Author(s)

ADRIÁN CEBRIÀ

Abstract

When discussing the role of nature in architecture, reference is often made either to its uses in solving energy consumption problems, or to its formal and functional repertoire for architectural design. However, the rapidly expanding built environment is replacing the natural environment; dwelling places supposedly reserved for biodiversity within the city, are disappearing – along with the presence of vegetation – which leads to a negative impact on the quality of human life. The present paper aims to bring to the table a discussion as to how to consider flora and fauna as inhabitants of architecture at the building scale, and to approach a conversation where these two elements – flora and fauna – are more than a utility, without any intention of anthropomorphizing them, where human beings and nature are equal partners, without a dominance of one as opposed to the other. At the same time, this paper focuses on the effects on the quality of life of the human being when entering into a relationship of such nature. With this idea in mind, a habitation typology named “Symbiotic Space” is proposed in the hope that it will serve as a habitation model for vegetation in architecture.

Keywords

architecture, biodiversity, dwelling, flora, fauna, symbiosis, sustainability, typology