Initiated by Space Caviar, Non-Extractive Architecture is an ongoing project aimed at collectively rethinking the balance between the built and natural landscapes, the role of technology and politics in future material economies, and the responsibility of the architect as an agent of transformation. The project sets out to investigate possible alternatives to the dominant paradigm of architecture – alternative modes of practice which, each in its own way, contribute to the formation of a new understanding of what it means to shape the designed environment.
The establishment of a new paradigm faces two challenges – one internal to the profession, the other external. On the one hand, attempting to “practice differently” can be a lonely endeavor with much risk and little reward, especially for small, independent practices which make up the vast majority of the design profession. On the other, the marketplace’s expectations of the architect are often not aligned with the goals of long-term thinking or a non-extractive approach to material use.
non-extractive architecture(s) is an ongoing research directory that aims to address both of these challenges. Developed in close collaboration with the Practice Lab at rearc institute, a non-profit philanthropic association working at the intersection of climate action and architecture, the platform curates a network of support and information exchange for individuals, practitioners, communities, and institutions worldwide interested in participating in the creation and amplification of more equitable paradigms in architecture.