Terra Nexus
Project Philosophy
Terra Nexus transforms degraded urban land into living community infrastructure.
Media
Urban green spaces woven into city infrastructure
Ecological building integrating natural systems
Aerial view of lush landscape meeting open terrain
The Experience
What It Feels Like
Approaching Terra Nexus, visitors first hear water, the soft movement of constructed wetlands filtering stormwater through gravel beds and native plantings. The pavilion's rammed earth walls radiate warmth, their layered strata telling the geological story of the site. Inside, the gathering space opens to a living roof where rainwater is visible moving through the system. The air smells of wet earth and native grasses. Community members gather on built-in earthen benches for workshops, meals, and conversation, surrounded by the quiet evidence that damaged land can be brought back to life.
This project is currently in Design Development stage. The experience above reflects the artist's vision for the completed work.
Origin
The Story Behind It
Jordan Clarke grew up watching vacant lots in their Detroit neighborhood accumulate trash and standing water. Trained as both an ecologist and an architect, Jordan became obsessed with the question: what if the most neglected urban land could become the most cherished? Terra Nexus emerged from a decade of community work: mapping brownfield sites, running soil remediation workshops, and designing small-scale rain gardens with neighbors. This project is the culmination of that journey: a full-scale demonstration that regenerative infrastructure can be beautiful, functional, and community-owned.
Ambition
What We're Working Toward
- Remediate a brownfield site through constructed wetland systems
- Create a year-round community gathering pavilion with passive climate control
- Demonstrate rammed earth construction using on-site soil
- Establish a replicable model for regenerative community infrastructure
- Engage 200+ residents in participatory design and construction
Progress
Where It Stands
Field Notes
Latest from the Studio
DNA
Domains
Pathways
Stage
The People Behind It
Jordan Clarke
Lead Creator
Project Details
Lead Creator
Jordan Clarke
Stage
Design Development
Scale
Community-scale pavilion, 2,000–4,000 sq ft
Location
Detroit, Michigan
Pathways
Public Art · Community Infrastructure
Reach Out
Get in Touch
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