STRATA VARIATIONS. SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE FOR THE PROMOTION OF LANDSCAPE HERITAGE

Following the international framework for the protection of geotopes, as a special type of protected landscapes, and focusing on the Basque geopark of Flysch, this paper discusses how architecture and new technologies can be used to promote geological heritage. By identifying the importance and specificities of the site, and assessing the current management measures, this paper concludes on additional suggestions for sustainable development. The creation of an onsite Geological Center would help procure maximal benefits for eco-tourism, education, and research. The proposal is an example for alternative lightweight non-invasive architecture in natural environments and is based on research on nature-inspired forms, contemporary manufacturing techniques, and new-material experimentations, aiming to initiate an interdisciplinary dialogue between geology, architecture, and engineering, in a sustainable landmark museum and research facility, that illustrates the history of Earth’s orogenesis of over 100 Ma.