“Breathing in Density" invites you to reflect on the space we occupy and
the world around us. As we move through Paljassaare into the forested
edges of the peninsula, we encounter the constant hum of human activity
and the overwhelming presence of more-than-human life. A place where
birds outnumber people, where nature thrives alongside us, not at our
expense.
What can wildlife teach us about living in balance? How do we respect our
boundaries while breathing in the dense layers of life, where human and
non-human worlds are always intertwined?
When I first set foot in the northern peninsula of Tallinn, one thing stood out to me – the abundance of land, land and more land. Growing up in my city, Singapore, I was conditioned to think that land was scarce, that I had to find innovative ways to make space for the best utilisation of land. But here as I land in the midst of this peninsula, I find myself surrounded with nothing but land. Here in Paljassaare, ironically, I observe a low urban density of people but a high density of birds occupying its land.
coast so attractive
to the birds?
Diverse landscape (reed-bed, meadows, bushes, low sea) provide excellent resting and eating conditions.
Located on the West-Tallinn bird migration route. The diverse landscape also provides good habitats for foxes, brown hares, odonatan and a lot of butterflies.
Paljassaare is also home to the large copper, which is a protected species.
Humans, like birds, are attracted to green landscapes, seeking parks and open spaces for relaxation, and some even move to suburban areas to escape urban life. As climate change alters habitats, birds adapt by adjusting migration routes and breeding times. Similarly, humans respond to environmental challenges by developing new technologies and modifying lifestyles. However, despite these efforts, our attempts to connect with nature often fail to align with what nature truly needs, highlighting the need for a more harmonious relationship with the environment.
Density, in urban planning, the ratio of people to land area [1, p. 269]. Often linked with progress of a city, this notion prioritises more people, activity, and infrastructure. However, examples like Paljassaare remind us that density is not a “one-size-fit-all”. Instead, it should enhance urban quality of life, fostering vibrant and sustainable cities. Density alone has limited impact. Urban hubs can indeed be spaces of energy and opportunity, bringing diverse people and ideas together [2, p. 220]. Yet, profit-driven development often undermines this potential, leading to the erosion of our natural spaces. Prioritising economic growth at the expense of well-being and ecological balance diminishes the true purpose of cities. A city’s success should not merely be measured by its economic output but by sustainability and quality of life. To address these issues, density must be reframed as a means to foster healthier relationships – between people and with the environment. Flexible planning and organic growth in cities encourage experimentation, adaptability and balance [3, p. 1].
To share this perspective, I envisioned an immersive audio journey, blending ideas of land and density with natural surroundings. Starting with a bus ride from Hundipea, a land filled with promises, into a sensitive walk within nature, aimed to allow participants to feel a deep connection with our environment. This journey invites participants to experience a transition from the built environment into the natural world, encouraging reflection on urbanisation, preservation through the lens of land and density.
The quest for the "perfect" city continues to be a challenge for the human race. As urbanist Jane Jacobs suggests, density should be seen like vitamins – right amounts are ideal based on the needs and circumstances of each place [1, p. 209]. Too much or too little density can have diverse impacts, and the focus should be on finding the right balance for each area. However, in a time of declining biodiversity and disappearing forests, urban design must move beyond human-centric thinking. By embracing eco-density and incorporating nature into city planning, we can create spaces that benefit both humans and ecosystems, preserving the natural world rather than replacing it with concrete.
In The Mushroom at the End of the World, Anna Tsing uses the matsutake mushroom as a metaphor for resilience and co-existence in a world shaped by capitalism and environmental degradation. She highlights how interconnected human and non-human lives are, suggesting that collaboration and adaptability can help us thrive together [4, p. 22].
Staying within the City
As we work towards creating more sustainable and resilient urban environments, we can learn from nature. In nature, there are systems that balances density and diversity which are proven to sustainable and resilient [5, p. 163]. In the late 20th century, rapid urbanisation and climate change brought ecology – the study of organisms, their interactions, and their environments – into focus as a key discipline [6, p. 8]. Ecology examines species in terms of density and diversity, highlighting the profound impacts of expanding cities on nature [6, p. 14]. While visible effects like species extinction are evident, less visible issues, such as how traffic noise disrupts bird reproduction or soil vibrations, also harm ecosystems [6, p. 1].
