Sacred Landscapes as Ancient Ecological Infrastructure
An article featured on ArchDaily posits that concepts of ecological design, including biodiversity corridors, regenerative landscapes, sponge cities, and more-than-human urbanism, are not novel. In India and the SWANA region, landscapes influenced by religious traditions have historically shaped the interactions among people, water, flora, and fauna. For instance, temple tanks captured monsoon rainfall, sacred groves preserved biodiversity, and oasis communities thrived in dry climates—long before ecological performance was recognized as a design criterion. These environments arose from cultural and spiritual traditions rather than deliberate environmental initiatives. The piece argues that many aspects currently examined through the lens of more-than-human design have been present for centuries in landscapes seldom regarded as ecological infrastructure.
Key facts
- Ecological design concepts like biodiversity corridors and sponge cities are presented as new responses to environmental crises.
- In India and the SWANA region, religious practices have shaped landscapes that organize human-environment relationships.
- Temple tanks stored monsoon water, sacred groves protected biodiversity, and oasis settlements supported life in arid areas.
- These landscapes emerged from cultural and spiritual practices, not environmental agendas.
- The article suggests these historical landscapes embody ecological intelligence relevant today.
- Architects rarely study sacred landscapes as ecological infrastructure.
- The article is published on ArchDaily.
- The featured image shows a sacred pushkarani (tank) at Krishna temple in Hampi, India.
Entities
Institutions
- ArchDaily
Locations
- India
- SWANA region
- Hampi
- Krishna temple