In our research focus Regenerative Landscapes, we aim to actively restore and enrich ecosystems, in the broad sense, to enhance their resilience, services, and intrinsic value. Through landscape-based design, we focus on promoting biodiversity, closed-loop systems, soil restoration, and sustainable water management, at scales ranging from landscape level to smaller areas. We prioritize the connecting role of the designer and work from a holistic, system-based approach.
The restoration of the underlying ecosystem serves as a catalyst for multiple value creation: we consistently seek the connection between ecosystem restoration and specific societal challenges. Examples of our projects include research into biodiverse environments that support mental and physical well-being, as well as sustainable designs and models for agriculture, estates, and circular landscapes.
In our research, we interweave people and the environment across various landscapes, such as estates, (therapeutic) gardens, public green spaces, agroforestry, food forests, agroecology, and agricultural plots, farms, and regions.
Our output includes design strategies, spatial concepts, design consultancy, policy recommendations, lectures, trainings, and sector-focused awareness initiatives.
Projects and results.
Rewilding Materials: biomaterialen uit regeneratieve landschappen voor bio-based ontwerp- en maakpraktijken
NoWa. Natuur op WandelAfstand: Onderbouwen van natuurinterventies in functie van natuur en gezondheid en een klimaatadaptieve zorgomgeving
The Heat is On: Circularity in Green Management, Infrastructure and Nutrition in VET schools across climatic conditions
ABC. Agro-ecologische landbouw in samenwerking met Boeren, Burgers en Besturen om de post-Corona-uitdagingen aan te gaan
Multiforest: de voedselbosbouw als basis voor organische materialen in de circulaire bio-economie
FoodForward
ECOLAB. Living Lab HOGENT (Ecoshelter Schoonmeersen)
INNOvating policy instruments for preservation, transformation and exploitation of heritage CASTLEs, manors and gardens
Biodivers zorggroen: (multi)functioneel groen voor de zorgsector: ontwerp, aanleg en beheer van biodiverse restoratieve zorgtuinen
Landinrichtingsproject Oudlandpolder – opmaak landschapsbiografie (onderzoeksdienstverleningsproject)
Ontwikkeling van een methodologie voor landschapskarakterisatie in Vlaanderen (onderzoeksdienstverleningsproject)
Curious to learn more?
Do you find this information from our research trajectory Regenerative Landscapes interesting? Then be sure to visit the webpage of the research centre Futures through Design.