The load-bearing wall has historically served as the primary enclosure and structural component of most durable secular and religious buildings. However, the Industrial Revolution brought about technological advancements that allowed structural frames from non-structural enclosures to be separated, becoming the predominant trend in building construction. Today, questions of building resiliency and the sustainability of materials and resources are challenging the separation of the wall in terms of its structural, performance, and aesthetic properties.

Opus Versatilium (OV), is an exhibition on display (from 2-19-24 to 3-28-24) at the Armstrong Gallery, Kent State University. It showcases the evolution of the two main archetypal construction systems: the filigree and the solid systems. OV is featured as an innovative casting methodology alternative to contemporary standard concrete practices. The technique hybridizes vernacular knowledge and building construction methods with emerging digital and material technologies. OV advances the load-bearing wall as an efficient, resilient, and high-performance enclosure. The material of choice is concrete due to its strength, durability, versatility, affordability, availability, and resiliency. Capitalizing on the fluidity of the material, OV mobilizes formwork as an active and accessible design tool and provides fertile ground for innovation in building envelopes. The design and construction of a bird blind along the Mississippi River demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed method. This applied research tested the possibilities of delivering performative, resilient, and sustainable building envelopes, employing primarily local materials with low-tech tools and methods executed by non-skilled workers. The system offers an alternative and affordable construction methodology for disadvantaged communities while minimizing environmental impact.