Anthropolis
Habitat Design
EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY
What would you say is the habitat rating of your home? That is, what do you perceive to be the degree in which your home is integrated into the land on which it sits? How much of the original vegetation still exists? What animals are still a part of the ecosystem? What level of connection do you feel to the environment? It could be argued that no plot of land has ever been improved by the modification of man, not from the standpoint of the ecosystem which has evolved in a given location. The best we can do is strive for minimal disruption by understanding – to the best of our ability – the intertwined intricacies of the life which resides within and how to be a part of it.
Green roofs, or living roofs, increase ecological equity by creating a habitat for wildlife, which in turn decreases stress of members of a community by providing a more aesthetically pleasing and interactive landscape. They serve several energy mitigation purposes for a building and effectively use the natural functions of plants to filter water and treat air in urban and suburban landscapes. Green roofs are beneficial to more than just the humans who reside below, they are an expression of respect and understanding for the land on which a dwelling is constructed.
