Explore Transspecies Urban Theory and how we can share our cities with wildlife. Learn to view the urban landscape as a multi-species habitat for all creatures.
We have been taught to view the city as a place where nature ends, but the reality is that the city is a complex, multi-species habitat where the lines between 'us' and 'them' are constantly being blurred.
Foundational concepts and principles of transspecies urban theory in the context of Landscape Architecture, based on the provided text 'Transspecies urban theory' by Wolch, West, and Gaines (1995).
Transspecies Urban Theory is a framework that challenges the traditional idea that urbanization must mean the total conquest of nature. It views the city not as a purely human space, but as a complex, multi-species habitat where the lines between humans and animals are constantly blurred. This theory encourages us to recognize the shadow populations, such as coyotes and raccoons, that live alongside us in metropolitan areas.
Traditional urbanization often treats the city as a place where nature ends, using development practices that strip away native vegetation. We frequently use the term 'improved land' to describe soil that has been rendered sterile and impermeable, which systematically excludes migratory birds and other species. Transspecies Urban Theory argues that these design choices are based on a misunderstanding of what a city actually is and how it functions as an ecosystem.
In major metropolitan areas, various animals have adapted to live right beneath the surface of human activity. Coyotes often navigate storm drains like subterranean highways, while raccoons may find dens in the ventilation shafts of high-rise office buildings. Even migratory birds attempt to find footing in these landscapes, despite cities being designed to exclude them. Recognizing these animals is a key part of understanding the city as a shared habitat.
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