Rewilding the Ground

2023

Location: Vienna 

Size: Urban scale

Competition entry: Europan 17 

In collaboration with Panagis Marketos

Design team: Lida Badafareh, Panagis Marketos, Mehrshad Atashi

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Rewilding the Ground envisions a densely populated settlement for 11,000 inhabitants, where the urban artifact and nature exist in a dynamic dialogue. A significant portion of the ground is preserved and dedicated to nature—an approach that contrasts with contemporary urban developments primarily driven by land value extraction. The project introduces a spectrum of habitats and nature—ranging from highly domesticated to wild—fostering diverse ecosystems and narratives of coexistence. The settlement consists of follies, a courtyard building, and a set of housing on pilots, all embedded within a gradient of nature of varying qualities, conditioning it and being conditioned by it. Beyond its care for nature and the ground, the project offers the city of Vienna a new attraction with diverse events and common spaces. The spatial configuration strategically limits car traffic while promoting mild mobility, ensuring a pedestrian-friendly landscape.