Work
Cracks and Seams
The built environment contributes over 37% of global carbon emissions. The rapid demolition of aging structures, the construction of new ones, and the extraction, processing, and transportation of materials intensify the ecological crises threatening our shared future. In response, the proliferation of green roofs and landscape projects on buildings reflects an urgent, if somewhat reactive, effort to repair the fractures humans have imposed on the planet.
Yet, the intersection of the built environment and nature often unfolds more organically than we might anticipate. Flora and fauna reclaim urban spaces, finding unexpected habitats in the cracks and seams of traditional imbrex and tegula roof tiles. These spontaneous urban wildernesses offer a surprising reprieve, underscoring nature’s quiet persistence in reclaiming space amid human-induced chaos.
This project seeks to explore and amplify this delicate relationship, typically confined to rooftops, by bringing it down to eye level. At its core is a partially subterranean pavilion constructed from recycled roof tiles, rocks, concrete rubble, and a lightweight timber frame. Encircled by a thriving pollinator garden, the pavilion creates a shared domain where built and natural environments coexist. Visitors are invited into this unique ecosystem, where nature and architecture converge, embodying a subtle yet powerful restoration of our surroundings.
Location: Italy
Status: Ongoing