The Non-human Public is a speculative design project that reimagines land use and public space through the perspective of the piping plover, an endangered shorebird that nests on North American beaches. These birds are indifferent to human notions of property, responding instead to natural boundaries like dunes and tide lines. Human development and recreation, particularly in coastal areas like East Hampton, have placed their habitats at risk, creating tension between conservation efforts and property owners.
Current protection methods, like wire fencing, often fail. They draw attention to nests, attract predators, and frustrate locals. As an alternative, the project proposes camouflaged dune fences—seasonally adjusted structures that restore habitats while allowing plovers to shape the land.
The speculative future imagines Sammy’s Beach transforming into an island sanctuary through natural sediment flow and restricted access. Three scenarios explore varying levels of human presence: a self-sustaining community, a lone bird keeper, and a post-human landscape reclaimed by wildlife.
The project challenges the idea that land exists solely for human use. It suggests a future where humans and nonhumans share space through shifting, ecological boundaries—redefining public space as a site of coexistence rather than conflict. The piping plover becomes a symbol of resistance and reimagined interdependence.
