From obsolete infrastructure to urban socio-ecological habitat: a design proposal for the migratory bird station RS017IBA in Belgrade

Purpose Unregulated urban development, along with climate change, significantly alters ecological dynamics in cities. The purpose of this article is to address the systemic neglect of biodiversity and socio-spatial justice in Belgrade’s urban development by proposing a novel model that redirects the course of adaptive reuse toward fostering socio-ecological resilience, in line with the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). Design/methodology/approach The research employs a research-through-design (RtD) methodology, positioning the architectural design process as the primary generator of knowledge and a tool for critical inquiry. Developed through a master design studio as a platform for action planning, the study treats the design of the Migratory Bird Station as a synthesizing mechanism that integrates ecological imperatives, industrial heritage and socio-spatial justice. It explores the potential for the adaptive reuse of Belgrade's obsolete Old Railway Bridge, specifically addressing the SDGs by creating a model that is socially just, ecologically sustainable and culturally enriching. Through iterative spatial exploration, the project develops a hybrid structure that promotes adaptive coexistence between people and nature, providing birds with safety in the urban environment and offering a viable socio-ecological alternative for the city. Findings The proposed model demonstrates that research-based architectural design, founded on a place- and problem-based approach, represents a valuable alternative to conventional practices of built heritage conservation. The program actively promotes user participation through bird watching and ecological education. It is socially just in respect to user participation and inclusivity, ecologically sustainable as it provides birds habitat as a vital stop-over station, and culturally enriching, enhancing public awareness and responsibility toward non-human species. Originality/value This project advances beyond standard ecological infrastructures by synthesizing RtD with animal-aided design in the context of industrial heritage. Unlike top-down eco-bridges, this model proposes a bottom-up approach that treats architectural design as an active research instrument for “wicked” urban problems. It positions neglected infrastructure as an active agent within a distributed ecological network. By reframing obsolete structures into socio-ecological habitats, the work offers a unique methodological bridge between multispecies urbanism and the spatial realities of post-industrial contexts like the Belgrade confluence.