In the future, it is understood that communities will continue to develop and migrate across the landscape, clearing forests, hillsides, and habitat. These shifts cause ripple effects across ecosystems, and impact the environment at large. Designers and engineers have had to develop solutions that negotiate between the needs of people and other agents within nature. One of these responses has been the development of soil stabilization products known as geocells. The re-stabilization of sculpted terrain is underlaid with a blanket mesh typically made from non biodegradable materials, engineered to mimic the natural stabilization that a plant root zone once provided prior to the clearing of land. This practice has minimized natural elements and simplified once complex systems into engineered slopes in support of the new adjacent human urban developments. 

Sage Hill showcases this geoforming practice, through new material and technical investigations. The mound’s retaining wall structure is composed of porous ceramic 3d printed geotiles, made from interlocking duo-tone terracotta and stoneware. Filled with a mixture of sand and soil, the ceramic geotiles support the shape of the lake and provide cavities for the planting of the local variety of species of sage. The center of the mound features a series of vertical bird feeders, which support habitat growth within the bird’s migration pattern and pays homage to the towers of Cornell’s architectural legacy. 

This installation was created by Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture at Cornell, Jennifer Birkeland, and Associate Professor of Architectural Design + Technology at Pratt Institute, Jonathan A. Scelsa. View the duo's work at op-al.com.

View Sage Hill outside of Day Hall from Aug 29-Oct 31, 2022.

2022 Cornell Biennial
Sponsored by the Cornell Council for the Arts and curated by Timothy Murray, the 2022 Cornell Biennial "Futurities, Uncertain" features exhibitions, installations, and performances by 23 international and 17 Cornell-based artists. Free and open-to-the-public events will rotate on the Cornell Ithaca campus and the Cornell Tech campus in New York City from July through December 2022.

Attend our Celebration Weekend from Sep 15-17, 2022 on the Cornell Ithaca campus. The full list of participants, along with the calendar of 2022 Cornell Biennial events, will be updated in real time at cca.cornell.edu/biennial.