EPILOGUE

WRITTEN

Ecologies in Disguise is a publication containing imagery and storytelling that reflects on current practices of design which disregard the protection of our environment. We are interested in current environmental degradation that highlights the destructive pursuits of human development. Our inspiration developed from a shared interest in the conservation of flora and fauna. Specifically, we are interested in the ways in which animals are being forced to adapt and co-live with human destruction. Examining current areas of environmental exploitation has made us aware of the extreme genetic adaptations into which species are currently being forced. Critiquing the flaws of existing human dominated practices, our research addresses the loss of animal habitats that occurred through processes of urbanization.

These examinations provoked deep research into the Athabasca Oil Sands and Chernobyl, two of the many sites where anthropocentric mentalities have caused direct threat to the well-being of humans, fauna, and flora. Chernobyl is a prime example of present day nuclear disaster that has had long term effects on the genetic evolution of species native to this environment. The Athabasca Oil Sands is one of the largest oil reserves in the world, and its vast destruction is disrupting the Boreal forest. Chernobyl and the oil sands inspired us to study what these environments might look like in the future once natural resources have been depleted and cities destroyed. We began to imagine how these ecosystems and accompanying organisms would look if we continued to practice design and construction the way we currently do. These explorations positioned our artifact and thesis in an alternate future, depicting the potential possibilities of these environments and the species affected.

The primary narratives presented in this artifact were inspired from instances where mutated organisms are now occurring. Through research on these mutant hotspots, we gained insight into how the mutational biology of organisms has altered given site conditions. In actuality, the imagery present in this artifact is not far removed from our current reality. The genetic alterations of organisms happening today lives in both domesticated and wild animals. For instance, the organisms of Chernobyl are forcefully evolving with facial malformations, extra appendages and extreme discoloration due to radiation. Similarly, the fish of Alberta have been found with tumors and deformities as a result of oil spills and water contamination. Moreover, humans are mutating dog breeds for our own pleasure. We are even genetically modifying salmon to grow faster and twice their size for consumer purposes. These are just some of the scenarios occurring today, whether an organism is evolving in its habitat or is a human-created mutation. The extreme imagery presented in the artifact blends current reality with the imagined future, blurring the distinction between the two.

Through the speculations proposed by these imagined ecosystems, we hope to challenge present practices and systems which contribute to climate change and environmental degradation. Furthermore, we are critiquing the world’s unwillingness to address climate change and are urging the reevaluation of designers’ approach to environmental sustainability. The impact of current ecocides are already threatening all types of organisms around the world. We hope that these imagined environments will shed light on the extremes to which the world will be transformed if changes to our system are not made. Natural and artificial disasters are not just environmental changes that humans will continue to face. Instead, it must be realized that animals and plant species will also face these same challenges. Flora and fauna are essential components of Earth as they contribute and help environments thrive.

Our use of imagery reflects on what our companion species will become and encourages us to face the reality of how design development introduced by humans drastically shapes our environment. The artifact serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address the destructive pursuits of humans on the environment and the importance of considering the well-being of all species. Ultimately, Ecologies in Disguise aims to provoke critical thinking and raise awareness about the current state of our environment, the impact of climate change, and the need for a shift in attitude and practice toward our ecosystem. It encourages viewers to question existing policies and advocate for sustainable practices which prioritize the health and survival of our planet’s ecosystem.

Ecologies in Disguise is a series of images created by Charlotte Bascombe and Andrea De Haro, to illustrate the future of non-human organisms in a world accompanied by environmental degradation. The images were created using text-to-image AI software to showcase these alternative futures. Image data from physical modeling that mimicked organism habitats was input to manipulate and control AI output. This publication is an important component of our thesis research and design. It serves as a critique, offering a thought-provoking questioning of the current relationship humans have to already destroyed and still salvageable landscapes. Our practices have a direct influence on non-human organisms and our thesis discusses what failure to change will do to the environment and all living beings, flora, fauna, and humans.

This thesis was made possible with the assistance and support of:

Jean-François Bédard Professor, Thesis Advisor

Britt Eversole Assistant Professor, Thesis Advisor

Julie Larsen Associate Professor, Graduate Chair, Thesis Advisor

Barbara Opar Librarian for Architecture, Editor

A special thank you to our families and friends for their continued support and encouragement. May 1, 2023.