Possible Patterns
Basic information
Project Title
Category
Project Description
‘Possible Patterns’ is a spatial intervention. It is comprised of modular elements that are made of rammed earth. They make up a large volume that emerges as a fragment of built space. ‘Possible Patterns’ originates from research into the standardization and customization of shapes, geometry and composition. Through the work’s modularity a multitude of configurations could be (re)built.
Geographical Scope
Project Region
Urban or rural issues
Physical or other transformations
EU Programme or fund
Which funds
Description of the project
Summary
‘Possible Patterns’ is collaboration between the artist Elise Eeraerts and GROND. Elise Eeraerts is a multidisciplinary artist working with monumental, abstract sculptures concentrating on spatial interventions. Often her work is meant to be a conduit for interrelating human construction and nature. She explores material transformations that originate from the landscape, such as soil becoming a wall, or mud becoming a brick. The process of material manufacture in different time periods and cultures inspire her along with the social impact caused by their creation and process. When deploying and incorporating ancient practices in her work, she suggests a reflection about the nature of our own, current situation, society and lives. In essence, her work explores the past and future of tactile actions of creation and examines our gradual social alienation from ritualistic traditions, along with our idea of being in touch with nature. "Possible Patterns" is a spatial intervention comprised of modular elements made of rammed earth. They make up a large volume that emerges as a fragment of built space. There are 5 different shapes that function intermodularly as a group. Among these, some establish a scaled up/down version of themselves. ‘Possible Patterns’ originates from research into the standardization and customization of shapes, geometry and composition. Through the work’s modularity a multitude of configurations could be (re)built. Within these modular units an additional experiment is materialized through the creation of openings in the middle. These openings have a visual impact, constituting small windows to look through ‘Possible Patterns’ from different sides. Yet they also bring forward fragility in terms of the material stability of rammed earth.Usually, mud bricks do not contain openings within their own volume. Pushing their distinctive balance to its limit, challenges and activates the senses and experience of the viewer.
Key objectives for sustainability
Earth is a material known to everyone, yet it remains mysterious — an outcome of a long erosion, decomposition and weathering process, resulting in a mixture of grains, water and air. These three elements create a solid material with which volumes, structures and houses can be built. In the urban context, earth is commonly seen as a waste material: millions of tonnes are excavated from building sites every year and taken to landfills. The project revolves around revaluing this material as an undisturbed, primary, local resource. The earth beneath our feet can be transformed into carbon-neutral and healthy loam plasters, loam bricks, loam logs (rammed earth), which always have a story to tell. Yet there is still scepticism about the material, because there is little awareness of the potential of earth in crafts, both in architecture and design and art. The project explores material transformations that originate from the landscape, such as soil becoming a wall, or mud becoming a brick, but it also provides infinite applications in terms of material use and circularity. A series of custom-made moulds have been designed in order to create openings in the middle of the elements. The design of the moulds pushed the technical possibilities with the material (earth). To allow for the opening, the weight of the material is also very important. Sometimes, the composition of earth needs to be enriched with gravel or stones to prevent it from either being too viscous or too dry. This makes the material very heavy. In this sense the custom made moulds provide the ideal testing ground for new material research. They could also be filled with other natural materials and/or a combination of natural mixed with other waste streams (such plastics, metal waste ...). As such the project aims to explore how we can transform not only with natural materials, but also with the existing toxic waste streams that we are forced to acknowledge and need to transform (nature-culture dualism)
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
There are 5 different shapes that function intermodularly as a group. Among these, some establish a scaled up/down version of themselves. ‘Possible Patterns’ originates from research into the standardization and customization of shapes, geometry and composition. Through the work’s modularity a multitude of configurations could be (re)built. Within these modular units an additional experiment is materialized through the creation of openings in the middle. These openings have a visual impact, constituting small windows to look through ‘Possible Patterns’ from different sides. Yet they also bring forward fragility in terms of the material stability of rammed earth. Usually, mud bricks do not contain openings within their own volume. Pushing their distinctive balance to its limit, challenges and activates the senses and experience of the viewer. Often shapes are determined by site-specific conditions, such as the geometries that occur in a spatial context or that come about conceptual, historic research about a place. However, shapes also come about an internal logic based on the ensemble of geometries, as a result of their symmetry, modularity, repetition or other mathematical operations, such as rotations, scaling or mirroring. Construction-wise the project intends to design systems that question the standard of the cube in architecture, or more broadly, perpendicularly designed built space. Due to this research, which is influenced by external as well as internal factors, the design produces a specific aesthetic. Moreover the esthetic through the contrast of raw, natural materials (such as in this case soil) and concrete, manmade objects symbolizes our human history, modifying the landscape throughout time, up until having entered the Anthropocene.
