Dwelling in Harmony: Mitigating Biodiversity Loss through Ecological Cohabitation

Abstract

Though ecological destruction is not an inherent requirement for human habitation, we often design our homes to the detriment of native species. As the human population continuously increases, as does our need for new housing developments, and thus, there becomes an urgency to shift away from our long-upheld anthropocentric design principles which often result in habitat destruction and the spatial displacement of ecosystems. Through the pursuit of ecological cohabitation, our homes can be designed to foster various life forms, and in turn, our dwellings can passively work to preserve and enhance our local biodiversity. Located in Waverly, Nova Scotia, the project focuses on creating habitat opportunities for non-human species throughout the building envelope. By designing a wide variety of habitable spaces within the envelopes of our homes, we can begin to live harmoniously alongside various other species while maintaining the level of biological isolation we have grown accustomed to.