Ecosystem Strategies for Urban Co-Habitation

This work presents an innovative framework that redefines architectural and urban planning processes to foster the coexistence of humans and nature, increase biodiversity, and establish regenerative, resilient planning strategies. The goal is to question anthropocentric planning practices and promote an integrative approach that equally considers ecological and human needs. The framework aims to create resilient ecosystems that enhance adaptability and biodiversity, which will be crucial for our future sustainable development.

The framework is based on multi-species design and the establishment of equal more-than-human protagonists, integrating ecological and human needs from site analysis to implementation. The eight strategic steps, which challenge normative, anthropocentric planning approaches and replace them with sustainable design, encompass extensive analysis, methodology, and design strategies.

This framework enables the design of built and unbuilt environments that make urban and natural settings more resilient to climate change and ecological challenges. It transforms the socio-cultural backgrounds of places along with vernacular influences into regenerative practices, thus creating spaces for a coexisting future.
Developed and tested at a site in Fulda, the framework offers flexible applicability to other geographical and climatic conditions. It serves as a blueprint that can be adapted in various urban contexts to promote locally tailored and resource-efficient solutions. This work demonstrates how this innovative approach can not only enhance the quality of life in cities but also contribute to sustainable and integrative urban and ecosystem development worldwide.

Text von Franziska Vey.