Re-Made Nature

Natural resources are drawn from environments aggressively and with disregard toward the damage inflicted on these environments. These resources and the resulting manufactured objects are distributed inequitably between different parts of society. This creates a context of environmental and social unsus-tainability. Construction and architecture are a significant part of this problem polluting the environment and working directly with only a small part of the society. The thesis is an architectural exploration into sustainable and democratic space and construction utilising contemporary technology, craft and making.

Can architecture reduce its environmental impact by utilising efficient digital fabrication methods and tim-ber construction? Can such technologies and design achieve frameworks that enable user participation?

The thesis response to these questions is examined through a building and landscape design—a canalside site developed to house a craftsmanship and education, design and production programme. The architec-tural exploration aims to create public, open spaces through the technological language of digital fabrica-tion in timber. The flexibility of space is designed through a change of scale, thresholds and adaptability, to provide specific and continuously meaningful experience and use.

A crafted relationship between the human and the natural that respects, cares for one and another— architecture that is sustainable alongside nature and for individuals.