A conceptual artwork that grew from a few random ink lines into a vision of organic architecture rising from the ground and into the light.
I imagined living inside a pearly, soft, smooth, shell-like structure teeming with life inside and out.
A blanket of loose, friable soil planted with ornamental and edible plants over the shell would stabilize indoor temperatures and retain water to recharge the local groundwater aquifer.
A building footprint that develops life rather than displaces it, and like a tree, the older the building grows, the greater its ecosystem value.
Safely managed blackwater and graywater irrigation would create lush gardens, orchards, and tree canopies. Plants in semi-outdoor spaces would freshen indoor airflow. Building shapes, openings, and sight lines would fill interior spaces with reflected light while marking annual solar and lunar events.
Inspiration
As a student bicycling between the University of Oregon campus and a refuge in a West Eugene neighborhood garage, I often saw 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 seem out of place. I imagined a world made for barefoot living: a world less trampled.
The artwork was informed by experience with pneumatically placed concrete, stained glass, landscaping, the work of James Hubbell, and the writings of Frank Lloyd Wright.
