Design by Maintenance/Care

This lab explores an alternative approach to the cyclic ‘tabula rasa – rebuild – gradual decline’ of (green) spaces. Instead of treating maintenance as an afterthought, it integrates ongoing care as a core design principle—one that continuously enhances aesthetic, user, and ecological quality as well as stakeholder involvement. This open-ended approach shifts focus from the initial design phase to long-term stewardship, guiding ecosystems rather than imposing static forms. It investigates the design implications, processes, tools, and relationships necessary to sustain and evolve landscapes over time.