02 Beaver Habitat
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beaver as co-designer
As beavers already exist on the site, this system plans to leverage their unique potentials and special qualities as keystone species for ecosystems. The habitat will be shifted from the direct area of The Fulda onto the floodplain, providing them with a larger area to naturally extend their habitat. This extension will transform the area into natural wetlands that function like a sponge during heavy rains, thereby enhancing resilience during floods.
The constructions by beavers will boost biodiversity, creating natural nesting places for birds, amphibians, dragonflies, and other species. The adjacent system, the Fulda wetlands, with a similar function as a wetland and retention area, will interweave with the beaver habitat.
Enabling the beaver to follow its instincts benefits not only the species but also humans, as naturally built dams are more economical and sustainable than artificially constructed ones. The initiation of the system will start with the digging of small sidearms next to the river. These arms will initially have human-shaped constructs that will over time adapt into a naturally occurring, chaotic aesthetic as the beaver tailors its habitat. The species seeks calm and deep water for swimming, diving, and accessing their lodge from underwater, making it a secure spot from potential predators. To achieve this pond system, beavers will use surrounding trees to build dams and regulate the water level.
Human protagonists, such as ecological researchers and planners, can prepare the habitat to a certain extent; however, the actual work and “design choices” will be made by the beaver.
Humans will be able to appreciate the natural qualities and aesthetic beauty of the subsystem, but the well-being and protection of the animal species will be the priority. People will be invited guests in this space, taking on the role of observers rather than intruders in the evolution and creation of the habitat.
The intention behind using the ecological advantages and abilities of the beaver as a fauna protagonist in the overall ecosystem is to demonstrate the strategic opportunities of a wild and chaotic landscape transformation. While the transformation of the area is initiated artificially, its spatial outcome, sprawl, and aesthetics will be unpredictable. The benefits for the wider system will include improved ecosystem resilience, increased species variety, enhanced water quality, and positive climatic and sponge-city effects. The beaver habitat serves as an example of rewilding possibilities and coexistence in urban areas, highlighting the capabilities of a strong and self-determined species.