Johnathan R. Greenage 

    The majority of “solutions” to a more sustainable design is credited to new technological breakthroughs. This paper outlines a proposal that aims to show how it is new concepts combined with old concepts of engaging the earth itself that is possibly the most practical and time tested form of sustainability. Taking into account a wide range of influences; from the realms of ancient civilizations to observations of various animals use of the environment and combining with new practices of landscape art and architecture I intend to propose an argument against current practice.

    The idea that humans deny of instinctive design principles in favor of maintaining a ceratain appeal of a structure partially drives this project. While LEED has been a good driving principle in furthering sustainable, much of modern sustainability is the equivelant of a bandaids on a wound that requires stitches. Many of the technologies we aim to create are nothing more than fiegned imiatation of phenomena that occur within nature. Instead of throwing technology at an issue we should be looking into adapting these phenomena for our needs.

   In general, the intent of my thesis is create a place to compare and educate alternate methods of sustainable construction through the organic abstraction, expression, and manipulation of earth at a variety of scales. Through the use of site, excavation, orientation, design and exploration of existing typologies, new typologies for advancing the concept of place the will be produced. Through advanced application this proposal aims to show how the language of architecture as well as landscape, and nature can be enhanced in a less parasitic and more symbiotic manner. Further enhancing these connections .