On Atmospheric Architectures
From the perspective of a planetary geologist, the atmosphere acts to shape a planetary surface; in other words it is not merely a product of the Earth, yet that which precedes it. It is neither a public resource, nor a public construct, but a complex allegory of the two. Linked through a matrix of atmospheric feedback existing between the vast expanses of our collective imaginary, to microscopic fibres that occupy our body, whilst simultaneously being a product of each. The roots of our habitable atmosphere’s composition can be found in the primordial secretion of oxygen as photosynthetic waste. Its origins from life itself underscore the complex relationship it occupies within the earth system, as both creation and creator, and as an invariably central force in an inescapably anthropogenic future.
On Atmospheric Architectures, a contribution to TROPOS Review, explores the new social and spatial frontiers made possible by recent advancements in Earth Observation and remote sensing technologies. The article, accompanied by remote sensing, mappings and investigations, argues for heightened discourse on the ways in which architecture’s future practice can influence, and be influenced by, planetary scale systems of atmospheric transformation. Complete article available here.
Image: Sentinel 5P data of all Nitrogen Dioxide and Aerosol concentrations across the Indian Ocean in 2019