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Multispecies Inhabitation: Reimagining Entanglement in Urban Nature
Navn
Martine Münster Spanger-Ries
Uddannelsesgrad
Kandidat
Fagfelt
Arkitektur
Institut
Arkitektur, By og Landskab
Program
Urbanism and Societal Change
År
2025
Biodiversity has rapidly declined as humanity has made exponential advancements since industrialization. Today’s urban nature bears great witness to the Anthropocene as these spaces are characterized by homogeneous, human exceptionalist designs, where adjectives such as youthful, clean, lush, and fresh give shape to urban nature, thus failing to contribute meaningfully to ecological diversity. This repetitive reproduction of spaces obscures the richness of the multispecies interactions from which collaboration and connectivity beyond humanity can emerge.
Political initiatives have been made both globally and in Denmark, focusing on the re-establishment of biodiversity in rural and suburban areas which allow for large-scale transformations with minimal human interference. The space for self-sufficient biodiversity measures 5000 hectares, thus designing urban biodiversity is highly debated, and small-scale interventions in cities are not seen as contributors of biodiversity but as greenwashing.
With our diploma project, we want to explore new spatial stories by challenging the conventional narrative of nature as replicational, lush, and green spaces controlled by humans as well as the new narrative of “real” nature being self-sufficient biodiversity without human interference, as both contributes to the story of human detachment from the natural world.
To address the troubles of the climatic crisis of the Anthropocene, philosophical thinker Donna Haraway suggests moving towards the Chthulucene, emphasizing the need for multispecies collaboration for future survival.
"Staying with the trouble requires making oddkin; that is, we require each other in unexpected collaborations and combinations, in hot compost piles. We become-with each other or not at all."
(Donna Haraway, Staying with the Trouble: Making Kin in the Chthulucene, Experimental Futures Technological Lives, Scientific Arts, Anthropological Voices (Durham London: Duke University Press, 2016).
This project is carried out in collaboration with Alberte Bille Demescko and Jeyeon Ban.
Societal Theme: Biodiversity Crisis
Since 1970, 69% of wildlife populations have declined as humanity has made exponential advancements since the industrialization and 1 million species face extinction.
Cumulative % of species driven extinct
Urbanization is one of the main drivers behind biodiversity loss. It significantly contributes to climate change, habitat destruction, overexploitation of natural resources, pollution, and the spread of invasive species and diseases. It's important to understand how these challenges are deeply interconnected.
Industrialization and Urbanization: main causes of biodiversity loss
Assessment of protected natural areas in Denmark in relation to the international objectives of 30% protection of the land area and 10% strict protection of the land area. In total, 2.3%can be considered protected areas.
- Normand, S., Egemose, S., Kaae, B. C., Madsen, N., Egelund Olsen, B., Rahbek, C., Strange, N., Svenning, J.-C., Timmermann, K., Højgård Petersen, A., Birkefeldt Møller Pedersen, P., & Corcoran, D. (2022). Fra tab til fremgang – beskyttet natur i Danmark i
Assessment of protected natural areas in Denmark
Natural park in Denmark
Does this mean that efforts to restore and enhance biodiversity in citiesshould be abandoned?
Should biodiversity efforts be restricted only to suburban and rural areas where 5,000 ha can be secured?
Project Framework: Entanglement in Urban Nature
Our self perception in relation to the natural world is formed by different actors in different scales.
Actors conceptualizing nature in urban contexts
Actors working with biodiversity in different professionals: contributor through interviews during the project
Urban nature holds socio-cultural significance. However, urban nature also includes ecology—something we cannot fully control or predict.
"Staying with the trouble requires making oddkin; that is, we require each other in unexpected collaborations and combinations, in hot compost piles. We become-with each other or not at all."
: Donna Haraway, Staying with the Trouble: Making Kin in the Chthulucene, Experimental Futures Technological Lives, Scientific Arts, Anthropological Voices (Durham London: Duke University Press, 2016).
Design Approach: Biological Performance into Design
In our project we want to cultivate new undestandings of urban nature by recognising the entanglement of ecological performances and spatial practices on site, thus creating new spatial qualities.
Concept diagram: 3 elements for spatial entanglement
Concept diagram: 3 approaches for spatial entanglement
Intertidal Interface
Site 1: Kalvebod Harbour
The harbor has potential as a refuge for marine life, but its industrial design lacks features to support biodiversity. Boat traffic stirs up sediments, harming small fish, and the wooden deck at Islands brygge blocks sunlight, limiting plant growth.
