Cultural Threshold: Framing the Anthropocene

Abstract

This thesis investigates humanity’s relationship to the natural world. With the recognition of the Anthropocene, humanity raises awareness to the scale of impact of resource extraction and consumption from the natural world. Defined by the interconnection of natural systems and human endeavors, the Anthropocene acknowledges that humanity acts on a planetary. However, this awareness remains in the abstract, with nothing to viscerally connect the magnitude or scale to an individual’s life experiences. This thesis proposes an intervention at the scale of the landscape that provides a visceral intervention and reference to the scale of man’s impact on the planet. The intention is not to remedy the situation in one move, but to provide an experience that removes visitors from their normal surroundings and consider human interaction with the natural world.