This perspective paper explores the concept of multispecies design in architecture, focusing on the building scale. Historically, architects have prioritized human needs, neglecting nature’s integration in urban settings, leading to environmental and social challenges. To address these issues, a new multispecies approach that promotes the integration of ecological knowledge into architectural design has evolved. This paper aims to map existing concepts, challenges, and gaps in this novel multispecies approach, focusing on the building scale design process and suggests a roadmap for its implementation. This paper analyzes the existing literature and current architectural practices. This analysis is complemented by the findings from an architectural design studio that have highlighted real-world challenges not readily apparent in the literature. By promoting a multispecies architectural paradigm, this research not only underscores a transformative approach to building design but also positions multispecies design as an essential strategy in combatting the challenges of declining biodiversity and escalating climate change.

This research is part of a wider study on the sustainability of high-rise buildings within the urban environment. The focus here is on wind and temperature stratifications per different height through in situ monitoring on a high-rise residential tower in the Mediterranean climate of Tel Aviv, and their impact on thermal comfort and user safety. The appropriateness of design is discussed in relation to the direct exposure to higher-up wind velocities, the thermal perception of the residents through questionnaires, and the safety and usability of the outdoors space according to height. The potential for advancing the energy efficiency of the structure is also discussed. The study covers a hot and a cold season, focusing on the specificities of the wind regime in the specific climate, through seasonal variations. Results from the monitoring of data confirmed increased wind and gust velocities per building height all year round, reaching the level of danger for the occupants during winter, cancelling, thus a successful operation of the outdoor balcony space. The occupants’ perception and use of the outdoor balcony space per building height were in direct relationship to the increased wind velocities per height. Discussion and conclusions critically evaluate the residential high-rise building typology in the Mediterranean climate through the design of the outdoor balcony space along the height of the envelope. The results set an initial understanding and delineation for future studies, while underlining the complications of designing and occupying tall buildings and the level of detailing required.

High-rise buildings affect the microclimate around them at ground level and, as a result, also affect the pedestrian activities that take place there. The implications of this statement are especially amplified by the increasing numbers of high-rise buildings within the urban environment. This paper focuses on the urban microclimate in the vicinity of two high-rise buildings, with a focus on urban thermal comfort and wind patterns at pedestrian level relative to building height. The studies take place in the Mediterranean climate of Tel Aviv. The methodology includes collecting and combining various data, e.g. microclimatic monitoring, spot measurements, meteorological stations data, and surveys performed by administering questionnaires. Results showed that enhanced wind velocity is perceived as positive in summer, but unpleasant in winter, for the specific climatic conditions. The case study emphasizes the importance of microclimatic studies as part of high-rise building design, and the inclusion of design guidelines at the pedestrian level of high-rise buildings. In this process, the evaluation of outdoor human comfort perception through field surveys is highlighted.

Population growth, urbanization, and climate change have significantly contributed to environmental degradation, posing severe consequences for humans and other species. By integrating ecological objectives with human-centric goals, a path towards a sustainable, multi-species future is possible. Current sustainable design principles have shown positive environmental impacts by addressing human-centric objectives such as enhancing green infrastructure, energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and more. However, the incorporation of multi-species design criteria remains unresolved. This paper proposes a conceptual framework in which human-centric and ecological design objectives are defined and associated through the selection of key performance indicators (KPIs) represented by numerical thresholds. But, while the objective-KPI relationship is an established path in architectural design, the same does not apply for preserving and promoting biodiversity. The proposed conceptual framework identifies, defines, and associates the relevant objective-KPI relationships for all stakeholders and becomes the basis for evaluating the project computationally. Such an approach is currently lacking.

Anthropic activities negatively impact natural and artificial ecosystems, necessitating interdisciplinary mitigation strategies such as multi-species building envelope designs. This paper introduces a computational multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methodology to support these envelope designs. We also propose a nested set strategy for key performance indicators (KPI) to strategically measure architectural and ecological performances. We integrate the strategy into a proposed hybrid MCDM methodology using computational design tools. The methodology was tested using a generic volume case study described by an architectural and ecological objective with varied priorities. Initial results highlight the computational interoperability of hybrid MCDM, informed by nested KPI set priorities, as support for multi-species building envelope designs.