Architects, urban planners, and landscape architects make decisions about land use—often without realizing which animals’ habitats are being preserved, created, fragmented, or destroyed in the process.

The “PerspekTIERwechsel” Toolbox aims to change that! 
 

Why do we need the “PerspekTIERwechsel”?

The discourse on architecture and planning is strongly anthropocentric. Wild animals and their needs have rarely been taken into account—even though cities are species-rich habitats. At the same time, the effects of planning decisions are clear: In Germany, an estimated 100 million birds die each year due to glass facades. Transportation infrastructure and light pollution interfere with migration, reproduction, and foraging. Energy-efficient building renovations can destroy habitats for building-nesting species such as bats and sparrows. If animals are not taken into account in planning, conflicts also arise—for example, with protected reptiles on land zoned for development or with raccoons, urban pigeons, and rats. These are often resolved through displacement, relocation, or culling rather than through planning.

Can we design cities in a way that preserves or creates new habitats? Can we avoid conflicts early on? And can a shift in perspective toward multi-species planning enable new design approaches?

The “PerspekTIERwechsel” Toolbox does not provide definitive answers—but it does offer tools to explore these questions and develop initial solutions. The goal is to more firmly integrate the topic of wildlife into the degree programs of the Department of Architecture, Urban Planning, and Landscape Architecture (ASL) at the University of Kassel.
 

Who is the Toolbox intended for?

The Toolbox is aimed at:

• Faculty members seeking to integrate the topic into their teaching
• Students as future planners and developers of new approaches
• Curriculum developers working to structurally embed a shift in perspective
   

How can the Toolbox be used?

The toolbox contains various modules and tools that can be used individually or in combination—in courses or for self-study. These include, among others: a shift in perspective through role-playing and imagination, an audio walk from the perspective of an urban fox, scientific species profiles, materials on bird strikes and light pollution, and courses from the Political Academy of Organism Democracy on multi-species planning

Where can the toolbox be borrowed?

The complete “PerspekTIERwechsel” toolbox as well as individual modules can be borrowed:

• doku:lab (ASL Building, 1st floor), +49 561 804-2306, mailto:dokulab[at]uni-kassel[dot]de
• Student Council Office (ASL Building, 2nd floor), mailto:fachschaft[at]asl.uni-kassel[dot]de
• Department of Open Space Planning (HAFeKA, Gottschalkstraße 26, 2nd floor), Office: +49 561 804-7689

Content can also be viewed and downloaded online  → https://perspektierwechsel.de/

Project Lead:

Dr. Annette Voigt

Project Team:

Margarete Arnold
Sinan Bilgin
Leonie Butterweck
Irene Fischer
Samantha Hentschel
Greta Thole
Nina Fritsch