Architecture as a Participant in Living Systems

The editorial series from ArchDaily investigates the role of buildings as adaptable entities within shared environments, rather than isolated structures. It is organized into three main themes: the coexistence of materials and biology, urban ecosystems, and habitat creation. Innovative architectural strategies are redefining walls as communal infrastructure, merging human safety with ecological needs. In Chile, Fundación Cosmos is reimagining urban spaces by converting ecosystems into wetland parks. In India and Southwest Asia, architects face the challenge of designing for environments where humans and free-ranging animals coexist. Ola Hassanain's artistic work advocates for a shift from extractive engineering to an ecology of repair in water systems. Effective design in hot climates necessitates recognizing trees, porous soils, water bodies, and wind corridors as vital public infrastructure. Global agricultural systems, including greenhouse developments in Almería and logistics routes in Santos, are transforming landscapes. For lunar architecture, NASA envisions using thick, windowless structures made of sintered lunar regolith for radiation protection at the lunar south pole.