Elementa

View Original

An emerging toolkit for biodiversity in architecture

Mathias from Oslokassa with the fresh prototype of a bat house designed by Erik Wester.

Elementa is presently working with biologists and designers to develop a range of modular products that can help to open architecture and outdoor areas for co-habitation with other species.

Our insect hotel Koloni designed by Edvin Klasson is available already. Next out is a bat house, developed together with the social inclusion initiatve Oslokassa and designer Erik Wester - with the help of the bat experts at Norsk Zoologisk Forening.

Northern Bat (Eptesicus nilssonii) - Photograph by Ã…slaug Viken / Artsdatanken.

5 out of Norway's 12 bat-species are in danger of extinction due to habitat destruction and other reasons. Interestingly bats often live under roofs or in walls of old buildings, so part of the problem is that new and rehabilitated buildings provide no slips and holes for the animals to live in. Bats have been part of our building culture for centuries - and it is imperative that we manage to find place for them even in energy efficient new buildings.

And by the way - if you are in doubt, bats are not to blame for what the world is going through right now - as this BBC environment article points out.

Get in touch to learn more and discuss concrete steps to include more bio-diversity in your architecture and development projects.

Early bat house early prototype!

The bat house will be moulded in wood fibre cement mixed with old bricks that the crew of Oslokassa are presently salvaging from the Akerelva river in Oslo.

The Koloni insect hotel designed by Edvin Klasson can be mounted on buildings, fences and similar places.

More on biodiversity:

See this gallery in the original post