What began as a few random lines of ink on blank paper ended up representing my take on an organic architecture that grows out of the ground, and into the light.

I imagined living inside a pearly soft and smooth shell-like structure teaming with life.

A blanket of loose, friable soil planted with ornamental and edible plants stabilized indoor temperatures and sponged up water for recharging the local groundwater aquifer.

Safely managed blackwater and graywater irrigation created lush gardens, orchards, and tree canopies. Plants in semi-outdoor spaces freshened indoor air flows. Building shapes, openings, and sight-lines filled internal spaces with reflected light while intentionally marking annual solar and lunar calendar events.

Inspiration

As a student bicycling between the University of Oregon campus and my refuge in a west Eugene neighborhood garage, I would often see a girl striding barefoot along the cold, hard streets of the campus commercial district. The pavement seemed softer under her feet, and her poise made the shoe-wearing crowds around her seem out of place. I imagined a world made for barefoot living - a world less trampled.

Many of the ideas behind this artwork were informed by my experience with pneumatically placed concrete, stained-glass, landscaping, the work of James Hubbell and the writings of Frank Lloyd Wright.