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Anales de Investigación en Arquitectura
Print version ISSN 2301-1505On-line version ISSN 2301-1513
Abstract
VEGEZZI, Filippo. Designing the Urban Coexistence: Challenging Speciesism for Equitable Spaces Beyond Human Boundaries. An. Investig. Arquit. [online]. 2024, vol.14, n.1, e202. Epub June 01, 2024. ISSN 2301-1505. https://doi.org/10.18861/ania.2024.14.1.3762.
This paper critically examines the prevailing paradigms of environmental and spatial justice, emphasizing the existing disparities in policies that predominantly favour human interests while overlooking the fundamental rights and well-being of non-human species. Despite the growing acknowledgment of the importance of establishing a deeper connection between human and non-human actors for overall well-being, a pervasive speciesism mindset persists, distancing humans from the broader natural world. This separation from nature profoundly influences the formulation of policies and justice, establishing a bias that focuses primarily on human concerns and environmental conditions tailored to human well-being. Architects and planners, despite possessing the potential to enrich habitats for various species, frequently adopt human-centric approaches that marginalize other-than-human entities, restricting their access to the immediate surroundings of human territories and impeding opportunities for immersive nature experiences. This article advocates for a comprehensive paradigm shift in architectural practices, urging a more inclusive and equitable approach that extends spatial and environmental justice to encompass the diverse needs and rights of both human and non-human species within the urban landscape. The conclusions underscore the urgent need for architects and planners to re-evaluate their approaches, fostering an environment that supports coexistence and acknowledges the interconnectedness of all species. In the face of global biodiversity concerns and international frameworks such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the research contributes to the discourse on sustainable and ethical design practices, advocating for a future where spatial and environmental justice extends its reach beyond the confines of human experience to create a respectful and just coexistence with the entire ecological community.
Keywords : Coexistence; more-than-humans justice; multispecies design; ecological architecture; human-nature separation, social acceptance; speciesism; urban wildlife; urban habitats; living with nature..