The Birds the Bats and the Bees

What do architects do? Design shelter you might say. Is it always for humans? Definitely not.

As our understanding of the relationship of agriculture and architecture evolves, so do our assumptions around who we are designing for. While the skunk that burrowed under the barn and the swallows that nested under the eave of the barn may have been unintended consequences for the farmer who built it - there is something to be learned about the role of human-made structures to supplement habitat - particularly in urban conditions.

Our first foray into designing for other creatures was just that - a barn for cows.... but it also included an owl box. And a successful owl box it is - occupied by a nesting pair for two years running with 3-4 owlets. Nature isn't always a feel-good story - this year the mama owl disappeared and the owlets perished (gasp / scream inserted here).

We expanded our knowledge with the input of Sofi Hindmarch of the @fvconservancy to design two owl boxes for a machine shed structure in the Southlands - completed in January of this year - success yet to be determined. And, our recent design work for the Kwantlen Polytechnic University sustainable agriculture barn has pushed us to think about other creatures... predator bird perches, swallows as well as bats and of course the bees...and not just the honey making kind. While these might seem like one-off interventions they have us thinking about the roofs, eaves, facades, and cladding of our buildings in a new light - not just environmental separation - but habitat in itself.

If you find this interesting check out these precedents for architectural habitats - some connected to buildings and some structures in their own right:

A bat mansion by JDS Architects in France

Bee bricks as a requirement for building approval in Brighton

Other bee homes in the city

Bird apartment in Japan by Nendo

Do you have other habitat examples? We want to see them - send them our way!