PHASKOLOS ARKTOS
A suburbia that doesn’t cost the ecosystem
LA+ CREATURE Magazine Design Ideas Competition
Brief
Can we live with animals in new ways that open our cities and landscapes to a more symbiotic existence with other creatures? Entrants were asked to choose a nonhuman creature and design a system/structure that improves the client’s life.
The koala, or Phaskolos Arktos (meaning pouched bear; derived from Greek), is an Australian icon that is set to be extinct by 2050; perhaps even earlier. Their habitat is being wiped out for mining and housing developments at a rapid pace. Therefore, a new take on suburbia must be made.
Proposed site
Proposal
Perched up high above the canopy, residential houses take the form of droplet shaped pods. The tall and slim structural column elevates the pod, and allows it to be anchored to the ground with minimal forest clearing. Horizontal poles connect these cylindrical shells together for added structural support.
By raising the development above the forest floor and canopy, the homes to millions of native animals are saved from destruction and extinction. The horizontal poles also act as a transportation system for the koalas. They allow them to travel between feeding trees, without the risk of being hit by cars or attacked on the ground by prey and domestic animals such as cats or dogs.
Open plan living spaces that invite the wonders of the Australian landscape indoors, create a healthy and rich quality of life. By preserving biodiversity and ecology, and creating a mutual relationship between humans and wildlife, we all benefit - it is time for a design revolution.
Section
1. Macadamia shell particle boards
The development of sustainable particle boards made from Australian agricultural and forestry by-products, such as macadamia nuts, is a new and innovative construction material that it suitable for humid environments.
2. Australian flora facade
The grid-like design of the pods allow native plants to grow on top of the horizontal planes, which aids in naturally cooling the house and blocking harsh direct sunlight. The abundance of floral species also helps wildlife to thrive.
3. Grey water filter
The incorporation of a grey water filter, that is integrated below all of the living spaces, allows for a large percentage of ‘waste’ water from the household to be used as a valuable resource that can be fed back into the natural environment.
4. Koala drinking stations
During times of drought, heatwaves and hot weather, koalas can’t get enough moisture from eucalyptus leaves. Therefore, part of the clean water from the grey water filter is pumped to sheltered drinking stations to lower their chance of dehydration.
5. Irrigation for eucalyptus growth
Clean water from the filter is also pumped into the ground to irrigate eucalyptus trees. This encourages new leaf growth on the tips of the branches, preferred by koalas as these are the softest and juiciest leaves.
