Biodiversity Leaves

Design for a new urban development in Málaga by the international architecture studio L35, which includes a public square, a hotel, and commercial and residential areas. Organic spaces, green roofs, urban furniture, and non-polluting lighting reflect forms inspired by nature.

Málaga is a cultural city where connectivity is key to creating biodiversity corridors for pollinators and auxiliary fauna. The space will enhance urban resilience as it is designed to serve as a node in the city’s green infrastructure. Climate change has guided the choice of vegetation, which is adapted to rising temperatures. Periods of drought, followed by increasingly intense torrential rains, require Nature-based Solutions (NbS) such as resilient plant species with low water requirements, planting techniques including mulches and efficient irrigation systems, and minimising disservices such as allergies.

We will generate regulating and cultural ecosystem services. Increased biomass will result in energy savings, reduced air and noise pollution, and lower temperatures in public spaces and inside buildings. The proposed green roofs will also contribute to ambient temperature reduction. The project creates a healthy, sensory green space with social and psychological benefits for visitors, forming a new public gathering place that respects Málaga’s idiosyncrasy, history, and culture.