Eco Warriors [Edible to Productive Landscapes]

The unit focus is centred on the design of public spaces from a ‘productive’ perspective. Productive landscapes simply put are landscapes that promote ecology, food and community, or in other words, landscapes that complement ecological processes or systems approach to provide a range of ecosystem services. As a case, the studio explores Gandhinagar City, a city with large public projects planned or partially completed, most of which suffer from a lack of planting diversity with a penchant for green lawns, making them highly inefficient. Thus, the studio invites students interested in developing innovative landscape solutions for public spaces adapting the PUL approach that integrates elements of public space but brings in elements of the natural world and systems (such as enhanced biodiversity, reviving water systems, or integrating pollinator habitats etc). The students are expected to create lively, joyful and productive spaces that form the base of this urban design studio.