SAME BRICK, AN OTTER PERSPECTIVE
SAME BRICK, AN OTTER PERSPECTIVE, looks back to the local craft of field brick production.
The bricks made from Limburg clay, shaped by hand and then fired on site, are the starting point of a search for a relevant, contemporary application in the local context.
How should we make bricks today, with what materials and for whom?
The otter was at home in Limburg's waterways. However, a combination of factors in the late 1980s made the Meuse and its contours an unsuitable habitat for the animal. Fortunately, nowadays the Grensmaas and its typical river nature is back in recovery and quietly the region can once again dream of important animal species in and around the stream.
This project taps into the shared desire to re-establish the otter in the area. Parallel to the local field fire stone technique, the materials loam, sand and straw are mined and processed on site. These are used to create an otter burrow. By doing so, the lack of adequate shelter for the animal on the banks of the Meuse is addressed.
By adding sand and straw in addition to loam,
the bricks can be used unfired. This keeps the burrow usable for several years without creating a perpetual impact in the landscape. In addition, the natural character of the materials is preserved, making the animal more likely to accept the man-made burrow.
By employing the archetype - the brick - in this new context for the otter, Kato steps away from the design discipline that, in its traditional conception, focuses on fulfilling the needs and desires of humans. The brick represents care and security, and building the burrow functions as an act of welcoming the otter.
