Martha Zambrano

Studio led by Professor Julie Nelson

The Institute for the Study of Soil

An educative building that explores the benefits of healthy soil and submerging user into the earth.

The Institute of Soil is a +6,300 sq ft educational building that would teach visitors the process and benefits of fertile soil. The building is sitting on the existing Circle Garden and is pulled underground 14 feet from grade. The building has three entry points that were designed using the existing paths that led to the Circle Garden. The program within the building is divided up with the concept of root growth, which is having a main root (research space) that supplies the secondary roots (workspace and learning space). The overall building is held by the same 24” retaining walls used in my prototype so researchers can take samples quicker. The building is sealed above with a biodiverse roof garden that contains some of the excavated fertile soil. This subterranean facility was to appreciate and celebrate the importance and beauty of healthy soil as well as teach visitors on the types of soil that exist.