Sourced from the outskirts of Bath, the oolitic limestone formed through the accumulation of microscopic sea life, shells, and coral. Over time, these materials compacted into a calcium-rich deposit that offers a lens into life of past beings. 

Limestone also appears throughout the architecture surrounding the installation. Constructed in the 15th century, the Charterhouse was built using stone sourced from a similar geological vein. Its weathered façade and carved steps reveal how the material changes composition through prolonged exposure to the elements and use over time.

Etched into the surface of each limestone block are marks from its journey out of the ground as well as symbols carved by human hands. These evoke associations and invite reflections on the architectural condition, moving in and out of states of human intention, from emenation to decomposition.

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Stargala’s practice, Of Here, investigates how architectural processes can be physical and hyper-proximal, in order to remain engaged with the land and its entanglements. Through vernacular research, site analysis, material experimentation, and design, the practice recognises and responds to these interdependencies. The studio views contemporary architecture not only as a construction for shelter, but also as a set of values which demonstrate our relationship to other living beings, ecologies and finite resources.