Humans are deeply
interlinked with the life of butterflies. Not only are butterflies indicators
of the health of our environment, in many cultures butterflies are associated
with the soul. The relation to butterflies goes as far that in the Himalayan
region, some of the Nagas of Manipur trace their ancestry from them. Architecture BRIO and fUSE have won the open competition held by the Forest Department of Sikkim to design the Himalayan Butterfly Reserve in Sikkim
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| Himalayan Butterfly Reserve Entrance Pavilion |
The proposed Butterfly Reserve is meant to be a
celebration of this winged creature, found in abundance in the region. Owing to the high variation in vegetation and climate and
its unique geographical location, Sikkim represents one of the butterfly
hotspots in the world. Prevailing monsoon winds have pushed butterflies over
the ages northwards into the mountain range and have isolated them. Currently 690 kinds of butterflies can be found in the region.
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| Butterfly near Rangrang |
The Butterflies of Sikkim are under threat however. Their
habitat is damaged by urbanization, infrastructural developments, invasion of
exotic, non-native plants and climate change. The Butterfly Reserve’s main
purpose is to stop this downward spiral and become an invigorator where
butterflies can thrive and repopulate the region. However in order to generate
a much wider base of conservation support amongst people the reserve provides
the opportunity for visitors to understand the importance of the unique nature
of Sikkim through these winged wonders.
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| Butterfly habitat loss due to infrastructural developments |
On one hand the Reserve attempts to increase the diversity
and quantity of butterflies in Sikkim, and on the other hand it intends
instigate curiosity and awareness in people by bringing them close to their
habitat.
This inherent conflict between behavior of humans and the habitat
butterflies, forms the central theme of the design of the butterfly Reserve. It
is known that, if there is too much human disturbance, butterflies can migrate
away from that area and thereby defeating the objective of the reserve.
Therefore any architectural intervention needs to be sensitive of its social
and physical environmental impact.
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| River Teesta at the Butterfly Reserve |
The site designated for the Butterfly Reserve is 75 Acre.
The area accessible for the public is 4 acres to minimize the impact of the
visitors on the butterfly habitat. The most appropriate habitat for Butterflies
is a lush landscape filled with nectar and feeding plants attract butterflies,
which lay their eggs on the feeding plants. By increasing the richness and variety of
these plants, the population and diversity of butterflies increases. Shady
leafy areas are introduced where the butterflies can find refuge during their
roosting times.
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| An old rubber tree at the Butterfly Reserve |
A muddy pond is created where butterflies are found to ‘mud
puddle’ and take in vital minerals. Additional feeding areas with baskets of
rotten fruits attract even more butterflies. In select areas netted enclosures protect the larvae and
caterpillars from predators. These ‘butterfly enclosures’, where the
butterflies are bred, are each flanked with modestly sized interpretation
pavilions accessible to the public.
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| Himalayan Butterfly Reserve Sikkim |
1. entrance pavilion 2. life cycle pavilion 3. inspection huts 4. research centre 5. anatomy pavilion 6. feeding pavilion 7. basking pavilion 8. way to camp site 9. resting platform 10. reproduction pavilion 11. mud puddling pond 12. nursery 13. water harvesting pond 14. staff quarters 15. parking
As the butterfly is not a sedentary animal, the best way of
experiencing it in all its glory is to follow it through the landscape. Therefore
the ‘butterfly enslosures’ are dispersed throughout the landscape and the
visitor is drawn into the natural habitat of the butterfly.
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| Current landscape at the Butterfly Reserve |
A series of pathways connecting the different landscapes,
interpretation pavilions and enclosures, guide the visitor and provide
information as to their butterfly experience. Each building, space, path or
zone is used to describe specific characteristics or traits of the butterfly. Like
the movement of the butterfly, the narration is along a flitting path, which
twists and turns and explores the full beauty of the environment. The ancient Greeks
compared the butterfly's constant flitting from flower to flower to the
constant movement of the mind: The Greek word for "butterfly" is psyche,
which primarily means "soul" or "mind".
The architectural scenography becomes a tool for narrating
the metamorphosic story of the butterfly. The journey through the butterfly
Reserve may start with ignorance of these little animals, but by the end, the
visitor is to have a real engagement with the full life of the animal.
As a butterfly perches on tendril legs on a flower so the
interventions should reduce the interference with the natural environment
already existing on site. The interpretation pavilions are therefore
lightweight timber frame structures on light steel columns. The nets are
connected around the edges of the pavilions. The “wattle and daub” timber frame
structure are a common vernacular building method in Sikkim, and is suited to
the climatic conditions of the region and built on centuries of knowledge.
However the architecture changes its appearance by cladding
the frames with local timber roofing shingles, mounted in a way not unlike the
scale on a butterfly’s wing.
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| Microscopic image of a Peacock Wing, Slanted View |
The pavilions would be prefabricated to minimize
construction disturbance at site. The steel supporting structure will be
embedded in the rocky surface.
The netted areas are twisting and turning in between the
existing dense vegetation and rocks. The nets will have to have just the right
aperture to prevent butterflies escaping and allow sufficient percolation of
sun light.
The Butterfly entrance structure is the culmination of the
Butterfly Reserve as a constructed ecology: the watchtower comprises of a vertical
butterfly garden interweaving through three cantilevered interpretation
pavilions wrapped in a netted enclosure.
Its structure is based on tensegrity and balance; it is
biomimicry in the form of camouflage and display. Here people are taught about
how they can improve their environment for the sake of the butterflies. The
vertical garden shows the possibilities of creating microenvironments
beneficial for butterflies in urban areas. Visitors can learn how to create
small butterfly ‘gardens’ or terraces in their own apartments or houses, before
they take the journey back home.
The butterfly is a reminder to make changes when the
opportunity arises. Change and transformation are inevitable for us all. The
journey through the park encourages this in the hope for a better environment.
for more information on butterflies in India:
