Nature-Based Design Co-Creating Studio

Studio leader: Ida Breed with Tania du Plessis

HOW DO WE LIVE AND MAKE MEANING?

Urbanization has led to the rapid expansion of cities, resulting in various environmental challenges such as air and water pollution, urban heat island effects, and biodiversity loss. In sub-Saharan Africa, informal urban expansion contributes to the rapid loss and degradation of green spaces in cities, with the threat to vulnerable, poor and marginalised communities being the greatest. In response to these challenges, there is a growing recognition of the importance of nature-based solutions (NbS) to create sustainable and resilient urban environments. Nature-based solutions consider social, economic and environmental challenges adaptively, balancing biodiversity and human well-being needs. The various NbS strategies aim to integrate natural and social systems to design long-term solutions with multifaceted benefits and innovative approaches more effectively.

This studio focuses on co-creating nature-based design prototypes grounded in local needs, indigenous knowledge systems, and local ecosystems that can lead to sustainable transformations in marginalized peri-urban areas. Co-creation involves the development of shared understandings. Such engagements can lead to inclusive and creative design alternatives and improved involvement, care and stewardship of nature by local communities. The studio is part of a research project based in the peri-urban area of Mabopane, where nature-based design prototypes will be developed in collaboration with local stakeholders. The selected prototypes developed in this studio will be technically developed, implemented and tested on-site in 2025.