Wild landscapes in urban environments

Every year, 17 million hectares of global forest are destroyed due to habitat destruction, overutilization and chemical pollution, fueling a biodiversity crisis that will put 40% of all species at risk of extinction by the end of this century.

Nature is inherently beautiful – it doesn’t require design. The best we can do is learn from it. While we may not be able to replicate an old-growth forest within urban environments, we can design spaces that feel wild – creating complex ecosystems that benefit both wildlife and people. But how do we do this in an authentic and faithful manner?

No matter where we are in a city, we can always plant more, the Miyawaki method accelerates urban forest revival transforming barren spaces into mature, biodiverse ecosystems within decades rather than centuries. The afforestation technique employs a dense, mixed planting strategy that identifies native species, improves soil quality, and mixes diverse seedlings to evoke the feel of wild, overgrown nature.

Preservation and restoration

Designed in collaboration with biologists and environmental engineers from MOE, our landscape design for the new Fælledby neighborhood preserves 40% of the 18.1 hectare site as untouched habitats for local flora and fauna. Wetlands and dry scrub areas house insects, turtles, and deer, while nests built into external walls provide habitats for songbirds and bats. In addition, new ponds located in each of the neighborhood’s ‘mini villages’ offer homes for frogs and salamanders, and community gardens bloom with flowers that attract butterflies, bees, and other insects.

Elaborate planting strategies have helped revive native ecosystems in Singapore’s Rifle Range Nature Park. The park’s design restored its natural forest and wetland habitat, integrating water-sensitive solutions, fauna protection, heritage conservation, and inviting visitors into an engaging natural environment. With 96% of mature trees preserved on site and over 255,000 native plants introduced, the design prioritizes reforestation, and wildlife protection. Safe crossings – including culverts, aerial rope bridges, and nest boxes – connect the park to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, allowing species like the endangered Sunda Pangolin and Horsfield’s Flying Squirrel to move freely.

Landscapes are more than green

In our design of Jordal Sports Park in Oslo, the focus was around the restoration of a stream that had been running in tubes below ground since 1990. The Hovinkbekken stream was resurfaced in 2020, now providing a new habitat for both plants and animals. Now, an abundance of vegetation such as trees, grassy areas, and plantings, improve air quality and enhance biodiversity, providing a variety of habitats for local plants and wildlife. With climate resilience in mind, the park is also embedded with a range of stormwater management solutions, such as permeable pavements and rain gardens to reduce surface runoff and mitigate flooding.

Water plays a crucial role in supporting biodiversity at Arnaparken, a restored wetland and park initiative outside Bergen. Designed to enhance natural habitats while providing a state-protected recreational space, the park’s design focuses on safeguarding biodiversity, flood resilience, and carbon storage. With wetlands supporting over 14% of Norway’s endangered species, ecological restoration of the site’s wetland habitat was a focus of the project. To preserve both natural and community spaces, the wetland area and district park were intentionally placed apart. Species-rich edge zones, varying pond depths, and reintroduced native vegetation, including local willow plants, create a thriving environment for wildlife. The restored wetland has already attracted new bird species, while others, like mallards, have begun breeding in the habitat.