Long before modern architects integrated bird bricks and bee hotels, animals were integral to the shape of buildings across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. These structures connected shelter, agriculture, religion, labor, and power, revealing that multispecies architecture is a rediscovery of history. From pigeon towers in Safavid Iran to Japanese farmhouses, animals helped shape human environments, asking who truly benefits from shared spaces. The concept of “rooftop sanctuaries for silkworms” intertwines with this architectural rebirth, echoing the past while guiding future innovations.
Pigeon towers: Turning bird behavior into infrastructure
In Safavid Iran, pigeon towers, or kabootar khaneh, converted bird activity into fertilizer. Built of mudbrick, these towers protected large pigeon colonies. Inside, nesting niches filled the thick cylindrical walls, safeguarding birds and enabling the collection of their droppings, vital for agriculture and sometimes saltpeter production. The architecture mirrored the pigeons’ needs, nurturing colonies that in turn supported surrounding farmlands.
Japan’s farmhouses: Innovative spaces for silkworms
In the snowy mountains of central Japan, gasshō-zukuri farmhouses in Shirakawa-gō ingeniously combined living space with silk production. Steep thatched roofs crowned these timber homes, where silkworms were cultivated in warm attic spaces. The household’s cooking fire on the floor below heated these attics, demonstrating a seamless blend of domestic and productive environments where silk production was important to the household. By integrating these innovatively designed attics, these farmhouses epitomized efficiency and tradition.
Birdhouses: Facades as shared urban spaces
The Ottoman kuş evleri transformed urban facades into habitats for birds. Nestled into Istanbul‘s mosques, libraries, and fountains, these charming birdhouses mirrored their host buildings with tiny arches and roofs. Rooted in religious and charitable traditions, these structures showcased an urban life enriched by avian presence. In Gujarat, India, the chabutro further exemplified this integration, offering elevated bird-feeding stations within neighborhoods, reflecting Jain principles of non-violence.
Animal architecture and aristocratic power
Structures like the French colombier and the Grandes Écuries at the Château de Chantilly highlight how animal housing expressed social status. Dovecotes granted only to certain landowners, like the Manoir d’Ango in Normandy, combined practicality with prestige. Meanwhile, the Grandes Écuries, designed for Prince Louis-Henri de Bourbon, mirrored a palace’s grandeur, elevating horse stables to a statement of aristocratic power and significance.
Model farms: Turning animals into measurable units
By the nineteenth century, the British Model Farm movement transformed animal housing. Influenced by John Claudius Loudon, these farms emphasized efficiency through controlled conditions for cattle and pigs. Enhanced ventilation, waste removal systems, and organized feeding reflected a shift from integrated spaces to measurable units, paving the way for modern industrial agriculture where animals became commodities. These principles continue to influence modern efficiencies while seeking a balance with nature.
A return to an older relationship
Modern interest in multispecies architecture echoes the historical ubiquity of animals in human spaces. Whether contributing to economies, sustained for religious reasons, or symbolizing status, animals once shared environments with people. As industrialization distanced this connection, today’s designs aim to reintegrate these bonds, questioning how architecture can create symbiotic habitats for both humans and animals. The inspiration from past innovations helps reforge these connections against the backdrop of modern challenges.
For those curious about unique animal spaces, explore the surprising journey of Emperor penguin chicks in environments crafted to enhance their growth and survival.
If you are interested in animals’ roles in modern habitats, discover how proper canine care strengthens human-animal bonds and contributes to the harmonious living of both species.
This article is part of designboom’s exploration of how our spaces can redefine living together, rethinking domesticity and shared environments.
Sources & Links
- Գարվիք
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- lumoplank
- R Prazeres
- Louistisserand
- CC BY-SA 3.0
- P.poschadel
- CC BY-SA 2.0 FR
- Bernard Gagnon
Source: designboom.com
Frequently asked questions
What are pigeon towers used for in Iran?
In Safavid Iran, pigeon towers converted bird activity into fertilizer. These towers, built of mudbrick, protected large pigeon colonies and mirrored the pigeons’ needs, nurturing colonies that supported surrounding farmlands.
How did Japanese farmhouses integrate silk production?
In Japan’s snowy mountains, gasshō-zukuri farmhouses combined living space with silk production by cultivating silkworms in warm attic spaces heated by the household’s cooking fire. This demonstrated a blend of domestic and productive environments where silk production was important to the household.
What were Ottoman birdhouses and their purpose?
Ottoman kuş evleri transformed urban facades into habitats for birds by integrating charming birdhouses into structures like mosques and libraries. These birdhouses mirrored their host buildings and showcased an enriched urban life through avian presence rooted in religious and charitable traditions.