Our project takes place in the ideology of making the city of Lausanne more adapted to the different species that inhabit it. Through this work, we focused on 5 of them, all present on Vidy campsite, the House Sparrow, the Red Squirrel, the European Hedgehog, the Hazel Dormouse and finally the Camper.
All these animals depend on the trees that surround them for different reasons, the birds like to perch there to be safe from predators who could be on the ground but also to lay their eggs and raise their chicks. The house sparrow is particularly present in cities because buildings also allow it to meet these needs, it hides in all the orifices it could find, so old buildings and cathedrals are perfect places for it unlike current architecture which is not porous. The red squirrel also hides in the trees from predators while the hedgehog and the dormouse remain at ground level but use fallen branches or old trunks to create hiding places and take care of their young. This environment is also ideal for them in terms of the food they ingest. The squirrel and the muscardin feed mainly on seeds and nuts while the sparrow and the hedgehog are more fond of insects even if these species often feed in a less restricted way to survive according to the seasons.
For this reason, the presence of these species varies greatly depending on the seasons. In summer they are all present and coexist together, the sparrow and the squirrel during the day and the hedgehog and the dormouse at night, the camper is rather present during the day. On the other hand, in winter, the birds gather together to seak warmth and safety, the squirrel hides and uses its reserves, often fleeing underground or into the trees, but even with these precautions, 50% of them do not survive due to the low temperature, the hedgehog hibernates from December, as soon as the temperatures become really too low. The muscardin and the camper leave the site sooner, already at the end of summer, the muscardin hibernates until spring while only a handful of campers decide to spend their winter in the campsite.
After identifying all the needs and particularities of our different species, the scanner below identified some interesting areas in the city.
From then on, we devoted our research to the lakeside because it was full of tree row and vegetation. While browsing it we came across the Vidy campsite, inaugurated in 1969 and never redesigned or renovated since. We therefore took on the challenge of reintegrating our animals into this space enclosed by impassable fences and crisscrossed by roads that are not always necessary.
After analyzing the needs of our animals and the history of the site, we wanted to understand what a campsite really consisted of. Who was this site for? When does it use? What were the different dwellings? Was there any infrastructure continuously present? What was the purpose of the fence surrounding it? How many people were there? Were there people in winter? And of course ! What species could be found there?
We interviewed campers and they answered a certain number of our questions. They give us a list of the species present on the site despite the fences there are some hedgehog, duck, swallow, sparrow, slug, frog, snail, fox, dog, cat, crow, bee, butterfly, mosquito and much more.
Following these discussions we identified a recurring problem which is all the existing infrastructure which dates from the inauguration and which has never really been renovated. From then on we were interested in recreating sanitary facilities which could be generally reproduced in campsites which meet the needs of different species by using the hot water from the shower that the campers would take and be used to heat the different spaces in which the animals come to find shelter.
We wanted to completely rethink the organization of the camping to create an environment adapted to the movement of animals :
And thus end up with a close bond between campers and local wildlife. Indeed, in summer with a peak in the number of visitors to the site, we find animals more active and present than in winter. The goal is really to bring campers not only to be close to the lake but also to be able to be close to nature and the animals that we offer with our ecosystem. This is what we can see below with the section representing a public square in summer and winter. In summer, we find it bustling with a small market, we find all our animals while in winter we find ourselves with a slightly emptier campsite.
In harmony with our new campsite organization plan, we have undertaken the design of new sanitary facilities for the latter, strategically positioned at the intersections of the rows of trees. In order to preserve this continuity, our objective was to integrate a tree into the heart of the structure, thus adding a touch of lightness and elegance. Regarding the design of these toilet blocks, we opted for a shape evoking the octagon, while avoiding strictly conforming to it, adopting the silhouette of a jewel. This seemed to us to be the ideal solution, adding a distinctive aesthetic to our surroundings and allowing us to have a radiant building that could fit into any part of the campsite. In order to facilitate the passage of terrestrial animals such as the Hazel Dormhouse or the Edgehog through our sanitary facilities, we took the initiative of raising our structures, thus creating a platform on stilts with a minimum height of forty centimeters. The inverted sloping roof serves not only to collect rainwater for irrigation of the tree, but also to create small hiding places in the walls, well hidden under the eaves, thus promoting cohabitation between the campers and local wildlife.
When it comes to the choice of materials, we opted for an approach favoring simplicity. The walls are built with Terrablocs bricks, lined with a technical space integrating a wooden structure allowing the supply of showers and sinks. Each wall is framed by wooden beams, providing both support for the roof and creating an aesthetic rhythm on the facade. The platform, for its part, rests on a wooden structure, with a floor made of the same material. Finally, the roof is made of metal sheet, supported by a wooden frame resting on posts in the center and on the walls using metal rods.
As for amenities for campers, the interior of our sanitary facilities includes six toilets, four showers, a dozen lockers, four sinks and four washbasins. The center is equipped with a metal mesh guardrail, ensuring both the safety of users and allowing natural ventilation, while offering sound immersion in the natural environment. These facilities are sized to meet the needs of around twenty pitches on the campsite.
Furthermore, this structure is not limited only to human uses. Indeed, it offers niches integrated into the walls for birds, a tray of dry earth on the roof suitable for squirrels and sparrows, as well as nooks under the platform dedicated to hedgehogs and dormouse.
This layout thus creates a close link between campers and the local fauna, illustrated eloquently in the perspective section, where the toilets fit harmoniously into the landscape of the Vidy campsite.