Philipp Gruber
Explore Lab
Growing Residency: Towards a multi-species design practice in architecture based on affordances
Cities are dynamic habitats for people, animals and plants. Yet architecture as a design discipline is focused on human needs with architectural structures being drivers for the loss of biodiversity. The research explores how a multi-species design practice based on affordances helps to achieve a symbiotic relationship between architecture and biodiversity. By embracing the concept of affordances, the needs and abilities of multiple species are considered. The design proposes a multi-species residency contributing to the growth of an urban forest. The interventions are Baubotanik structures, hybrid constructions between nature and humans forming a living and ever-growing architecture. The project envisions a paradigm shift in urban habitation. Spaces become inseparable from the natural world, promoting socio-ecological resilience by enriching the urban environment with diverse life forms. The architect’s role is not limited to traditional design but extends to initiating a collaborative process, where trees become co-designers, actively shaping the built environment.