ANNUAL CONGRESS 2025

Beyond Anthropocentric Placemaking: Integrating Non-Human Agency in the Participatory Urban Design Processes of Public Space

Not scheduled

20m

Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul

Oral Track 17 | PUBLIC SPACE

Speaker

Mrs Giulia Gualtieri (Applied Science University Windesheim)

Description

As urban areas face rising environmental challenges—including biodiversity loss, climate change, and the uneven distribution of resources—there is an increasing need to rethink approaches to designing public spaces that foster inclusion and resilience for both human and non-human communities. Urban environments, shaped largely by human priorities, often overlook the roles that non-human beings and multispecies relationships play in creating vibrant and inclusive public realms. In response, this paper critiques anthropocentric practices in participatory urban design and placemaking, arguing for an expanded framework that accounts for the diverse forms of agency exhibited by different species.
Central to our argument is the introduction of a “Spectrum of Non-Human Agency.” This conceptual framework systematically evaluates how non-human actors shape design interventions at different phases of the design process. While well-established participatory models like Arnstein’s Ladder emphasize different degrees of human involvement and empowerment, they largely omit the possibility that non-human actors might also shape urban landscapes. We propose that recognizing and facilitating these ecological contributions is key to creating more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive public spaces.
Empirically, our study draws on a review of 30 nature-inclusive projects, each intentionally aimed at benefiting non-human communities. These projects range from community gardens designed with pollinators’ habitats in mind to larger-scale interventions of nature-based infrastructure—like bat-friendly bridges—aimed at fostering biodiversity in publicly accessible settings. To explore these initiatives further, we focus on four case studies located in the Netherlands—Four Siblings, Le Roy Garden, Mosaic Mowing, and Lok-tuin— to examine what role non-human actors play within the design process. Our analysis centers on identifying at which phases (e.g., concept development, prototyping, implementation, post-implementation) non-human agency manifests more actively, and how designers can encourage or limit this agency.
Key findings indicate that non-human agency is often overlooked in early ideation phases, where non-human entities are mainly considered as an inspiration for designers or an object of research to passively inform the design process. However, implementation and post-implementation frequently reveal the autonomy of species such as plants and animals, which may alter space conditions in ways that go beyond initial human planning. These shifts can improve ecological functions, enhance biodiversity, and promote inclusive social-ecological interactions. Crucially, our study shows that realizing the potential of non-human agency depends on a designer’s willingness to embrace humility, recognizing that non-human actors have their own capacities and agendas. It also requires creating conditions—such as habitat features, nature-friendly materials, and ongoing stewardship—that actively support ecological processes.
By situating these findings in the context of public space planning for inclusion and transformation, this paper contributes to planning theory and practice in several ways. First, it highlights the transformative potential of non-human agency to strengthen social-ecological resilience, encourage equitable coexistence, and nurture shared hope for more sustainable urban futures. Second, it offers actionable insights for landscape architects, urban planners and designers seeking to involve non-human actors alongside human needs. Finally, it indicates how non-human perspectives can be integrated systematically throughout the design and management of public spaces.