What is Ecosystem Design
JAN 23 | 2023 BY LIAM GRAHN
Ecosystem design, often addressed as small scale ecosystem design or green art installation, is an invention that deals with natural materials, plants and water in the format of semi-independent indoor nature systems. These projects may have a form of an aquascape/aquarium, where the whole scenery is fully submerged in fresh water terrascape/terrarium, a non water column layout but high in humidity, and aquaterrarium (widely known as a paludarium), a combination of emergent scene and a water column. Vertical gardens are also a type of plant installation. In Biophilic design, Ecosystem design is implemented in the Direct Experience of Nature.
Light systems, hardware like circulation pumps, co2 injection devices and nutrition are used to resemble the proper conditions for the plants to photosynthesize and thrive. These tools are essential to balance the milieu of the layouts, and maintenance is required for long-term proper function and aesthetics as well.
AQUARIUMS
When you hear Aquarium usually connected with fish and other underwater organisms, but let's dig deeper. Aquariums are definitely mesmerizing! To be surrounded with water sounds and visuals have a captivating effect for you and your home and give a calm motion to the layout. If you choose to use fish or underwater organisms you should always consider the habitat needs regarding the organizations of the animals and provide even more than needed to ensure a healthy and a stress free life.
Aquarium habitats might include:
Roots
Rocks
Gravel
Aquatic moss
Bigger leaf plants ( such as Anubias and Java ferns )
Aquarium inhabitants:
Fish
Shrimp
Snails
other micro organisms
Photo by HUMID
Java fern leaf photosynthesizing!
TERRARIUMS
Usually representing rainforest, slices of nature with high humidity levels, exotic tropical plants, and occasionally animals that live under those conditions. You can see animals in terrariums but you need to be fully aware of their needs and care and the layouts must be prioritized to be designed regarding their habitat needs. That might be limiting the design and budget as well. A terrarium must be fully enclosed and can’t be in open air as it has to have certain “weather” conditions (temperature but mostly humidity) which is highly unlikely to occur in an indoor space. The terrarium layouts are bioactive, which basically means that there is a mimicry in a small scale of the actual ecosystems in nature. A cycle that helps the well being of the layout the plants , the substrate, and the microfauna cleanup crew eat mold, decaying food and waste (in case of animal enclosures) and then break it all down into a form more easily where there is a cycle of nitrogen, therefore an imitation of an ecosystem on a small scale.
Terrarium habitats may include:
Plants
Fungi
Lichens
animals/insects
Terrarium inhabitants:
Amphibians:
Frogs
Toads
Salamanders
Reptiles:
Lizards
Snakes
Turtles
AQUATERRARIUMS-PALUDARIUMS
The word 'paludarium' comes from the Latin word 'palus' meaning marsh or swamp and '-arium' which refers to an enclosed container. Paludariums are also known as aqua-terrariums. Where water and dry land meet and the spectrum of plants, materials and animals is way broader. These layouts are relatively more complex than the previous two.
One of the reasons is that a paludarium layout can often be direct to the viewer. That means, the layout can have an open front side, or be completely in open air, with no glass separating in contrast to aquariums and terrariums which are enclosed systems.
Paludarium habitat can resemble natural sceneries as:
Wetlands/marshes/swamps/bogs
Rainforest/jungles
Waterfalls
Creeks
Paludarium Inhabitants
Paludariums give us numerous layout styles, therefore the inhabitants vary based on the habitat design. Both aquarium and terrarium inhabitants can be thriving in a paludarium layout regarding the style.
Some common paludarium wildlife include:
Fish: A very wide spectrum of freshwater fish
Amphibians: Frogs | Toads | Salamanders
Reptiles: Lizards | Snakes | Turtles
Invertebrates
VERTICAL GARDENS
Vertical gardens, living green walls, live walls, moss walls are some of the names you may find. These vertical structures of plant life can vary in size and placement. From company lobbies, hotels and restaurants to private residents, indoor or outdoor. Vertical gardens are plant life vertically attached on panels usually on walls or freestanding with automated irrigation systems. Vertical gardens are a clever solution to space saving compared to the above Ecosystem design layouts. Minimizing space yet keeps plant mass high. Plants per square meter can be from 20-25. Vertical gardens are used in various ways, as separators in offices, which gives a natural vibe but also has a functional purpose of privacy and acoustics improvement.
OPEN TYPE INSTALALTIONS
Based on neuroscience, environmental psychology, and endocrinology, biophilic design integrates elements of nature into architecture and urban planning projects. Biophilic design has quantifiable health and wellbeing benefits that result in financial savings through higher worker productivity and retention rates, improved student test scores, increased real estate values, and faster patient recovery rates. Biophilic design provides a distinct advantage over conventional design practices by recognizing the scientific evidence connecting human biology and high performance design.
Biophilic design can reduce stress, enhance creativity and clarity of thought, improve our well-being and expedite healing; as the world population continues to urbanize, these qualities are ever more important. Theorists, research scientists, and design practitioners have been working for decades to define aspects of nature that most impact our satisfaction with the built environment.
