Raw Earth

At a time of pressure on the planet's limits, we look at raw earth not as a nostalgic return, but as a natural, local, and available resource. Building with earth means understanding the territory and reactivating a knowledge archive that links local resources and construction culture. The exhibition moves from matter to action: from the physical and mineral complexity of the soil to accumulated knowledge, to practices that claim earth as a viable, ethical, and poetic construction material. Starting from the ground — the soil beneath our feet — it invites us to rediscover raw earth as matter, archive, and agent of contemporary architecture in Portugal. It brings together scientific and historical content, prototypes and case studies, as well as collaborative experiences that analyze and reuse earth excavated from construction sites in Lisbon, revealing its performance and potential as a circular resource and opening possibilities for its role in building the city. Curated by Madalena Vidigal Public program ◾ Conversations around earth: Earth in projection Saturday, September 26 at 3:00 pm Architecture Centre What is the future of earthen construction? This conversation explores how the training of new generations, technological evolution, and legislation and standardization come together in transforming the sector. Academia and industry discuss how curricula, new production methods, and technical standards shape professional practice and industrial development, identifying common opportunities and responsibilities to prepare professionals capable of advancing earthen construction in a critical, creative, ethical, and responsible way. Panel to be announced. Free entry, subject to prior registration. Panel to be announced | Free entry, subject to prior registration ◾ Film screening Toucher Terre (68', 2024) Saturday, September 26 at 5:00 pm at the MAC/CCB Auditorium Free entry, subject to venue capacity ◾ Conversations around Earth “Earth in continuity” Sunday, October 11 at 3:00 pm at the Architecture Centre | 5:00 pm Film What legacies do we receive from earthen architecture and construction, and how do they shape the way we build and think about this material today? In this conversation, we revisit the technical, cultural, and community legacies that have allowed the persistence and renewal of earthen know-how. Speaking with master builders, research pioneers, and practices that have marked the territory, we reflect on what remains, what evolves, and what can still be reactivated to inform the futures of earthen architecture and construction. Panel to be announced | Free entry, subject to prior registration Exhibition visits ◾ Sunday, October 4, at 11:00 am Free participation subject to prior registration via form or by email [email protected]