Democratic Landscape Transformation 2025 - Team 2

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Seminar process at a glance

Seminar process: Click to enlarge. We meet weekly online at 18 pm CET on Wednesday from April 2 to July 2, an additional meeting opportunity is weekly from 12 00 - 13 00 pm CET

Background of your team

Please present your team briefly. Which linguistic and cultural perspectives does each member bring in? Which disciplinary backgrounds are present in your team? Note: if you prefer to stay anonymous on this wiki, you can also use initials only or a nick name

• Mariia Novoselova, Russia/Italy. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Reconstruction and restoration of architectural heritage from Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (SPbGASU). Currently I am completing my Master's in Architecture and creative practices for the city and landscape from the University of Bologna. I have various work experiences in design, architecture, reconstruction and landscape. I am passionate about contemporary architecture, sustainable design and the psychological principles to create environments that enhance mental health and well-being.
• Fernanda Molina Gutiérrez, Mexiko/Germany: I completed my Bachelor's degree in Architecture in Mexico City. Growing up in such a densely populated and urban environment, I became deeply aware of the lack of accessible green spaces. This realization led me to pursue a path in Landscape Architecture, with the goal of contributing to healthier, more livable cities places where people can reconnect with nature in their own hometowns. I see myself as an agent of change, especially now that the world is facing critical transformations. I find meaning in supporting others and being part of a nurturing, reciprocal network where we care for one another, just as we should care for nature. After all, the natural world sustains us; it’s only fair that we protect and nurture it in return.
• Sheida Alaei Organi, Iran/Germany
• Tara Đukić, Serbia
• Eirini Antypa, Greece
• Tamara Kálmán,

Your Landscape Democracy Manifestoes (Phase A)

Here you can add here the links to the manifestoes you have presented on April 23. Please make sure that the links are accessible. You can also add them directly here on the wiki, they need to be png or jpg format then.

• Mariia Novoselova, Right for a Landscape in the historical centre of Saint Petersburg
• Fernanda Molina Gutiérrez, Mexico City
• Sheida Alaei Organi, add link
• Tara Đukić, add link
• Eirini Antypa, add link
• Tamara Kálmán, add link
  

Entering the Process: Activism, Community and Power (Phase B)

Global Landscape Democracy Role Models and Design Activism

• Due: May 14

At the beginning of phase B we ask you to identify people who are already active for democratic landscape transformation. These can be planners and designers, NGOs, collectives or activists, or people operating creatively at the interface of these categories. 'Design activism' is a possible overarching category. We created a list some time ago, but it has a very US/European focus, due to the history of our project. We really want to expand this and hope you can bring in new people and movements from around the globe.

On May 14, every team member introduces a landscape democracy activist/or design activist individual or group. Please add the people you introduced, you may also add the presentation material used with a downloadable link:

• Mariia Novoselova,Jane Jacobs
• Fernanda Molina Gutiérrez, Quentin Matheus
• Sheida Alaei Organi, add link
• Tara Đukić, add link
• Eirini Antypa, add link
• Tamara Kálmán, add link

Your Team's Landscape Democracy Challenge (Phase B)

• Due: May 21

Context and Location

Greek courtyard

Courtyards have been a key feature of Greek architecture for centuries. Courtyard design and their relation to building density can affect the overall quality of life in urban areas, influencing daylight availability, thermal comfort, and the use of public and private spaces.

Landscape and Community Map

Present here a visual representation of the landscape and community context of the area. What are the main spatial features? Which actors can you identify and how are they related to the area? Which values exist and for whom? What is at risk and why? Try to generate creative/conceptual/synthetic representation

Key actors

We analysed the community of the area, how they interact with each other.

Community Map and Relations

Landscape and community maps represent relations between key features of the site, its values, actors involved in the issue, and possible risks. Also, there is an example of a path which can be undertaken to improve the situation. As well, links between different aspects are shown.

Power Map

Based on the landscape and community context depicted above: How is power distributed? Who and what has a lot of power? Who and what has no power? Who and what is strongly affected by the landscape democracy challenges? Who and what is less affected? Are these actors connected or disconnected? Any veto-players known? Try to generate creative/conceptual/synthetic representation

You can present your results in this gallery:

Power maps characterise the capacity to intervene in the situation's regulation and improvements. In our case the most value is given to the POMIDA (Hellenic Property Federation is the national organisation of immovable private property and building owners of Greece). This organisation unites residents, helps them to communicate with the government and work to improve the private property conditions and relates issues.

Power Map, capacity to intervene

Your Team's Landscape Democracy Vision and Ideas (Phase C)

• Due: June 18

Collective Vision

If you were to redesign the power map of your area and start a process of democratic landscape transformation: Which long term-goal could keep the process going? What could be a collective vision that integrates the goals of your team? Give a name to your vision. Try to generate creative/conceptual/synthetic representation.

A prototype of the first step

How would you enter the process? Which prototype could activate it? How would you introduce the prototype to the community?

You can present your results in this gallery:

• Your vision 1.jpg

  add caption here

• Your prototype example 1.jpg

  add caption here

• Your prototype example 2.jpg

  add caption here

Cross-cutting activity: Readings, concepts and definitions (Phases A - D)

• Due: July 2, 2025

While working in your group, please start to express your personal understanding of the relation of landscape and democracy in the form of a concept map with linking words or any other diagrammatic representation. Please make your maps very visual and not just verbal. Think critically about why one map differs from another.

The final product is a shared concept map that integrates the various understandings present within your team.

About concept mapping

Before starting the exercise you can read this article by Joseph D. Novak & Alberto J. Cañas about Theory Underlying Concept Maps and How to Construct and Use Them. This paper gives a good explanation of how concept maps are conceived and developed.

You can use any tool you like for producing your concept map. However, since the result needs to be submitted digitally we recommend the following open source software for producing your maps:

• Cmap Tools >>> you can also work with your group on the Cmap cloud doing a shared map
• VUE - The Visual Understanding Environment
• Use a shared whiteboard to develop your integrated concept map, such as MIRO or MURAL

How to present your concept maps

• Possible format: JPG (for wiki upload) or link to any other resource
• We give you below a draft image gallery where you can add pictures of your map (in JPG or PNG format)
• You can present your integrated understanding as one concept map or your present individual ones and the integrated one.
• add as many additional materials as you need

Overview of your concept maps (individiual and integrated)

• Yourfilename.jpg
• Yourfilename.jpg
• Yourfilename.jpg
• Yourfilename.jpg

Please finish with a short reflection (Phase D)

Due: July 9, 2025

• What are the similarities and differences in your team regarding your understanding of what democratic landscape transformation is?
• In how far did the seminar lectures and readings help you to clarify this?
• What will you take home from this seminar?