Water, plants, textures and colors (links to other blog posts)
Based on authors research, nature is not what calms and relaxes individuals in contrary city lifestyle, routines are what distract the mindfulness and
What is Ecosystem Design ›
‹ What is Biophylic Design
JAN 23 | 2023
BY LIAM GRAHN
What is Ecosystem Design
Ecosystem design, often addressed as small scale ecosystem design or green art installation, is an invention that deals with natural materials, plants and water in the format of semi-independent indoor nature systems. These projects may have a form of an aquascape/aquarium, where the whole scenery is fully submerged in fresh water terrascape/terrarium, a non water column layout but high in humidity, and aquaterrarium (widely known as a paludarium), a combination of emergent scene and a water column. Vertical gardens are also a type of plant installation. In Biophilic design, Ecosystem design is implemented in the Direct Experience of Nature.
Light systems, hardware like circulation pumps, co2 injection devices and nutrition are used to resemble the proper conditions for the plants to photosynthesize and thrive. These tools are essential to balance the milieu of the layouts, and maintenance is required for long-term proper function and aesthetics as well.
AQUARIUMS
When you hear Aquarium usually connected with fish and other underwater organisms, but let's dig deeper. Aquariums are definitely mesmerizing! To be surrounded with water sounds and visuals have a captivating effect for you and your home and give a calm motion to the layout. If you choose to use fish or underwater organisms you should always consider the habitat needs regarding the organizations of the animals and provide even more than needed to ensure a healthy and a stress free life.
Aquarium habitats might include:
Roots
Rocks
Gravel
Aquatic moss
Bigger leaf plants ( such as Anubias and Java ferns )
Aquarium inhabitants:
Fish
Shrimp
Snails
other micro organisms
Java fern leaf photosynthesizing!
Photo by HUMID
TERRARIUMS
Usually representing rainforest, slices of nature with high humidity levels, exotic tropical plants, and occasionally animals that live under those conditions. You can see animals in terrariums but you need to be fully aware of their needs and care and the layouts must be prioritized to be designed regarding their habitat needs. That might be limiting the design and budget as well. A terrarium must be fully enclosed and can’t be in open air as it has to have certain “weather” conditions (temperature but mostly humidity) which is highly unlikely to occur in an indoor space. The terrarium layouts are bioactive, which basically means that there is a mimicry in a small scale of the actual ecosystems in nature. A cycle that helps the well being of the layout the plants , the substrate, and the microfauna cleanup crew eat mold, decaying food and waste (in case of animal enclosures) and then break it all down into a form more easily where there is a cycle of nitrogen, therefore an imitation of an ecosystem on a small scale.
Terrarium habitats may include:
Plants
Fungi
Lichens
animals/insects
Terrarium inhabitants:
Amphibians:
Frogs
Toads
Salamanders
Reptiles:
Lizards
Snakes
Turtles
AQUATERRARIUMS-PALUDARIUMS
The word 'paludarium' comes from the Latin word 'palus' meaning marsh or swamp and '-arium' which refers to an enclosed container. Paludariums are also known as aqua-terrariums. Where water and dry land meet and the spectrum of plants, materials and animals is way broader. These layouts are relatively more complex than the previous two.
One of the reasons is that a paludarium layout can often be direct to the viewer. That means, the layout can have an open front side, or be completely in open air, with no glass separating in contrast to aquariums and terrariums which are enclosed systems.
Paludarium habitat can resemble natural sceneries as:
Wetlands/marshes/swamps/bogs
Rainforest/jungles
Waterfalls
Creeks
Paludarium Inhabitants
Paludariums give us numerous layout styles, therefore the inhabitants vary based on the habitat design. Both aquarium and terrarium inhabitants can be thriving in a paludarium layout regarding the style.
Some common paludarium wildlife include:
Fish: A very wide spectrum of freshwater fish
Amphibians: Frogs | Toads | Salamanders
Reptiles: Lizards | Snakes | Turtles
Invertebrates
Vertical gardens
Vertical gardens, living green walls, live walls, moss walls are some of the names you may find. These vertical structures of plant life can vary in size and placement. From company lobbies, hotels and restaurants to private residents, indoor or outdoor. Vertical gardens are plant life vertically attached on panels usually on walls or freestanding with automated irrigation systems. Vertical gardens are a clever solution to space saving compared to the above Ecosystem design layouts. Minimizing space yet keeps plant mass high. Plants per square meter can be from 20-25. Vertical gardens are used in various ways, as separators in offices, which gives a natural vibe but also has a functional purpose of privacy and acoustics improvement.
Open air installations
Based on neuroscience, environmental psychology, and endocrinology, biophilic design integrates elements of nature into architecture and urban planning projects. Biophilic design has quantifiable health and wellbeing benefits that result in financial savings through higher worker productivity and retention rates, improved student test scores, increased real estate values, and faster patient recovery rates. Biophilic design provides a distinct advantage over conventional design practices by recognizing the scientific evidence connecting human biology and high performance design.
Biophilic design can reduce stress, enhance creativity and clarity of thought, improve our well-being and expedite healing; as the world population continues to urbanize, these qualities are ever more important. Theorists, research scientists, and design practitioners have been working for decades to define aspects of nature that most impact our satisfaction with the built environment.
Water, plants, textures and colors (links to other blog posts)
Based on authors research, nature is not what calms and relaxes individuals in contrary city lifestyle, routines are what distract the mindfulness and
