Grounded / Yerebasan

Conceived as a multi-layered, living component of the Türkiye Pavilion exhibition at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, this publication highlights soil as a dynamic yet overlooked resource vital for understanding civilisations, ecosystems, and sustainable living. Unlike architecture’s tendency to suppress earthiness in pursuit of controlled environments, this publication’s narrative places soil at the heart of architecture, presenting it as a living entity with intelligence and agency. It also reflects on the impacts of human activities, such as construction, while exploring Turkey’s rich heritage, archaeological sites, and sustainable building practices.