Super Terram

Super Terram is an action research project aimed at rethinking our relationship with urban soils. Based on the idea that cities like Brussels could be transformed if we valued soils as a vital ecosystem rather than just a resource or waste, we engaged through digging, observing, reading and writing together, dreaming of an urban environment where soil is respected as an equal partner in design.

We invited participants to develop or sharpen an art of attention and to take time to observe and feel through a series of actions. These activities encouraged participants to slow down, listen, and reconnect with the hidden life forms beneath us. To us this process raised profound questions:

Would we (as urban designers) start recognizing your communities and neighbourhoods, and be able to give them correct names, to locate them on our maps? Would we (as landscapers) learn to design our landscapes starting from your habitats? Would we (as users) be able to tame our impatience and wait for our plants to grow at your pace instead of the one of our 3D renderings? Would we negotiate with you which plants to even best let grow there? Would we go so far as looking for another site to accommodate our houses if a lot of you have already installed yourselves here? Or decide to make our house/ workspace/ park or any other use a bit smaller so that we can all fit on the same site? Or make our building a bit less refined to save some budget for your needs? Can we as designers not work with soil, for soil?

Throughout the project, we witnessed the value of a “non-expert” perspective, where shared exploration led to insights that surprised both experts and newcomers. This journey of learning together was captured through artifacts and inspirations collected in our fieldwork.

Selection of Actions that defined the project:

-Map A (W)hole New World Schaerbeek Formation (12.03.2022)

-‘Dérive’ in the framework of Brussels 2030 Summer Assembly (05.07.2022)

-Table Ronde (21.10.2022)

-Slow Terram Workshop Denicolai & Provoost, Book and Publication by La Rivière Sèche (17.10+24.10.2022, 23.04+26.04.2023+08.02.2024)

-Soil blanket (presentation 21.06.2023)

Super Terram is carried by BRAL, ULB architecture and 51N4E. With the collaboration of Falma Fshazi, The design unit Urban Nature and LoUisE of ULB, Ecotechnic, Plant en Houtgoed, Valérianne Poidevin and Studio1Bis.

The launch of Super Terram was made possible through the Innoviris Co-create 2021-2023 program.

You can view more at superterram.wixsite.com