Wild
Living.
Restoring Biodiversity and Reinstating Nature with Rewilding
The rewilding movement asks us to perceive things differently, shifting our perspective from humans as distinct and separated from nature to understanding that we are all a part of a complex ecosystem.
Keep reading to learn more about rewilding and how we can get inspired to revive and restore our precious natural environment through the built form and on a personal level.
What is Rewilding?
Rewilding is an approach to conserving our natural environment by understanding and nurturing the relationship between humans and our ecosystems.
“Rewilding aims to restore healthy ecosystems by creating wild, biodiverse spaces. It rebuilds ecosystems that have previously been modified by human disturbance, using the plant and animal life that would have been present had the disturbance never occurred.” – International Union for Conservation of Nature
Nature in the Built Environment
To introduce rewilding into architectural design, instead of designing human-centric spaces, the built environment sector should focus on designing spaces for all life forms to thrive and co-exist.
As explained by environmental historian Laura J. Martin in her book Wild by Design: The Rise of Ecological Restoration, there are a number of key ideas relating to the awareness that rewilding can be aided by architectural structures and inspired design.
“…human care can help to undo some forms of human-caused environmental damage, while also respecting the autonomy of other species.” – Laura J. Martin
To do this, architects and designers must find, and continue to use, innovative ways to facilitate conservation and work with the local land and habitat to respect native flora and fauna.
How Arkular is Considering Rewilding
Arkular is considering and integrating rewilding through:
– Use of sustainable and eco-friendly materials
– Minimised waste due to controlled environments, with off-site construction reducing noise and air pollution
– The prefab modular method of constructing our dwellings ensures less disruption to the local landscape, flora and fauna
– Incorporating and working with nature within the built form through considered glazing, courtyards, indoor/outdoor flow, consistent view of outdoor areas
– Elevated dwellings for habitat to move freely
– Working with ecologists to understand and manage the local flora of the site
– Encouraging the use of native species local to the area
– Incorporating veggie patches and green rooves
– Reducing energy consumption through clever use of space, increased insulation, LED lighting, energy-efficient appliances and solar power systems
– Conserving water through rainwater harvesting, low-flow tapware, greywater recycling and conscious water usage
Welcome to the Oxford Falls House
Rewilding in action, the Oxford Falls House works alongside the surrounding landscape to build connectivity to the natural environment.
A considered design, The Oxford Falls House recognises and enhances bonds with nature. An elevated deck allows for resting spots for local wildlife, with the inclusion of an open central courtyard, an outdoor bath and the use of sustainable materials creating a harmonious relationship between the built form and the surrounding landscape.
Choosing a modular process ensures reduced disruption to the surrounding landscape and local flora and fauna. To further enhance rewilding, the use of native species within the landscaping process will promote biodiversity and help provide habitat for local fauna.
View our upcoming Oxford Falls House project.
How you can Contribute to Rewilding
There are lots of opportunities to get involved with rewilding on a personal level, including:
– Rewilding your garden into a wildlife-friendly zone of native plants and flowers
– Volunteering with your local green community group
– Supporting one of the many organisations helping to restore habitats and protect wildlife
– Introduce a bee hotel, ponds or additional water sources and veggie gardens for biodiversity
We are also strong advocates for utilising native species if you can during the landscaping process of your new modular home, to help increase biodiversity and promote precious habitat restoration.
Arkular’s Community Contribution to Rewilding
Arkular contributes to rewilding within the broader community by supporting and partnering with Carbon Neutral on their Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor – Plant-a-Tree Program – Australia.
“The program is restoring the natural landscape and reconnecting habitats by linking small patches of remaining vegetation to create a 200km green corridor from inland to the coast.
Plant-a-Tree grows critical habitat for native wildlife on historically cleared land in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot.” – Carbon Neutral
Click here to support Carbon Neutral or to find out more about their important initiatives.
Rewilding for a Positive Future
The concept of rewilding and the movement within architecture represents an exciting shift in the relationship between design and the natural world.
At Arkular, we believe it is important to recognise and understand the need for coexistence between humans, nature and the built form. We continue to refine, adapt and alter our systems and processes to design healthy homes that work alongside nature to help respect, restore and revive biodiversity.
