04 Biodiversity Reserach Lab
blab
Research and Education
To implement the EU’s biodiversity goals and devise resilient, sustainable solutions for regional demands, the biodiversity research lab will occupy space within the existing structures, located directly north and integrated with the plant dye facilities. The main entrance hall, think tank, and research center will be housed in the old salt storage, which features a beautiful vaulted ceiling. To be economical with adaptations and space usage, offices and labs will be situated within old offices adjacent to the youth center.
A significant component of an ecosystem is the health of the soil and its microbiome. The lab will host testing facilities for different soil compositions, located both inside the structure and in semi-outside transitional zones, to generate multiple opportunities and solutions for future coexistence. An additional, larger testing area will be introduced through the construction of a glasshouse. This glasshouse will simulate Earth’s rising temperatures and provide valuable insights into the adaptation, transformation, and performance of native flora and fauna.
The research lab aims not only to find valuable solutions and make prognoses for these native ecologies but also to educate the general public and provide specialized consulting.
The subsystem of the biodiversity research lab forms entangled synergies throughout the system, ranging from the beaver habitat and the animal-aided design co-working space to wetlands, shared living, and even the multi-species garage, which requires knowledge on soil and natural fertilization for urban farming processes.
Therefore, the ecosystem as a whole, including all its subsystems, directly correlates with the research lab, as all these subsystems will need consulting, research, and general education for the public on how to facilitate and introduce coexistence between humans, flora, fauna, and water.
The glasshouse and wider structures will thus serve as public and semi-public spaces, with workshops and info points designed to broaden understanding and educate inhabitants and visitors on the responsibility humanity holds for our environment.