Net-Works investigates how discarded safety nets from New York City scaffolding sites can be repurposed into elevated urban habitats that support non-human life. Originally designed for human safety, these single-use nets often end up in landfills. This project proposes transforming them into structures that hold soil, foster plant growth, and offer shelter for urban species. Inspired by the current crisis facing monarch butterflies, now endangered due to habitat loss, the proposal reflects on how cities might better coexist with migrating and resident species. Through mapping, drawing, and prototyping, Net-Works repositions construction waste as a material for care. It explores how design can extend the life of what is usually discarded and cultivate ecological support within the built environment.
