Spreading from the inevitable need by man to transform the natural environment in process of building his own habitat, the work invested in a design culture that highlights points of contact and articulations between nature and artifice, proposing actions that can actively transform the landscape through creative effort and technical work. The primal role of this architecture refers not only to the construction of the essential shelter, that aims to guarantee survival in face of natural contingencies, but also the need to transform nature into culture. This process of conversion is understood by the investigation as the very sense of landscape, key concept in approaching the questions elaborated by the research. Based on a certain theoretical approach and discussions on tectonic and material practice, the work characterizes the concept landscape tectonic as the principle of action of the design culture in evidence. This principle will analyze a certain way of thinking and designing architecture, establishing an intent of approach to a specific type of project that begins with its articulations, the joints between nature, landscape and artifice. This theoretical debate informs the critical analysis of the proposal for Montevideo Bay developed by Paulo Mendes da Rocha. The research has shown that this design culture being investigated contributes largely in building a architectural discourse based on the instrumental power of architecture as it transforms reality in a critical and imaginative way, enriching the cultural world of men.