ENGAGING WITH EXTREMES: Architectural Strategies for a World out of Balance

Abstract
This essay uses the image of a fractured house in Arctic Alaska, damaged by melting permafrost, as a lens through which to examine the built environment’s role in and vulnerability to climate change. It highlights the paradox of an industry responsible for over 40% of global CO₂ emissions now facing the consequences of rising temperatures and environmental instability. Drawing on fieldwork in extreme and resource-extractive regions worldwide, the essay critiques unsustainable construction practices, globalised material supply chains, and the moral detachment between building sites and material origins. Emphasising the importance of architectural education, hands-on experimentation, and site-specific engagement, it argues for a fundamental and urgent transformation of design and construction methodologies to address the climate crisis.