Rosie Fishburn

THE ECOLOGICAL COMMUNE

Occupying Urban Climatic Districts

The ecological commune explores how providing resources for other species within cities can motivate humans to care more for our shared environment. If people don’t notice the changing climate or aren’t affected by biodiversity loss, it’s harder to care. An ecological commune is a term I’ve developed to describe a group of beings who live together and share their environment, with a collective need to be part of the same diverse and healthy ecosystem in the place they all inhabit – a responsibility often forgotten by humans in our anthropocentric, capitalist society.

Four types of gabions filled with organic matter are used to create a three dimensional landscape of new habitat, occupying the climatic districts at different levels using 1m3 baskets. It’s a negotiation from a human perspective to enhance urban public realms.

By forensically mapping and identifying the locations to intervene in, the ecological commune can have maximum impact with valuable resources, for both the financial and carbon cost. The climatic districts become legible as a result of the inventions, engaging humans with the impact their built environment has on the conditions for other species. It engages humans with the positives nature can bring to our mental health, and also for our species survival with the climate and biodiversity crisis.

The project is in collaboration with the creatures who will inhabit it. Over time it will be added to and taken from, decompose and grow. Gabions, initially full of organic material, will be occupied by smaller creatures who can fit between the mesh. The material will decompose as the fungi, bacteria, invertebrates and other beings occupy the material, while seeds deposited by animals and wind will germinate within the cages, protected from larger creatures. The mix of decomposable and permanent material negotiates who can interfere with the processes within.