‘Reciprocity provokes us to think about the world at large, to reflect upon our conduct towards the environment and the symbiotic relationships between human and non-human life.’ Architecture Fringe 2025

Architecture is a relational practice - so what would the earth say about our relationship?

At the heart of the climate and Nature crisis are human ways of being apart from Nature, rather than a part of Nature. The is especially true in the built environment. We will consider earth, with more man-made than natural surface on the planet and sand now declared an endangered natural resource by the United Nations.

How can Construction live in Nature on a level playing field?

Are ‘land use’and ‘natural resource’ valid design terms in a Pluriverse of beings?

Does the land belong to people or do people belong to the land?

What does a generative approach to construction minerals look like?

What can we learn from 400 generations of indigenous building in Scotland?

What does earth teach us about time, violence and the circular economy?

How can Theory of Care reveal human entanglement with soil?

If Scotland had a constitution, where would soil sit in the Rights of Nature?

What practices can we use to hear the voice of earth in our work?

Architect Tom Morton and Artist/Builder Becky Little sat down to discuss their work in this field and invite audience dialogue. They explored what sort of dialogue might emerge from a Scottish Construction Council of Beings, which gave voice to the more than human.

This project was supported by Scottish Ecological Design Association and Earth Building UK & Ireland.