Sablé means sand in French—slipping, compliant, and infinite. Like sand, natural materials have, and are now, exceedingly defining the semantics of art and architectural disciplines, attesting to how all life on earth is connected. A hopeful thought to reside in.

From nature we come, and to it we return. Our lifeforce, vengeful, all-giving, indifferent yet foundational, the planet persevered, before being defeated by our own greed. Yet, we strive to somehow undo the damage.

This week’s issue is an earthy palette of stories, revisiting the multifarious use and application of natural materials: Anne Feenstra's sandy explorations in Tannirbhavi, Makaldamar, and Deauville; Jeanne Gang translates organic forms of nature into the Gilder Center; and 2023 Golden Lion recipient Demas Nwoko expands on material and immaterial worlds.

Are we ready to listen to, and preserve the stories of Earth?