01. Baitogogo - Henrique Oliveira
" Through a kind of architectural anthropomorphism, Henrique Oliveira reveals the building’s structure. At Palais de Tokyo, he plays on the space’s existing and structuring features, prolonging and multiplying pillars in order to endow them with a vegetable and organic dimension, as though the building were coming alive. The artist draws inspiration from medical textbooks, amongst others, and particularly from studies of physical pathologies such as tumors. Through a formal analogy, these outgrowths evoke the outermost layers of the bark of a common tree. "
Henrique Oliveira’s work Baitogogo is an extraordinary amalgamation of art and architectural form, challenging the notion of the timber column as more than a simple structural beam. In this piece, timber is reclaimed and seemingly returns to its natural state, blurring the boundary between the built and organic. It inspires me to think beyond the traditional concept of the home, reinforcing the idea that buildings should, and can, reconnect with nature—a philosophy I believe is the only way forward.
02. Rhythm of Nature by Armadillo x House of Grey
" The continuous journey through multiple terrains, Rhythm of Nature is a series of immersive environmental installations marked by soft slopes of sand, welcoming us to the first installation " – Etoile.
This work is another beautiful play on the reintroduction of nature into a man-made landscape. Architecture originally grew from vernacular means, shaped by climate and rooted in what was accessible; by default, it was an expression and integration of the natural world. With the rise of empires, however, came a harsher imposition on environments, leading to monolithic and environmentally insensitive dwellings that dominated much of history. Today, we are beginning to return to those origins as a way of reconnecting with the land. For me, this work encapsulates that philosophy—it holds tightly, almost like a womb, to the ideals of nature: to be present with it, to protect it, and to serve it.