In recognition of the new Avatar movie, I look to an example of a fictional biological landscape based on systems that we find here on earth which connect organisms to one another. On the planet of Pandora, plants and animals are interconnected and all apart of a greater consciousness called “Eywa” which regulates the activities of all who inhabit the world. This system is made to regulate and protect life which ultimately is a repeated cycle of borrowed energy.
Similar instances of such connections can be found in rainforests such as the Amazon which is a vital part of not only those who surround the area, but the world as a whole. Processes that maintain fragile ecosystems across the world such as carbon capture can give thanks to this lush landscape. But lately with rampant deforestation, life cycles around the world have become more and more effected, especially due to the rise of global warming. As in the fictional world of Avatar, “Eywa” helps keep balance, but when abused, chaos occurs.
In buildings, systems are often inter-twinned for the greater good of the space, but once a key component such as temperature regulation, plumbing, etc is threatened the rest of the building or its inhabitants may start to suffer.