ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Architecture as Habitat: Designing Façades for Other Species

architecture-design · 2026-06-08

An article on ArchDaily challenges the conventional view of building façades as mere barriers, arguing that they can and should be designed as habitats for other species. Historically, architecture has unintentionally provided niches for birds, insects, and plants, but these opportunities were rarely intentional. The piece calls for a shift toward designing façades that actively accommodate non-human life, citing examples like the Bioclimatic Prototype of a Host and Nectar Garden Building by Husos Architects. The article emphasizes that the exterior of a building is never empty and that architects have a responsibility to integrate ecological considerations into façade design.

Key facts

  • Façades are traditionally seen as barriers separating interior from exterior.
  • Buildings have historically created unintentional habitats for birds, insects, and plants.
  • The article advocates for intentional design of façades as habitats for other species.
  • Husos Architects' Bioclimatic Prototype of a Host and Nectar Garden Building is cited as an example.
  • The piece was published on ArchDaily.
  • The article is titled 'When Façades Become Habitats: Architecture Making Room for Other Species'.
  • The article discusses the role of façades in regulating temperature and reducing noise.
  • It calls for moving beyond human-centered architecture.

Entities

Artists

  • Husos Architects

Institutions

  • ArchDaily

Sources