This report was developed by Materia Lab as part of the Experimental Fellowship with Bauhaus Earth. Grunt (Ukrainian for soil, earth) is a research project that investigates warfare-contaminated soils in Ukraine as a potential local material for climate-conscious reconstruction. The project confronts two interlinked questions: Can polluted soils be safely reused as construction material, and can their pollutants be immobilized to protect both people and the environment?

The report reflects on eight months of research and experimentation, working with polluted materials. Materia Lab realized an architectural prototype in Lviv, Ukraine, where they built a pavilion – the first structure in Ukraine constructed from compressed earth blocks. It demonstrates that earthen construction can be both a viable, sustainable alternative to conventional materials in Ukraine, and a powerful symbolic act in a country defending its land and soil.