Democratic Landscape Transformation 2025 - Team 1
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Seminar process at a glance
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
- Sorour Ajili, I have studied Bachelor of Architectural Engineering and Master of Interior Architecture, and I am currently studying Master of Engineering of Landscape Architecture at HfWU. My background combines technical and aesthetic architectural design, sustainable practices, and built environment.
- Eunice Maina, My Bachelor is in Urban and Regional Planning. I am currently undertaking an exchange program at HfWU doing Master of International Landscape Architecture. I am passionate about Sustainable Development and Governance. I am driven by the need to effect change by creating awareness and providing solutions that foster social equity.
- Efstathios Chliaoutakis, I have studied and got my master in Architectural Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens. Currently I study Landscape Architecture at Agricultural University of Athens. I am working as a freelance architect and part of interdisciplinary teams in projects of various scales.
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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.
- Sorour Ajili, A Landscape of Conflict, Memory & Possibility
- Eunice Maina, Restoring Balance : Embracing Landscape Democracy for the Maasai
- Efstathios Chliaoutakis, Arificial Infrastructure Landscapes in Edessa, Greece
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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:
- Sorour Ajili, Kate Orff, "landscape architecture to address global challenges of climate change and social and environmental justice."
- Eunice Maina, Wangari Maathai
- Efstathios Chliaoutakis, Solidarity Colors
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Your Team's Landscape Democracy Challenge (Phase B)
- Due: May 21
Context and Location
The relationship between the infrastructure of Edessa, Greece and the city residents has often been problematic. The construction of a reservoir and power plant initially caused concern among citizens, not only due to the destruction of the natural landscape but also because of the closure of the local factories where many had worked. Today, the area is no longer used by the public and has become largely inaccessible—forgotten by the very people it was meant to serve.
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
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:
- Your landscape and community map 1.jpg
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- Your power map 1.jpg
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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
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- Your prototype example 1.jpg
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- Your prototype example 2.jpg
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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 (individual and integrated)
- Yourfilename.jpg
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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?