undermine

Videocollage

Rissaskredet 1982

Fragile and deceptive, it is neither entirely land nor water.

Solid until disturbed, collapsing foundations once thought secure.

“The materials and building systems developed over the past hundred years reflect an ideal of permanence. Steel, concrete and glass were used to conjure a dream of material culture made autonomous of ecology, oblivious to the passage of time. However, the typical lifespan of concrete buildings is around fifty years, much shorter than the potential lifespan of a concrete structure, which can last several hundred years when properly specified and maintained, and can survive almost anything, including earthquakes and nuclear attacks. Concrete has become central to a construction culture with an incredibly high material turnover, in which care and repair have been replaced by demolition and renewal […] Most contemporary buildings are made up of a concrete skeleton, double- wrapped in plastic and foam and stuck together with sticky tape and glue. These buildings can only continue to function in a perfect state. Even small and foreseeable issues can become a major drama, and demolition often appears to be both the most practical and reasonable option.” (Material Cultures. Material reform: Building for a post-carbon future (2022) )

We build on what we perceive to be stable, relying on engineered soil testing, reinforced foundations, and effective groundwater management. However, geotechnical challenges persist. A landslide occurs when a section of soil, rock, or debris suddenly breaks away from a slope and moves downhill. The ground shifts and flows like a wave of loose earth and rock; it doesn’t stop until it meets an obstacle. Afterwards, the area is left with visible traces of movement and a large mass of displaced debris. A total of 163 documented landslides of various types have occurred in Norway from 1701 up until 2023. The ground can never be trusted.