Today, it is indeed possible to design projects that promote biodiversity while preserving, or even improving, the comfort of users.
Based on a targeted ecological assessment, primarily focused on anthropophilic species likely to shelter on buildings, issues can be quickly identified and actions anticipated to preserve habitats and the biological cycle of species.
During the design phase, slight modifications can favor the accommodation of certain species, chosen particularly for their behavioral traits. This includes birds like Sparrows, Tits, or Swifts, and certain species of anthropophilic bats. Given the dimensions of these arrangements and their position on the building, they are inaccessible to species whose behavior causes damage, such as pigeons or starlings, for example these spaces can be integrated into the building envelope, making them almost invisible and thus preserving the architectural identity of the building. This integration also makes them more durable, as they are protected from the elements, increasing their attractiveness to the targeted species.
On the scale of a renovation or construction project, the cost of these arrangements is negligible. The ecological benefits, however, are immense, as well-designed cavities will host populations of birds and bats season after season, without requiring any intervention from the building operator.
The success of these arrangements' occupancy does not solely depend on the quality of the shelter itself but also on the surrounding ecosystem. A rich and diverse ecosystem in the immediate vicinity of the building is essential to attract and retain protected species. The surrounding green spaces must offer food resources, shelters, and breeding areas for animal species. Maintenance and management actions for these spaces must be carried out in accordance with the characteristics of the immediate environment.