Projects | Studio | Awards
A | Spring 2022 | Bridged Ecologies
  • Student TULSI BHARDWAJ
  • Code PLA22372
  • Faculty Architecture
  • Tutor/s Divya Shah,Priyal Shah,Yati Sengupta

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Ecological systems are an interdependent network of various processes. One of the most remarkable features that we observe among our forests is the connection within systems. The ecological networks and processes weaved into the land mosaic presents us with the opportunity to look at forest ecosystems through the lens of landscape ecology to understand the significance of these as ‘Bridges’. The project aims to understand the significance of ecological bridges in the context of a Tropical dry deciduous forest within the Aravallis and establish the significance of various scales of Bridged Ecologies within the larger functioning of the regional land mosaic

Drawing the Landscape | Forest sketches of Dry deciduous scrub and thorny forest (Thol Wetlands) and Tropical Dry deciduous forest (Southern Aravallis)| Medium - Charcoal and pencil.
Reading and recording the forest | Correlating Systems | Forest sections as a medium to correlate various landscape layers
Decoding the forest | the idea of ‘Bridged Ecologies’ | Introducing the perspective of understanding forest ecosystems as an ecological mosaic of bridges and stepping stones. The language and principles of landscape ecology are introduced to establish a methodological research framework for studying a forest ecosystem as a bridging component at various land hierarchies.
Decoding the forest systems | Macro and Meso Bridged ecologies | To understand the traits of ecological bridges and their significance in the larger systems at the regional scale (with respect to the land hierarchy), an investigation of forest patches at a Macro and Meso level.
Decoding the Forest Systems | Meso Bridged ecologies | To investigate the position of the Jaisamand Patch in the larger system of Southern Aravallis, a series of investigations are performed that establishes it as a significant stepping stone habitat connecting the larger forest patches and acts as an intersecting mosaic of forest patch stepping stone type and stream corridor stepping stone type. This investigation demonstrates the ecological significance of Jaisamand local ecosystem patch for the sustenance of the landscape of Aravallis and further for the regional systems.
Decoding the Forest systems | Micro Bridged Ecologies | To investigate the highly complex dynamics of Jaisamand stepping stone, various layers were investigated to develop the ecological land mosaic of Jaisamand. Layer 1: Hydrology with potential stream corridors, Layer 2: Patch type 1 - Dense forest, Layer 3: Patch type 2 -Moderate vegetation, Layer 3 – Sparse Vegetation, Layer 4 – Grasslands and shrubs, Layer 5 – Agricultural and barren land. This investigation revealed micro ecosystems known as Ecotones within the jaisamand stepping stone that act as anchoring systems for the sustenance of bridged ecologies.
Representing the forest | Walking through the bridges while pausing at the Anchors: Ecotone investigation | For bridged ecologies, micro ecotones act as anchoring points. 2 Intersecting bridge Ecotones with contrasting conditions are identified.
Representing the forest | Walking through the bridges while pausing at the Anchors | Ecotone investigation | Intersecting ecotones identified exhibit multi dimensional ecological qualities of 2 bridges that it constitutes. Landscape Structural attributes and Functional attributes are identified and represented by the medium of Montages and sections.
Representing the forest systems: Conclusion | Scales of fragility: Jaisamand as a conservation patch for the larger systems | Bridges are a sustaining mechanism for ecosystems that house various complex biodiversity patterns. Their conservation at each scale of ecological investigation is essential. Bridges at each land hierarchy is like a stepping stone in itself that allows for inter-patch interactions.
Bridged ecologies | Systems of Pivotal Ecological Importance ? | Inferences for ecological conservation of jaisamand stepping stone mosaic: 1) Reconnecting remnant patches of Dense forest. 2) Preserving systems and patch edges that act as bridges from the effects of urbanization. 3) Creating and maintaining vertical diversity in the Forest canopy. 4) Ensuring biological legacy of old growth forest is transferred to regenerating stages. 5) Jaisamand to be considered as a conservation patch of intersecting bridges for re-wilding and Eco-restoration projects.