UCLA 1

The Biophilia Treehouse is a living sculpture of wood, steel and native plants that constitutes a complete ecosystem for some of L.A.’s most threatened birds. Our central effort this year further develops the prototype installed on the campus of the Sisters of Social Service in Encino in 2023 and expands the sculpture’s public value by offering a vibrant space to observe urban biodiversity, practice ecological stewardship, and learn through direct engagement with native flora and avifauna. 

The Biophilia Treehouse grew out of a vision to create avian wildlife corridors to reconnect fractured habitats in dense urban parts of LA County, while simultaneously addressing disparities in in residents’ access to green space – a dual ecological and social mission. As a next step we seek to grow the Biophilia Treehouse into an outdoor laboratory and classroom, and implement the curriculum that we have been teaching to 3rd graders for the last three years at the Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) school in downtown LA. By foregrounding youth-centered, experiential learning and drawing from both scientific and creative disciplines, we aim not only to create access to green space but to co-create a pedagogic model that empowers communities to feel at home in nature, to see themselves as environmental stewards, and to imagine sustainable futures grounded in justice, care, and kinship. As such, the Biophilia Treehouse embodies both in form and function a symbol of radical commitment to integral ecology, as articulated by Pope Francis, and the aims of our community partners, the Sisters of Social Service and Pando Populus.

Faculty Lead:
Rebeca Méndez, Pamela Yeh, Ellie Diamant, Adam Eeuwens, and Yogan Muller

Students:
Chechi Amah, Yuri Espinosa, Iris Fu, Angelica Gomez, Madeline Laun, Valeria Lopez, Julliette Montalba, Ella Reaugh, Laila Reshad, Bora Rex, Alik Shehadeh, and Kameron Wiley

Collaborating Partner:
Sisters of Social Service, Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA), Lanai Road Elementary

Aligned LA County Sustainability Plan Goals:
Goal 5: Thriving ecosystems, habitats, and biodiversity.

Premiere Segment

Pitch deck

Group photo