Earth, Lightly

Earth, Lightly is a project by architects and artists Maria Lisogorskaya and Kaye Song. Together they are exploring new approaches of regenerative architecture. During their fellowship, they will test and develop prototypes for earth-based construction using techniques that engage both the aesthetic and haptic dimensions of art and architecture. Centering our bodily relationship to ecological architecture, the initiative focuses on earth plasters and minerals, bioregional and reused materials, performance, and play.

Maria Lisogorskaya and Kaye Song are architects, artists and members of “Assemble”, an award-winning studio based in London. Assemble is a multidisciplinary collective working across architecture, design and art. Founded in 2010 by a group of friends to undertake a single self-built project, Assemble’s organisational structure has changed shape over the years. They continue to work co-operatively, valuing debate and collaboration as a partnership. They operate using a constellation model, collaborating between themselves and with others to take a tailored approach to projects. They draw on expertise and create meaningful work with a lasting impact. Maria and Kaye are interested in how we build - our relationship to materials and to each other. Maria is a co-founding partner at Assemble and an active Academician on behalf of the studio at the Royal Academy of Arts, alongside a developing fresco painting practice. With Assemble, she initiated and designed a range of projects and held international visiting professorships. Kaye joined the collective in 2020 and has been developing the practices portfolio of workspace projects, as well as practicing as a photographer and facilitating events that engage communities with the building process. Among their current Assemble projects is the refurbishment of an ex-textile factory in Treviso, a campsite in Japan and affordable artists studios across the UK.

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