Thomas KisslingSolid, Fluid, Biotic : Changing Alpine Landscapes

“The Alps are not an immovable mountain massif that will outlast everything else but a dynamic and sensitive organism. For millions of years, everything has been in motion, and everything has been flowing. Against this backdrop, mankind’s period of influence seems vanishingly short. Nevertheless, Homo sapiens is the driving force that reshaped the Alps quite significantly and within a very short time. However, this comparatively rapid change of the Alps does not only hold dangers, but also offers a whole range of new potentials.

Various phenomena of this dynamic landscape were explored within the scope of the 17th Architecture Biennial in Venice by VOGT Landscape Architects and the Chair of Günther Vogt at ETH Zurich. This book documents their findings, and the phenomena are examined by focusing on the three thematic fields of geology, hydrology, and biology in scientific essays, art interventions, and on field trips.”