Degree Show 2025

Lichen Growth in the Climate Emergency

In Collaboration with the University of Glasgow, the University of the West of Scotland and Glasgow Caledonian University

The Lochaber Research Station is a modular facility designed to support the study of lichen growth within the context of the climate emergency. Located in Callop Woods, an active biodiversity restoration site in the Scottish Highlands, the station serves as a critical base for researchers examining how lichen establishes itself in a recovering ecosystem. Lichen is never static and acts as a key indicator of environmental change. Most species present today are centuries old, with some exceeding 1,000 years in age. However, the surrounding rewilding efforts present a rare opportunity to study the growth of young lichen in response to shifting climatic conditions. The research station is designed to minimise environmental impact while providing a controlled setting for long-term ecological observation.

The architecture takes inspiration from lichen itself, with a perforated façade that transitions from enclosed to open, reflecting the organic spread of lichen over time. Modular research pods offer flexible workspaces that can be relocated or removed as research needs evolve. At the end of its lifespan, the remaining structure will serve as a resting and viewing point for walkers, offering panoramic views of the loch and surrounding woodland while continuing to raise awareness of native ecology. Over time, the façade will be left to be overtaken by nature, reinforcing the project’s commitment to ecological integration and adaptive reuse in architecture.

This project challenges the conventional permanence of research facilities. Instead, it embraces an evolving, site-responsive approach that considers not only how a building functions today, but also how it decomposes, transforms, and reintegrates into the landscape in future.