Terrestrial Post-Anthropocene

Constantly increasing temperatures result in climatic shifts, causing the spread of species out of their natural boundaries and becoming invasive, hibernation and reproduction cycles are affected, resulting in forced migration or starvation. The built environment generates nearly 50% of annual global CO2 emissions. Each year the number of billions of metric tons highers. The rate of urbanization is a direct outcome of the growth of built environment. Throughout the years the rate of habitat decreased so rapidly, that most of the animal species are endangered mainly due to habitat loss.

What if we focused on meeting the needs of our surroundings, rather than just our own? The result might be microperformative structures that function like living organisms, constantly growing and deteriorating in cycles, much like nature. The CO2 embedded in existing buildings is significantly higher than what we could capture in new constructions. This inspired me to repurpose the Old Economical University building in Vienna, which has stood largely empty for over 10 years, into a refuge for the reptile center. This would offer vital living spaces for displaced species in the region. The refurbishment’s design is based on optimizing factors like temperature gradients, sunlight, humidity, airflow, and water temperature, creating a self-sustaining reptile and fish habitat. The glass-steel façade’s tendency to overheat provides an energy advantage. The building's existing load-bearing framework acts as the backbone, supporting the new functions. To integrate the natural environment, fresh clay mixed with structural fibers is used as a substrate for both plants and animals. The design features biomimetic microperformative structures, inspired by nature and AI, that are 3D printed from clay. These structures degrade slowly in the humid environment, only to be rebuilt, offering spaces that adapt and evolve with the species. Material experimentation played a key role in the design process. Initial models made of raw clay, placed in different humidity and temperature conditions, helped us understand how to proceed with robotic fabrication. By observing how moss growth, mineralization, and humidity affected the clay, the designs were continuously refined to create more optimized spaces.