Living Challenge
A collaboration with the Indigenous Society of Architecture, Planning & Design that empowers regional materials, local knowledge and the power of story in the design-build process.
The Living Challenge seeks to restore and strengthen an individuals’ knowledge of a specific environment and encourages the creation of imaginative built designs that give back to the natural environment. The Living Challenge will guide you through the steps of creating a Site Profile, Sentient Framework, and Plan of Action to design and build a structure that tells a Story of Reciprocity.
Design Framework
PROJECT NAME
PURPOSE
MATERIALS
FUNCTION
RESILIENCE
STORY
INTEGRATION
Sentient Structures Does the structure uplift the health, spirit and sustainability of humans and the natural world? Utilizing at least three of the hands-on practices, determine the following—how do the practices and the regional materials empower each other through a connective force? Does the structure sustain rather than exploit? Does the structure absorb disturbances and/or adapt to change? Is the story behind the structure empowering its existence? Does the structure work in isolation or does it work with other species and forces in the surrounding natural world?
01
SITE PROFILE
First, let’s get familiar with your natural community by answering and reflecting on a series of questions. Choose a site where you have access. You will need a 10’ by 10’ outdoor space.
A biome is a broad geographical area characterized by its climate, vegetation, and wildlife and can encompass multiple types of ecosystems. Find out your site’s biome here: https://ecoregions.world/
Regional materials in architecture are the construction materials available within the same climate and relatively close travel distance from the site. Regional materials can reduce the environmental impact of transportation, support local economies, and promote eco-friendly construction practices that reflect the cultural and identity of a place.
Do you know what biome you are located in?
Who are the community members that are on your site? This includes humans and non-humans. Living and non-living things.
Are there edible plants in the space?
What tree species inhabit the site and how do the root systems connect?
Test the soil composition for clay, sand, rock and water.
What animal species live on your site?
What are the regional materials of your site?
Is there a problem on site you wish to solve?
Based on your site research and collected answers, create a drawing that captures the physical parameters of the site, unique environmental factors, and what you see as the spirit of the place.
02
STORY OF RECIPROCITY
You researched the site’s environmental and biological characteristics and reflected on who your natural community of living and non-living, natural and unnatural community members were. Utilizing the Living Challenge Guidelines as a guiding framework, we will create a Story of Reciprocity. The Story of Reciprocity will be the basis of the Sentient Structure’s program. Select 1 community member other than humans, and up to 2 other elements you want to focus on to build your Story of Reciprocity. Reciprocity is defined as “the quality or state of being reciprocal: mutual dependence, action, or influence, and a mutual exchange of privileges” according to Miriam Webster. How can you support or encourage reciprocity with your site and community members? Perhaps you seek to bolster the pollinator communities' access to pollen or housing space. If there is no reciprocity, how can your project solve this? “Program” in architecture defines what activities are going on inside the building or site. The program helps define what spaces are needed within the building or site. What activities do you want to happen on the site? Decide on a flexible program for habitation, cooking, discussion, inspiration, relaxation, archiving, etc. What are the site’s strengths and weaknesses? How do the strengths and weaknesses complement the program? Based on your collected knowledge of the site, reflect on how reciprocity can be implemented on your site. Share why you chose the three selected elements of your site. Reflect and share your dreams for the site and what you wish to inspire or solve in writing your Story of Reciprocity. After writing your Story of Reciprocity, define the program of your Sentient Structure and create a list of spaces needed to accomplish these activities.
03
SENTIENT FRAMEWORK
Your Story of Reciprocity will serve as your Sentient Structure’s purpose.
You will create a site specific, bio-material based structure or infrastructure which integrates at least one hands-on practice to construct space for a multi-use, flexible program of your choice.
First, visit and familiarize yourself with the hands-on practices in this digital database.
Second, research the practices you're engaging with.
-
What is the history behind the practice—the story?
-
How diversified did this practice become?
-
Was this practice geographically limited?
-
Are there places it never reached and why?
-
What is the story behind the practice in your location?
-
Which hands-on practice suits my biome and site well?
-
How can my site’s regional materials be used for the structure?
It's a good idea to decide which practices are most feasible for you and your community. Start by engaging with the how-to videos, allowing these practices to inspire you.
04
PLAN OF ACTION
Now is your time to be a project manager. When taking on this role think about the following questions: • How will your structure be built and what are the specific steps that will need to be involved? • Whose help will you need from beginning to end? • What is the timeline for the project and can you make the timeline visual for participants? Create a simple Plan of Action indicating time, roles, key project milestones and key project stakeholders. Since you are integrating story, life force and connectivity throughout this process feel free to get as creative and artistic with this portion of the planning as your team feels called to. Pay close attention to the participants and what it is they feel driven to do.
05
COLLABORATE
Your mission is to engage with collaborators who are connected to the type of structure you are envisioning. Reach out to knowledge holders in your community, whether they be earthen builders, indigenous practitioners, storytellers, ecologists, artists, designers, or environmentalists. This will only strengthen your design.
Looking closely at the ten technologies highlighted in Lo—TEK Design by Radical Indigenism, we see that the regeneration of nature, and the health and well being of community, is a driving force of an intervention.
WHERE TO BEGIN...
First, visit and familiarize yourself with the hands-on practices in this digital database. It's a good idea to decide which practices are most feasible for you and your community. Start by engaging with the how-to videos, allowing these practices to inspire you.
Second, research the practices you're engaging with. What is the history behind the practice—the story? How diversified did this practice become? Was this practice geographically limited? Are there places it never reached and why? What is the story behind the practice in your location?
Living Earth
Conference
To enter your creation into the Living Earth Conference Summer 2025 email admin@lo-tek.com and receive register link and details.