Services

Ecological Placemaking

We develop an ecological vision for the site that is restorative and aims to improve its biodiversity value beyond that of its original state. This is implemented using curated green and blue strategies that are context-appropriate, ecologically meaningful, biodiverse and climate resilient whilst balancing human needs.

The performance gain is assessed using well-established ecological indicators.

We have an extensive network of ecologists and conservationists that have an in-depth understanding of ecology and are able to engage with local communities when necessary to achieve a shared ecological vision.

Sunbird nest on vegetation along building facade

Biodiversity Survey & Impact Assessment

We conduct rigorous biodiversity surveys to quantify the number and type of species found at a site, focusing on key biodiversity groups such as mammals, birds, bats, frogs, butterflies & other insects, plants. This is followed by robust statistical analyses to predict the true number of species that could be inhabiting the site. Surveys can be conducted at the pre-construction phase to provide crucial evidence-backed interventions during the design process while post-construction surveys help assess the ecological success of your design.

We can evaluate impact assessment reports and develop a long-term biodiversity monitoring and impact mitigation strategy so that you can be assured that the animals and plants on site are protected and continue to thrive.

Asian Honey Bees are important pollinators for urban habitats

Ecosystem Service Assessment

We calculate key ecosystem services provided by the greenery and water bodies on site that are most relevant to the design such as air filtration, air temperature regulation, noise reduction, erosion control and carbon uptake and sequestration.

We can provide a comparison of these results with that of a pristine forest (baseline scenario) and minimum compliant (business-as-usual scenario), in the same climate regime so that you get to know how your proposal compares with nature’s design and a typically built design in the vicinity.

These benefits can inform clients on how they can quantitatively achieve environmental benefits in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals by providing cleaner water, air and soil.

Measuring the heat mitigation ability of creepers on rock walls

Social Impact Assessment

Greenery and water are good for wildlife but how does it impact people? This is a pivotal question in today’s built environment. We answer this by engaging a range of stakeholders from residents to visitors at your site to understand their perceptions of green spaces and motivations for frequenting the site.

Families visiting rooftop garden at Kampung Admiralty

Wildlife Infrastructure Design

Instead of separating the urban and natural environment, we guide the design and integration of appropriate ecological infrastructure to enable co-existence between human and the wild. This includes designing wildlife crossings such as eco-bridges, rope bridges and creating supplemental habitats such as bird nest boxes and bee hotels to facilitate wildlife movement between sites and create homes for biodiversity in built environments.

Biomimicry in Architecture

Biomimicry involves the design and production of materials, structures or systems that mimic strategies, traits and processes found in nature. Put simply, it is a design inspired by nature.

We consult architects and urban planners on the most relevant natural design strategies. We believe that buildings of today can be more sustainable with biomimicry.

Our team is trained in mimicking nature’s time-tested strategies to solve your most vexing built design problems. This happens best when engaged in the project’s design phase, to develop innovative building forms and patterns.

Mycelium wall tiles mimicking the properties of elephant skin

Trainings & Workshops

To us, education is the passport to the future. We teach workshops and courses ranging from half-day to semester-long in-depth modules on ecology and biomimicry for architects and designers. These can be a combination of classroom sessions, nature excursions, site visits, teamwork, and experiential learning. We also love to integrate learning with play by creating physical learning spaces that can be nature-inspired aka ecology and biomimicry corners.

Biomimicry in Flight Workshop at Kranji Marshes