UCLA

The Biophilia Treehouse is a living sculpture with native plants that constitutes a complete ecosystem to support some of L.A.’s most threatened birds. Building on previous Biophilia Treehouse projects, our central effort this year has been to prepare the site to teach 88 third-graders from LAUSD’s Lanai Road Elementary School our art and science curriculum, “Our Neighbors, the Birds.”

Installed on the campus of the Sisters of Social Service in Encino in 2023, the Biophilia Treehouse offers 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 green space access—a dual ecological and social mission.

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, which aligns perfectly with the goals of our community partners, the Sisters of Social Service.

Our next step is the realization of a second Biophilia Treehouse at a new location. Toward that end, we recently were finalists on a public art commission in LA Harbor through the LA City Department of Cultural Affairs.

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

Students:
Yuri Espinosa, Iris Fu, Angelica Gomez, Madeline Laun, Valeria Lopez, Ella Reaugh, Laila Reshad, Bora Rex, Mars Walters

Collaborating Partner:
Sisters of Social Service, Lanai Road Elementary

Aligned LA County Sustainability Plan Goals:
Goal 1: Resilient and healthy community environments where residents thrive in place. Goal 2: Buildings and infrastructure that support human health and resilience. Goal 5: Thriving ecosystems, habitats, and biodiversity. Goal 6: Accessible parks, beaches, recreational waters, public lands, and public spaces that create opportunities for respite, recreation, ecological discovery, and cultural activities. Goal 12: A commitment to realize OurCounty sustainability goals through creative, equitable, and coordinated funding and partnerships.

Premiere Segment

Pitch deck