Artecology
Artecology (ärt-ĭ-kŏl′ə-jē). Mixed discipline ecology/art dealing with biological relationships between organisms & the built environment.
Artecology is the innovative research and development department of ARC BIODIVERSITY & CLIMATE. From our base in Sandown Bay in the Isle of Wight Biosphere reserve, we work with industry and research partners to create bioreceptive construction and landscape designs for marine, freshwater and land-based development. Artecology shapes green life-cycle solutions from new build, to retrofit and repair, from city to sea. Using nature-based solutions, we’re here to help you get to grips with net gain for wildlife and build natural capital in line with recommendations and regulations outlined in the U.K Government’s 25 Year Environmental Plan.
We are a world-class cross-discipline collaboration of ecologists, artists, scientists, engineers and architects developing constructed wildlife habitats within the built environment. In addition to our R&D work, we have a range of product designs, we accept commissioned projects, give unparalleled ecological consultative advice and deliver training and talks.
Our products and services include artificial rockpools (award-winning Vertipools) and bio-tiles for the marine environment, designed-in habitats, functional public green spaces and wildlife friendly urban landscapes. Our ongoing work to bring wildlife to urban spaces and places is being used today for climate-change adaptation, tackling coastal squeeze on defended coasts; as retrofit urban ecosystem enhancement; in master-planning design guidance for new developments; as a tool for stakeholder engagement, and increasingly, for rethinking public health strategy using our own ‘Habitats for Humans’ directive.
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- We love eels! This cast & textured eel pass was commissioned by Island Roads & the Environment Agency as part of a culvert repair. Thanks to Artecolgy’s ‘eelevator’, an obstruction has been removed for migratory fish
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- Part habitat, part interpretion, planter and spot to watch it all, the Newchurch Bee Benches have it all!
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- Sculpted nest boxes, part of a specially commissoned trail for a large housing estate in Southampton
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- Dr Roger Herbert, Bournemouth University brings visiting academics and students to visit the Sandown Bay Vertipool array
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- BBC Countryfile filming the Bouldnor Vertipools with Arc/Artecology Director, Nigel George – these are our first design, tried, tested
SHAPING BETTER PLACES
We combine the design and build of beautiful installations with ecologically functional planting schemes and habitat creation. By doing this we create hot spots of wildlife activity which provide life-cycle resources for birds, mammals, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, fish and marine life. Working this way means we enriched environments for wildlife and people like.
Arc advises on national infrastructure projects and is part of the Integrated Green-Grey Infrastructure network. We are members of The Cluster for Sustainable Cities, initiators of Building Biodiversity in the Solent administered by The Solent Forum, and judging panel for the Construction Industry Research & Information Association’s Big Biodiversity Award.
Our palette of skills and knowledge is uniquely wide-angled, making us perfectly placed to offer you specialist advice on policy and practice in green-grey infrastructure, net gain, natural capital and built asset/community resilience, using tried and tested nature-based solutions.
It’s an exciting new world of biodiverse architecture.
For more information on Artecology, visit http://www.artecology.space/