Counter-Roadkill: Cults for Ecological Connectivity

Amidst the climate disaster, Australia’s rural roads fragment critical habitats and disrupt ecosystems, resulting in the loss of thousands of wildlife lives annually. This thesis proposes hut communities strategically sited along these thoroughfares in NSW, integrating more-than-human ideology and neo-ruralism to compel urban dwellers to adopt lifestyles that harmonize with the natural environment. These cults facilitate cohabitation through multispecies design, fostering a symbiotic relationship with the ecosystem through huts designed for minimal environmental disruption. By revitalizing essential habitats and creating safer roadways, we enhance wildlife corridors and deepen our understanding of ecological interdependence, immersing humanity back into the natural world.

The NSW masterplan envisions microcommunities along rural roads as wildlife-friendly corridors, slowing traffic and promoting sustainable, nature-integrated living. Strategically placed near rivers, these hubs support ecological connectivity and community resilience

Common species in the Dubbo area include water-dependent amphibians and birds. Extending the creek integrates water into site, creating safer habitats, ponds for frogs, and using clay for hut construction.

The site plan creates a safe wildlife corridor by using dirt roads to reduce roadkill risk, positioning near natural habitats, and integrating fire-resistant landscaping with strategically placed vegetation to protect wildlife.

Hut designs use mudbrick and timber for thermal efficiency and multi-level structures for bird nesting. Features include bat-friendly crevices, bird-safe glazing, rainwater-fed bird baths, and wildlife-oriented balconies.

The hut design integrates off-grid sustainability, elevated on screwpiles to minimize ecological disruption and create subterranean habitats. Elevated decking enhances bushfire resilience, while passive cooling and overhangs ensure thermal efficiency.