Our studio project is focused on reinventing this site near the Bésos Rivermouth as a biodiverse public space. To approach this project, we started by studying the site through the lens of multiple species, both human and non-human. In understanding what the flora and fauna of this area look like we began posing specific questions to generate our purpose.
SITE ANALYSIS
To approach this project, we started by studying the site through the lens of multiple species, both human and non-human. In understanding what the flora and fauna of this area look like we began posing specific questions to generate our design goals.
To connect our observations, we overlapped the Species Map with both the Patchwork and Circulation, to understand the relationship between the animal species with the site vegetation and the animal species with human activities.
To organise our analysis, we divided the site into 3 main areas, and made the following conclusions:
Following our observations, we noticed a great presence of birds and insects throughout the site and, with further research, found that these specific species are key characters in the food chain for certain amphibians, that we know for a fact are native to this area. We, however, did not see any amphibians during our site visits so we decided to study them a bit more. Amphibians are excellent ecological indicators. Their presence or lack thereof in an environment can be a signal of the environmental conditions given that their high sensitivity to water and air quality plays a big role in their livelihood.
As a result, we have decided to focus on these 3 specific species and extend their habitats on the site through the design of a curated layout and design component.
SPECIES FOOD WEB, INTERACTIONS AND FOOD CHAIN
In doing all the analysis to answer these questions, we ultimately noticed that within the ecosystem of this area, there is a variety of bird and insect species. However, despite the site’s proximity to water and vegetation, we noticed a lack of amphibians. Due to amphibians’ great sensitivity to air and water quality, we chose to use them as our ecological indicators to help determine the environmental quality of the site.
We studied amphibians’ relationship to the other species groups we saw at the site and more specifically, their roles within the food web.
REFERENCES
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COMPONENT GEOMETRY
Our research revealed that certain minimal surface geometries align with our design objectives, featuring porous 3D patterns that mimic natural nests. Their continuous curved forms not only help capture water but also foster micro climate condition by providing shade, keeping humidity in environment essential for amphibian habitats.
With all this said, we are proposing the Biotic Hut.
Biotic Hut is a parametrized 3D printed clay component that can be adjusted to fit the different shelter needs of our chosen species groups.
We created different iterations of the component with varying heights, hexagon sizes and openings to mimic our indicator species’ biotic functions.
For amphibians, we created shorter towers with narrow openings that mimic the crevices that exist in between vegetation which frogs like to hide in.
For insects, the openings are even smaller which make for the perfect hiding and shelter space for their size.
Finally, for birds, achieving height in the component was really important and the wider tower tops create a larger surface area for birds to rest on. The openings are also bigger to fit their size in comparison to the other species groups.
ATRACTOR POINTS
Our proposal focuses on the renaturalization of this site through the implementation of attractor points that we have methodically pin-pointed to create enhanced micro-habitats for amphibians, birds and insects, using the concept of the food chain. Each attractor point is composed of a different amount of components targeting each species group based on creating a balance of the food chain to then propel an increase in the population of one of the species groups and help rebalance the ecosystem of this area of the Besos Rivermouth. Each attractor point is made up of a different proportion of Biotic Huts that are focused on one of the species groups.
AMPHIBIAN ATTRACTOR POINTS
INSECT ATTRACTOR POINT
BIRD ATTRACTOR POINT
PLANT SPECIES
In relation to the proposed master plan, we’ve also provided a list of plant species that we have purposefully placed throughout the site to specifically help propel the livelihood of the focused species group.
MONITORING CHANGE
As we think about the functionality of Biotic Hut, we’ve thought about how we can monitor change. We are proposing 2 ways to monitor the population density of our indicator species; through citizen science and also through embedded bioacoustic devices, which we found on WildLabs.
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To also involve the participation of visitors, the ground level of the cove observatory, as we mentioned, will serve as an information center that will contain screens that show real-time footage gathered from the cameras and microphones placed at the attractor points.
In addition, each attractor point will have signs with QR-Codes to prompt visitors to share their own footage and provide them with information about the species.
INDICATOR SPECIES POPULATION DENSITY
MODEL
REFERENCES
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Hornero Nest. (n.d). Pinterest. [Photograph]. Retrieved December 2024 from https://pl.pinterest.com/pin/5649900715751732961/
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Swallow Nest. (n.d). National Park Services. [Photograph]. Retrieved December 2024 from https://nps.gov/features/yell/slidefile/birds/swallows/Images/00834.jpg
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Bee Brick. (n.d). Green & Blue on StirPad. [Photograph]. Retrieved December 2024 from https://www.stirpad.com/news/stir-news/green-blue-studio-design-home-for-bees-within-brick-walls/
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Global Clay Village. (n.d). Pinterest. [Photograph]. Retrieved December 2024 from https://es.pinterest.com/pin/1137088605904854938/
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Wasp Nest. (n.d). Pinterest. [Photograph]. Retrieved December 2024 from https://es.pinterest.com/pin/776659898212513849/
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AudioMoth Device. (2024). Open Acoustic Devices. [Photograph]. Retrieved December 2024 from https://www.openacousticdevices.info/audiomoth
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Song Meter Micro 2. (n.d). Wildlife Acoustics. [Photograph]. Retrieved December 2024 from https://www.wildlifeacoustics.com/products/song-meter-micro-2
