How funny that the day after I posted Buffalonians’ penchant for building modernized shelters for pets and wildlife (see here), Davide Steele forwards me a link to The Architect’s Newspaper featuring one of architect Joyce Hwang’s most recent creations – Bat Tower.
The tower was constructed offsite by University at Buffalo students before being pieced together at Griffis Sculpture Park, one of Buffalo’s most ethereal escapes. While Bat Tower looks impressive in its unusual design, the real significance behind the project is environmental in nature. Hwang hopes to raise awareness of the plight of North American bats, which have become susceptible to white-nose disease, a condition that prohibits them from successfully hibernating and ultimately results in death.
Bat Tower simulates the caves where the bats dwell, and hopefully offers them a disease-free environment in which to hibernate. In the end, the project also raises awareness of the issues that the bats are facing.