A prototype of co-inhabitation
The Animalesque Nest is more than just a metaphor about how birds build their homes. It is about the collective creation of a place for nesting animal-, vegetal- or algae life in the basin. A place for learning and observing which comes out from the personal experience of physically constructing. Where the site experience implies a sensual connection with the surrounding environment, its flowing forces and dynamics.
Primitive materials and elements such as branches, soil, rope, and bags are organized and arranged in components that conform a chain of interconnected systems, giving form to the Nest. Physical systems, easily and practically built, through which we engage structural and performative qualities, turning their raw character into sensitive components that can interact with the basin ecology and even become part of it.
Each day of the construction of the nest was about designing and materializing the environmental complexity that the prototype can reach, understanding and engaging the fabrication of its components on site. A `bottom up ‘process ruled by incremental and inter-connected building steps, where no final form was previously defined, but on the contrary, emerged from a coherent process of systems making.
How will nature respond to the nest, and how will the nest react to weather- and water conditions? Will the reeds embrace the nest and interweave with its porous surfaces? Will insects, birds, frogs, foxes nest between the layers of branches? The building of the nest was the first step in the longer process of nesting into the ecology of the basin, providing a prototype of co-inhabitation.
The nest was built during the Animalesque Visiting School from August 1 – 10, in symbiosis with Climate Care 2019 by
Amanda, Ana, Antonella, Bayan, Bianca, Christián, Erika, Florentin, Gabriela, Gastón, Javiera, Jorge, Marija, Melissa, Merve, Osvaldo, Sjoerd, Tomas, Xaviera.
Find more images of the 2019 Visiting School here.