In this project, I explored the intersection between interior and exterior environments, as well as between human and non-human habitats, in search of geometries that accommodate the needs of multiple species. Building on my Master's Thesis, I expanded the concept of the city as a landscape for more-than-human inhabitants and investigated shared spaces for cohabitation within the architectural realm. Through algorithmic design, I translated the complexity of habitat requirements into simple rules, enabling the creation of transitional spatial geometries.

Buildings are impenetrable for wildlife primarily due to their solid, rigid structures and the materials used in construction, such as concrete, glass, and steel. These materials create physical barriers that block the natural movement of animals and disrupt the continuity of habitats. Wildlife relies on connected green spaces, such as parks, forests, and rivers, for food, shelter, and migration. However, buildings interrupt these networks, isolating populations and limiting access to essential resources. Moreover, buildings often lack features that support wildlife, such as nesting sites, green roofs, or plant life. Their vertical surfaces, hard edges, and lack of vegetation offer no shelter or passageways for animals, making it difficult for species to navigate or survive in dense urban areas

I studied the habitat requirements of the sand lizard, a small insect-eating reptile. It prefers environments with a mix of low shrubs, bushes, and open sandy areas, typically found in places like heaths, dunes, and railway embankments. As a cold-blooded species, it needs both sunny spots for basking and shaded areas for cooling.

Key features of its habitat include hiding places, basking sites, and sandy patches for nesting, all located nearby, as sand lizards rarely stray far from cover. Safe hibernation sites are also essential for the colder months. The presence of these core habitat elements is crucial for their survival and reproduction.

To address the habitat requirements of both humans and the sand lizard, I adapted a 3D Cellular Automata algorithm to create a geometry that incorporates essential elements for each. This algorithm allows for the generation of complex, organic forms in three-dimensional space, integrating features necessary for the sand lizard, such as basking sites, hiding places, and nesting areas. Additionally, by incorporating a density gradient into the formfinding process, I designed a geometry that balances human-scale spaces with habitat requirements for the sand lizard. The resulting design provides enclosed areas for human habitation while also supporting the sand lizard's needs, effectively harmonizing these different scales to meet both human and wildlife requirements.

A Cellular Automaton (plural: cellular automata), is a grid-based system where each cell can be in one of two states (like 1 or 0, "on" or "off"). The state of each cell evolves based on simple rules, often related to the states of its neighboring cells.

Visualizing the Grid: The script then draws the grid using a 3D modeling library (RhinoScriptSyntax and Rhino.Geometry). For each cell, if the state is "full," a block is inserted at the corresponding point in space. Empty cells are ignored.

Exploring scales of porosity: [The script then draws the grid using a 3D modeling library (RhinoScriptSyntax and Rhino.Geometry). For each cell, if the state is "full," a block is inserted at the corresponding point in space. Empty cells are ignore]

Python code