This 2017 paper explores the innovative intersection of architecture, landscape architecture, and materiality through the project MaterialNature, which utilizes small-scale coastal erosion and natural growth as a foundation for architectural speculation. The project leverages local landscapes and residual materials, creating architectural prototypes designed for weatherization and ecological integration. These entities serve dual purposes: as amenities in recreational areas and as installations in regions devoid of human activity, demonstrating the potential for architecture to emerge from and return to natural environments without contributing further to waste. The design philosophy transitions from formal composition to an appreciation of the intrinsic natural characteristics of local ecology and landscape. This approach suggests a new aesthetic trajectory that aligns with ecological aesthetics and sustainability.
The PLAN Journal intends disseminates and promotes innovative, thought-provoking and relevant research, studies and criticism in architecture and urbanism. The ultimate purpose of the TPJ is thus to enrich the dialog between research and professional fields, in order to encourage both applicable new knowledge and intellectually driven modes of practice.
Keywords: Material Innovation, Erosion, Large-scale 3D Printing with Soil, Architectural Ecology, Landscape Ecology