Giving Nature a Voice: Sara Fernandes Designs Corten Curbs
Designer Sara Fernandes introduces Giving Nature a Voice: Let Them Through, replacing concrete curbs with perforated Corten steel to let urban plants grow.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Sara Fernandes designs perforated Corten steel curbs to replace concrete.
- Circular apertures in varied diameters allow urban vegetation to grow through.
- Transforms rigid municipal boundaries into porous ecological edges.
- Reimagines urban infrastructure by integrating spontaneous plant growth.
Urban infrastructure design typically relies on rigid boundaries and hard materials that strictly separate pedestrian walkways from soil. However, designer Sara Fernandes has reevaluated this standard approach through her urban intervention project titled Giving Nature a Voice: Let Them Through, drawing direct inspiration from observing spontaneous plant growth emerging within fractured concrete infrastructure.
The project substitutes conventional cast-concrete street curbs with weathered Corten steel profiles. These metal barriers are punctured by an irregular series of circular apertures in varied diameters, creating a deliberate system that challenges how municipal boundaries segregate soil and pedestrian corridors.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
These strategic perforations allow adjacent soil and low-lying vegetation to permeate the boundary, turning a rigid linear barrier into a porous edge condition. Furthermore, the oxidized earthy patina of the Corten steel visually connects raw topsoil with paved pedestrian surfaces through a harmonious tonal bridge.
Using weathering steel in urban design highlights a shift toward embracing natural material aging processes. The stable rust layer on Corten steel prevents deep corrosion while providing an organic aesthetic that bridges industrial materials and living ecosystems, demonstrating how minor structural adjustments can foster biological agency in dense cities.
Key details of the project include:
- Project Name: Giving Nature a Voice: Let Them Through
- Designer: Sara Fernandes
- Material: Weathering Corten steel with varied circular cutouts
- Objective: Soften urban boundaries and integrate natural plant succession
Source: designboom
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