What are the best ways to design buildings that promote biodiversity? (2024)

One of the best ways to design buildings that promote biodiversity is to integrate green roofs and walls, which are vegetated surfaces that cover part or all of the building envelope. Green roofs and walls can provide multiple benefits, such as reducing stormwater runoff, improving thermal performance, enhancing air quality, and creating aesthetic value. Moreover, green roofs and walls can create habitats for various plants and animals, such as insects, birds, and bats, and increase the diversity and abundance of species in urban areas. Green roofs and walls can also help mitigate the urban heat island effect, which is the phenomenon of higher temperatures in urban areas compared to rural areas due to human activities and infrastructure.

Another way to design buildings that promote biodiversity is to enhance connectivity and corridors, which are linkages between habitats that facilitate the movement and dispersal of species. Connectivity and corridors can help maintain genetic diversity, increase resilience, and reduce the risk of extinction for species that are isolated or fragmented by human development. Connectivity and corridors can be achieved by designing buildings that are compatible with the surrounding landscape, such as using permeable materials, minimizing barriers, and creating bridges or tunnels. Connectivity and corridors can also be achieved by designing buildings that connect with existing or potential green infrastructure, such as parks, gardens, wetlands, and rivers.

A third way to design buildings that promote biodiversity is to incorporate native plants and wildlife features, which are elements that support the survival and reproduction of local species. Native plants and wildlife features can enhance the ecological function and value of buildings, as well as the sense of place and identity of the users and communities. Native plants and wildlife features can include a variety of elements, such as native trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses, herbs, fruits, seeds, nuts, berries, water sources, nesting boxes, bird feeders, bat boxes, insect hotels, bee hives, and amphibian ponds.

A fourth way to design buildings that promote biodiversity is to apply biophilic design principles, which are guidelines that aim to increase the connection between humans and nature in the built environment. Biophilic design principles can improve the well-being, productivity, creativity, and happiness of the users and occupants of buildings, as well as foster a sense of respect and responsibility for the environment and other species. Biophilic design principles can involve a range of strategies, such as using natural materials, colors, shapes, patterns, textures, sounds, smells, and lighting, incorporating natural views and vistas, creating indoor and outdoor spaces that allow for exploration and discovery, and providing opportunities for direct and indirect contact with nature.

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

Engineering Design

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