The proposal suggests creating habitats, opening the deck for light, and adding wave attenuators. A wooden structure with an eco-concrete skin would provide habitat, reduce boat impact, absorb waves, and let sunlight reach the underwater ecosystems.
Design Diagram
The Ecological Performance of Kalvebod Harbour
Section of biological performance: Intertidal Interface
Seasonal Plan Wheel: Kalvebod Harbour
On a quiet Saturday morning in late November, golden light warms the harbour pavement. A man gathers mussels along the quay, while others explore the design emerging through the water surface. They touch, pause, and peer into crevices where water and small creatures live
November 27th 9:00
On one of the hottest days of summer, people gather on the deck at Islands Brygge to enjoy the sun. An overcrowded harbor bus filled with tourists passes by along the shimmering waterfront. Beneath the deck, marine lives grow on submerged structures, attracting birds that come to feed.
August 5th 15:00
Breathing Soil
Site 2: Kløvermarken
Today the site is used for sports, affecting the soil quality. The flat terrain and water table makes the site prone to flooding.
Our design balances recreational and ecological needs by identifying locations for sports and wetlands. A water system with wet meadows to support multispecies life ad lead water away from sport areas. Bird towers connect the football fields across the water system and increases soil quality through soil aeration. The towers are used by birds, football and wildlife spectators.
Design diagram: sports field with wetland
Section of biological performance: Breathing Soil
Seasonal Plan Wheel: Kløvermarken
In the July holiday season, the Kløvermarken is in its off-season, with few football matches occuring. Taking advantage of the quiet, birds search for insects in the patchy, overgrown grass that has reclaimed the field. People visit the aeration tower, watching the birds from above as the soil slowly breathes again beneath them.
July 16th 15:00
On a cloudy weekday afternoon, people who left work early gather to play a casual game of football. Children stroll with their families, wandering near the adjacent wetland. They spend the afternoon exploring the plants growing by the water and chasing balls that have drifted into the stream.
March 1st 16:00
Compost of Commons
Site 3: Kings Garden
The highly designed, baroque park demands intensive maintenance, leading to high waste production and the removal of decaying elements deemed “ugly,” which distances visitors from ecological realities.
In response, our design introduces on-site decomposition of maintenance waste to build a complete ecosystem, enrich soil biodiversity, and foster awareness of nature’s less aesthetic aspects. Interaction between people and soil life is encouraged through hot compost seating and tables, and cold compost areas with native perennial plant beds—blending function with ecological restoration.
Design diagram: from picturesque garden to compost garden
Section of biological performance: Compost of Commons
Seasonal Plan Wheel: Kings Garden
On a cold winter weekday, an elderly woman takes a walk through King’s Garden after lunch. Wearing a thick coat, she strolls with her dog and stops to rest at a compost bench and get warm. As she sits, the gentle heat seeps in, and after a while, she takes off his coat to cool down.
December 14th at 13:00
January 5th at 10:00
Living Edge
Site 4: Peblinge Lake
The current promenade and water mirror leave no space for birds, while the polluted water harms water quality and aquatic life.
In response, our design introduces a littoral zone for nesting areas, materials and improve water conditions. The design features a soft edge on the left side to encourage multispecies interaction, and a harsher edge on the right to offer birds a more secluded nesting area. Bird islands are introduced, both as nesting habitats and natural water purifiers.
Design diagram: harsh promenade edge to soft edge
Section of biological performance: Living Edge
Seasonal Plan Wheel: Peblinge Lake
On a spring day, a child living in a building beside Peblinge Lake goes for a walk with their parents. Near the soft edge of the lake, the child approache a swan nesting at the edge. Feeling threatened, the swan hisses and chases after the child, who runs back to their parent.
March 15th 15:00
After finishing a late shift, a person walks along the lakeside path, heading across Dybbølsbro to meet friends at a restaurant in Nørrebro. Through the mist of rains, they catch a glimpse of the cattail field and the bird island, where birds have settled into their nests.
October 20th 18:00
Det Kongelige Akademi understøtter FN’s verdensmål
Siden 2017 har Det Kongelige Akademi arbejdet med FN’s verdensmål. Det afspejler sig i forskning, undervisning og afgangsprojekter. Dette projekt har forholdt sig til følgende FN-mål
