Description

Life Support is a prosthetic vertical habitat installation, sited in Barrer Hill, an area of land set aside for ecological habitat restoration, adjacent to a new urban development in Canberra, Australia. The project repurposes an existing 13.7 m (45 ft) tall Yellowbox Eucalyptus tree that was earmarked for removal from a residential neighborhood. By removing the tree in as few intact pieces as possible and using the tree itself as a central part of the design, the project makes use of its inherent qualities for biodiverse habitat. The primary structure is enhanced with nesting cavities for birds and bats, created by carving into the tree itself and adding hollowed-out tree offcuts to the installation. The project brings awareness to the habitat-rich qualities of large, old trees, which are critical for ensuring urban biodiversity.