Second Place Winner
Altai Hydrospine
Design by
Svetlana Zagidullina
Juror’s Comment:
Powerful landscape-scale spine that merges hydrology, movement, and habitat corridors.
Work on:
Develop more articulated human-scale spaces along the larger infrastructural framework.
Svetlana Zagidullina
Svetlana Zagidullina is an architecture student from Russia, currently in her first year at Ufa State Petroleum Technological University—a pursuit that brings her immense joy. She views architecture as both a creative freedom and a means to improve people’s lives and the world around them.
In her free time, she explores new software and design tools, sketches her ideas, and writes poetry. Having been born and raised in a region rich in natural beauty, she shares a deep and reverent connection with the mountains. This personal affinity inspired her to choose a similar landscape for her project, guided purely by her love for such environments.
Celebrating Creativity & Vision
Winner’s Spotlight: An Exclusive Interview
Discover the story behind the victory — from concept to creation.
1. Concept & Vision
The whole concept really came from a fundamental shift in how we view architecture. Instead of seeing buildings as static objects for us to look at, I wanted to create something that actively participates in the ecosystem. The idea of the *Symbiocene* isn't just some fancy term or aesthetic choice – it's about creating something that actually works within nature. I started by embedding the structure right into the natural gradient of the site – from the riverbed all the way up to where birds fly. It's like creating a multilevel system that mirrors nature's own organization.
Traditional design is all about us humans – making sure we have great views, easy access, and comfort. But with Altai Hydrospine, I flipped that on its head. Human movement is hidden, access is limited seasonally, and everything is designed to minimize disturbance. Success is measured both by how people feel and by how much it contributes to the conservation of biodiversity.
2. Multispecies Framework
The project functions as a layered, shared habitat infrastructure in which humans occupy only one regulated stratum among many. The riparian membrane retains moisture, filters surface runoff, and forms humid microhabitats for amphibians and insects while preserving existing root systems. In the shrub and trunk zones, structural nodes integrate nesting cavities and shaded recesses that provide refuge for small birds and mammals.
Humans move through shaded galleries hidden behind timber slats, minimizing noise, glare, and visual intrusion. Access is seasonally regulated during breeding and spawning cycles. In this system, architecture becomes habitat infrastructure first and human space second.
3. Ecological Integration
Ecological integration in Altai Hydrospine is not treated as an added environmental layer but as the primary structural logic of the project. The architectural system was conceived by first mapping hydrological flows, sediment dynamics, vegetation gradients, and species movement patterns before defining any spatial form.
At the riparian level, the project introduces a porous membrane that intercepts surface runoff from adjacent land while maintaining root-zone continuity. Moisture-retaining surfaces create stable microclimates for amphibians and insects, while shading structures reduce thermal stress during peak summer periods.
Above ground, the canopy framework restores vertical ecological continuity. The porous lattice creates safe flight corridors and distributed roosting niches while deliberately avoiding concentrated predator vantage points. This balance supports trophic stability rather than encouraging dominance by a single species.
The selection of indicator species is directly tied to ecological performance. For example, the Black kite reflects trophic health and landscape-scale connectivity; changes in its hunting and nesting patterns reveal shifts in prey availability and disturbance levels. The Altai pika indicates the stability of rocky microhabitats and microclimatic buffering.
In summary, ecological integration in Altai Hydrospine is achieved not through aesthetic references to nature, but through hydrological calibration, trophic balancing, microclimatic modulation, and measurable biodiversity outcomes.
4. Urban Ecosystem Thinking
In cities, this approach could transform hard riverbanks into living ecosystems. Instead of separating water and land with concrete, we could restore natural connections. It could help cool down cities and reconnect fragmented green spaces.
5. Architectural Language & Materiality
The architectural language of the project emerges from ecological function rather than formal symbolism. Vertical stratification mirrors the ecological layering of forest and river systems. Surfaces are matte and low-reflective to prevent avian disorientation. Materials are non-toxic and non-leaching, designed to support biological colonization over time. I even transformed what used to be a metallic structure into something that acts as a habitat and moisture collector.
6. Climate & Resilience
I designed it to work with nature, not against it. Floodwaters can pass through; structures are built above expected flood levels. I use solar panels and batteries for energy, prioritizing ecological monitoring over human amenities. Resilience is defined as adaptive continuity within environmental change.
7. Speculation & Innovation
The most radical dimension of Altai Hydrospine is redefining architecture as a measurable ecological species. The project shifts architectural value from visual dominance to biodiversity contribution. Governance is embedded into spatial design through sensor-driven access regulation. Observation becomes participation, as ecological data collection forms part of the architectural identity.
The project also embraces temporal evolution. Materials are expected to weather and host colonization. If such principles were adopted widely, buildings could be evaluated in terms of habitat density, trophic stability, and microclimatic contribution.
8. A Message for the Future
I believe architecture needs to move from just taking from nature to actively participating in it. If we design buildings to support habitats and ecosystems, we can turn construction into a force for regeneration rather than destruction. It's about changing how we measure success – not by how impressive a building looks, but by how much it supports life. Architecture can become a regenerative force.
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