Key objectives for inclusion
Earth is a sustainable and carbon neutral material with which volumes, structures and houses can be built. The project revolves around revaluing this material and the local availability of construction materials. Each piece of land can serve as foundation for its future walls (equal opportunities, accessibility). The materials are not expensive, the costliest aspect of rammed earth construction is represented by the large need for labour. Building with earth is not new: in fact, we have been doing this for centuries. All over the world we see ancient practices (in the domain of farming, water management, ...) are being given new life as a means to mitigate the effects of climate change. While innovation is often the key to combatting new challenges, ancient practices such as building with Earth shows us that we can always learn from the past, too. The project aims to explore how an age-old global construction technology, can still be relevant in technological times to address the global challenges we are facing. In terms of co-design, at the core of the project lies the collaboration between GROND studio and artist Elise Eeraerts. Together they explore how well known construction methods and the application of (local) soil in contemporary design projects can be taken a step further. GROND brought the expertise and material knowledge, while the artist pushed the technical boundaries through design. This resulted in the creation of a series of moulds to create the modular elements made of rammed earth. The moulds that are designed to make the elements could be used to build structures on the spot. Through workshops, both professionals and communities can easily learn how to work with the material. In this sense, the project aims to extend the collaborative nature of the project to implementation into the real world.
Results in relation to category
In contemporary architecture and construction industry, earth is commonly seen as a waste material: millions of tonnes are excavated from building sites every year and taken to landfills. The project revolves around revaluing this material as an undisturbed, primary, local resource. Persuading professionals in the field and also legislative authorities of the respective merits of rammed earth construction remains difficult. Via the project "Possible Patterns" we aim to explore how the construction, architecture and design industry should reconnect again with nature, to become more circular and inclusive. The project shows that construction with rammed earth (and other natural materials) is feasible, environmentally friendly, affordable, inclusive and beautiful. The moulds that have been designed could be reproduced and scaled, to make bigger constructions and allow (economical vulnerable) communities to be involved on the construction process. At the same time, the moulds provide GROND studio and the artist with the perfect testing ground for further material research. Currently they are researching how other natural materials and/or natural material mixed with other (toxic) waste streams (plastics, metals, ...) could be used to produce the elements.
How Citizens benefit
Due to the global pandemic it has unfortunately not been possible to work on the implementation of a series of activities that engage local communities. However, the project provides huge potential for citizens, civil society, universities, ... to participate in the project. It is our intention to 1) publish the design of the moulds open source, so that everyone can work with it. And 2) to give workshops in which participants learn more about mould-building and working with earth as a construction material. In Belgium there are only a few professionals that work with raw earth material in construction and design. Therefore, both GROND Studio and artist Elise Geeraerts are regularly invited for talks and the organisation of workshops around rammed earth construction. The nature of the project is built on the foundation of working with a locally available material and basic principles/knowledge that has been around for ages. As such the project aims to transmit the idea of raw earth construction as a method that is open source, in continuous evolution and itself an effort that requires the input of local communities.
Physical or other transformations
Innovative character
The problems we are facing today are extremely complex and intertwined. To solve these issues, we need to bring together different skillsets and expertises. The project, that is collaborative in nature, also aims to be exemplary of the importance of transdisciplinary thinking in approaching global challenges. To accellerate a shift in thinking, we need to imagine new possible futures. This is exactly where art, combined with non-artistic disciplines, can play a major role. This projects aims to bring back century-old construction techniques in a highly technological world. The project looks at how these age-old techniques could be used today to tackle global challenges. Rather than looking at technology first, it looks at how existing knowledge could be complemented with new technologies. Instead of looking for novel things, it investigates the potential of transformation towards a better future with what we have including the toxic waste streams we have created (and will continue to exist).
Learning transferred to other parties
The project provides a lot of potential for citizens and civil society to participate in the project. Due to COVID-19 it has not been possible to work on the implementation of a series of activities that engage local communities. It is our intention to 1) publish the design of the moulds open source, so that everyone can work with it. With the help of CNC would cutters, available in most fablabs, they could easily be produced. By giving the plans to a community, they can test and give feedback. This leads not only to a transfer of knowledge, but perhaps also to an improvement in the product. 2) In collaboration with universities and architecture studios a set of diverse workshops could be implemented where participants learn how to build moulds and to work with the material. Taking into account the work is a collaboration between GROND studio and artist Elise Eeraerts, the installation has been received a lot of attention from the cultural world. The work has been included in the exhibition "Variations in Earth" at Valery Traan Gallery in Antwerp, a leading gallery in the field of design and architecture. From April 2022 onwards the work will be shown at the Design Museum in Ghent (Belgium). These presentations create further awareness around natural construction materials and methods addressing a very broad public. Via the parallel programme of exhibitions there is generally also an oportunity to complement the exhibition of the work with talk and workshops, extending the knowledge that is gathered in the piece beyond the exhibition walls.
