerative new materials, agricology and principles of biophilia, to emerging technologies in the context of sustainability.

These themes were distilled through a series of breakout sessions, panels and speakers, both on-site and off-site, complemented by a cultural deep-dive into Cretan traditions and hospitality.

Image credit @bluecycle.official