Human activity, often driven by economic growth, has led to increasing environmental damage. To mitigate this, we must respect nature's boundaries, preserving wild spaces like forests and wetlands from urban sprawl. Cities should foster human creativity and innovation, but wildlife thrives best when undisturbed. By understanding where cities end and wild spaces begin, we can create room for both to thrive. Urbanisation should coexist with nature, not seek to control it. This ensures ecosystems remain intact for diverse populations to flourish across species, safeguarding the balance of life.
Nature as a Teacher
While the message is clear that we should avoid unnecessary intervention in wildlife areas, wildlife and natural ecosystems can offer valuable lessons for urban living. We should avoid unnecessary intervention in wildlife areas, but wildlife and natural ecosystems offer valuable lessons for urban living. Cities can adopt principles like self-regulating systems, nutrient recycling, and efficient energy flows. Biophilic urbanism, integrating nature into urban spaces, enhances health, biodiversity, and harmony. Wildlife-inspired designs, such as green roofs, urban farms, wildlife corridors, and sustainable systems, reconnect people with nature, mitigate urban heat islands, and increase biodiversity. Ecologically sustainable housing with green spaces fosters coexistence with other life forms while maintaining balance with the environment. As planners, we need to rethink how urban spaces interact with the natural world. This goes beyond planting trees or creating parks –
it involves integrating the principles of ecosystems into urban planning. Hilary Angelo's How Green Became Good highlights that greening is not only about adding green spaces but reshaping cities to foster social interaction and challenge societal ideals [8, p. 22]. Rather than seeing cities and wildlife as opposing forces, the relationship should be one of mutual respect. Conservation efforts must balance urban development and nature by preserving wildlife areas and designing cities that support population growth, biodiversity, and environmental health. The challenge remains to create spaces where humans and nature coexist, improving quality of life and fostering the well-being of all species, human and non-human.
Lessons from Paljassaare
Paljassaare exemplifies a future where density is defined not by human population alone, but by the richness of life – human, animal, plant, and everything in between. As Jacobs argues, the health of a community is defined by the diversity of interactions and relationships, not just the number of people [2, p. 143]. Paljassaare, with its dual nature of industrial use and conservation, demonstrates that coexistence between human activity and nature is possible, with each playing a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance.
Tsing and colleagues challenge us to consider the unseen networks that sustain life, like birds, fish, and plants in Paljassaare. The future of urban planning could embrace a more holistic vision where human and non-human lives thrive together, fostering biodiversity and resilience. By integrating nature and urbanity, we can create spaces where multi-dimensional density encourages both human and ecological flourishing. Paljassaare, where the density of birds surpasses humans, reminds us of the vital importance of living in balance with nature, and that the human beings are just one form in our whole ecosystem.
As human populations continue to grow and urbanisation sprawls, we must heed the insights of Paljassaare and rethink our approach to density. We need to consider the density in relationships and diversity – human, animal, plant, and environmental, in our world. If we can achieve this, not only will we be better stewards of our cities, but we will also be able to create a richer and more resilient future for all living things.
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[2] J. Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York, NY, USA: Random House, 1961.
[3] S. Moroni, "Urban Density after Jane Jacobs: The Crucial Role of Diversity and Emergence," City, Territory and Architecture, vol. 3, no. 1, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40410-016-0041-1.
[4] A. L. Tsing, The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruins. Princeton, NJ, USA: Princeton University Press, 2015.
[5] D. Sim, Soft City: Building Density for Everyday Life. Washington, DC, USA: Island Press, 2019.
[6] R. T. T. Forman, Urban Ecology: Science of Cities. New York, NY, USA: Cambridge University Press, 2014.
[7] A. Cabanek, M. E. Zingoni de Baro, and P. Newman, "Biophilic Streets: A Design Framework for Creating Multiple Urban Benefits," Sustainable Earth, vol. 3, p. 7, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s42055-020-00027-0.
[8] H. Angelo, How Green Became Good: Urbanized Nature and the Making of Cities and Citizens. Chicago, IL, USA: University of Chicago Press, 2021.
[9] A. L. Tsing, H. Swanson, E. Gan, and N. Bubandt, Eds., Arts of Living on a Damaged Planet: Ghosts and Monsters of the Anthropocene. Minneapolis, MN, USA: University of Minnesota Press, 2017.
[10] X-GIS, Estonian Land Board, "XGIS - Geoportaal," MAAamet. Available: https://xgis.maaamet.ee/xgis2/page/app/maainfo. [Accessed: Nov. 11, 2024].