The Scarred Landscape

In response to rapidly rising temperatures in urban areas, “The Scarred Landscape” introduces a novel approach to living within the earth’s crust. This experimental housing project is set in a limestone quarry located in the National Park of the Calanques in southern France. Over the course of two years, volunteers will inhabit the site, reshape the landscape using the remaining extracted stone, rewild the area with native flora, and assess the liveability of such environments.

This initiative aims to transform overexploited terrains by repurposing damaged landscapes, providing sustainable refuges, and contributing to environmental restoration—an alternative to deforesting mountains for urban expansion. Inspired by the historical precedent of carved dwellings, the design addresses contemporary challenges and emphasizes communal living. Utilizing underground quarrying methods, the cave becomes a rough yet functional space, with housing units integrated seamlessly into the landscape built out of the extracted stone.