Pathways to integrate historical knowledge into early stage ecological and regenerative design decision making

This research explores how historical ecological knowledge can inform early-stage design decision-making in ecological and regenerative architecture and landscape design. As cities evolve, much of their ecological memory becomes obscured. Wetlands are drained, waterways are buried, and native species disappear. Without long-term context, designers risk working with shallow baselines that underestimate ecological potential. This project addresses that challenge by developing a framework that identifies how historical data can be translated into tangible design input. The work integrates methods from historical ecology with regenerative design thinking to help design practitioners better understand how places functioned in the past, how they have changed, and what ecological possibilities they may hold for the future.
Through comparative case studies in Canada and the Netherlands, this research will explore the potential of historical knowledge in revealing design potential in various contexts. The aim is to contribute a structured methodology that can help design practitioners work more responsibly with landscape history, support more ambitious ecological outcomes, and cultivate deeper continuity between past and future environments.

Faculty Supervisor:

Eric Higgs

Student:

Partner:

Delft University of Technology

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Victoria

Program: