Dwelling in the Ecosystem
The Anthropocene Era we live in suggests the illusion that the power the humans have gives them the right to be placed at the top of the 'pyramid', in terms of influence, somehow taking us out of the ecosystem with a sort of superiority attached to our species' name. However, if we continue to behave as if this is true, all the climate change issues are going to worsen, because nature always has its way. This is something I am quite passionate about, restoring the balance between humans and nature through architecture.
This project envisions an architectural ecosystem built from a more-than-human perspective — a co-inhabited space where humans are not placed above nature, but rather become an essential, contributing part of it. At its core, the proposal aims to address a growing social crisis: the lack of affordable, dignified housing for the elderly, especially those marginalized by economic hardship, isolation, or systemic neglect. But it goes further — proposing not just shelter, but a new model for living based on mutual care, reciprocity, and ecological interdependence. Through the integration of housing, market space and greenhouses, the building is going to be as self-sufficient as possible, with the intent of creating a safe space for all communities to help each other. I'm using the term 'communities' to refer to humans, plants, aquatics and plants species. The principle is for the residents to harvest and grow plants in the greenhouses, which they will consume and sell in the market space. The whole project is carefully designed in terms of sustainability and functionality, using architecture as a practical and conceptual tool to try and resolve social and natural issues.
