Hard Waters, Soft Ground Part 2 Project 2025 Jordon Lim Royal College of Art | UK Hard Waters, Soft Ground responds to the environmental and cultural challenges posed by large-scale flood infrastructure, using the River Thames Scheme as its context. As nearly one million cubic metres of soil are excavated between Egham and Teddington, this project reimagines the spoil not as waste, but as a resource for low-carbon construction. A temporary demonstrator facility is proposed within the new flood relief channel— processing excavated earth and demolition waste into compressed earth bricks and rammed earth walls.The aim is twofold: to reduce embodied carbon through circular material flows, and to engage local stakeholders in a hands-on process of making. The facility functions as both a testing ground for earth construction and a space for community learning—linking people to place through material practice.Over time, the site evolves into a reed- processing centre, aligning with planned wetland regeneration. Reeds, as carbon- sequestering bioproducts, offer ongoing environmental and economic value. Rather than erase the memory of the floodplain, the project honours it—tracing a cycle of excavation, production, and ecological renewal.Through this work, the architect’s role expands: from architects to steward, organiser, and collaborator—foregrounding low-carbon methods, cultural continuity, and shared responsibility in shaping future landscapes. Tutor(s)