Earth, Lightly

Earth, Lightly was an explorative investigation of the aesthetic potential of Light Earth construction as an insulating method for a low-carbon building in Treviso, Italy, involving the renovation of a former textile factory.

Assigned with renovating and retrofitting an old building, they explored Light Earth construction as an alternative to better-known insulation methods. Typically, the fibre-earth mixture is finished with plaster after casting. However, this research examined a less conventional line of inquiry: how can ornamentation be incorporated into the shaping of Light Earth itself? Could shapes be pressed into the material and still be detailed?

The answer lies in the characteristics of the fibre-earth mixture. Coarser fibres produce lighter, rougher mixes, while finer ones result in smoother textures that can better capture intricate forms. These insights led to a series of tests involving casting different mixtures into identical moulds – some as coarse infill and others as finer surface layers with reduced abrasion.

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The outcome of the fellowship was a sculptural installation displaying the variety of mixtures that were tested.

Maria Lisogorskaya and Kaye Song are architects, artists and members of Assemble, an award-winning studio based in London. Assemble is a multidisciplinary collective working across architecture, design and art. Founded in 2010 by a group of friends to undertake a single self-built project, Assemble’s organisational structure has changed shape over the years. They continue to work co-operatively, valuing debate and collaboration as a partnership. They operate using a constellation model, collaborating between themselves and with others to take a tailored approach to projects. They draw on expertise and create meaningful work with a lasting impact. Maria and Kaye are interested in how we build - our relationship to materials and to each other. Maria is a co-founding partner at Assemble and an active Academician on behalf of the studio at the Royal Academy of Arts, alongside a developing fresco painting practice. With Assemble, she initiated and designed a range of projects and held international visiting professorships. Kaye joined the collective in 2020 and has been developing the practices portfolio of workspace projects, as well as practicing as a photographer and facilitating events that engage communities with the building process. Among their current Assemble projects is the refurbishment of an ex-textile factory in Treviso, a campsite in Japan and affordable artists studios across the UK.