Continuum proposes a Nature Centre at Lilla Stenshuvud, Skåne. The project explores how architecture can serve as a tool to bridge humanity’s long-term relationship with nature, confront the urgency of climate change and mass extinction, and challenge existing societal paradigms. By treating architectural design as a sculptural exploration, the aim is to raise awareness that our lives are part of a larger continuity, prompting reflection on our impact and encouraging a re-evaluation of what constitutes a “good life”.

The building’s form is derived from an abstract exploration of “decay,” leading to a design that evokes “fossilization, durability, and ancient structures”. The resulting structure, with its human-like figures and dynamic shell, aims to mimic a future fossile, while referencing ancient human constructions.

The building features three main floors, with a large exhibition area on the ground floor. This main exhibition space is dedicated to Sustainable Development Goal 13, focusing on climate change awareness and education. It also incorporates an outdoor movie and lecture area.

The design suggests an anthropomorphic quality to the architecture itself, where parts of the building subtly resembles human or animal forms, creating a more intimate and perhaps empathetic connection with the viewer. This could manifest in curved walls, openings that resemble eyes or mouths, or a general sense of a living entity. The use of “human-figured elements” is also in the context of the main hall’s interior, visible alongside the thick rammed earth walls.

The project’s visual integration with the Lilla Stenshuvud landscape is crucial. The building is nestled into the terrain, appearing almost as an extension of the hill itself. The irregular, organic shape of the building, as seen from the site plan, suggests a desire for it to emerge from or blend with the natural contours, rather than imposing a stark, geometric form upon the landscape.

By integrating historical context, ecological concern, and artistic expression, the project seeks to inspire a shift in perspective, reminding us that our choices have profound impacts on the continuum of life