BioDiveln
This urban biodiversity intervention offers habitats and edible landscapes to multiple species, such as bats, swifts, small-sized birds, insects and plants. The wall we installed offers both dwellings and feeding and water pools.
01
Design phase: GigaMapping
First phase of the project design consisted of an analysis of all the factors that are vital for creating a habitat for the local flora and fauna, thereby increasing the overall biodiversity of the city. A Systems Oriented Design (SOD) approach was adopted in order to understand the complexity of the chosen site and to take into account many construction and functional factors. All the interrelationships of the aspects considered were presented on the Gigamap, allowing a better understanding of the overall site.
02
Workshop with stakeholders
Once all the key data had been collected and the first design ideas had been developed, the workshop was organised with various stakeholders. This enriched the project with the perspective of those who were not yet involved in the design.
03
Prototyping
After the conceptual steps of the design process, it was time to get hands-on. In order to find the optimal geometry of the intervention, prototyping was carried out with the cabinet. Thanks to this process, it was possible to think through the construction prism and thus many key aspects of how to make it look good, usable for different species and easy to construct.
04
Construction
Once the desired outcome is reached, the construction begins. For the students intervention all the cuts were done with the special machines and tools available at the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning of University of Stuttgart. One of the key challenges during the construction phase was how to minimise the material waste. This phase was also important in terms of understanding how to ease the process so it can be recreated by others as well.
05
Placing
Constructed interventions are ready to be placed at the chosen site. To make sure ellements are placed as in the project, first the grid (meaning a tape with dimnesions written) on the build has to be done. For that, a levelling device was used. With that being established, interventions can be attached to the building.
06
Grand openning
After all the hard work is done, it is time to celebrate the outcomes of the efforts of the prior 3 months. At the grand openning event various stakeholders came to see the finished project and hear its presentation by the students. Furthermore, first plants were placed in the interventions.
