Gardens of Berlin: Transdisciplinary Ecology studies several unique urban garden projects in Berlin in order to ask: what can a garden be? We will look at what these gardens do in the context of Berlin, through the many human and nonhuman communities that are part of them. The course proposes ecological thinking as a frame for engagement with the many disciplines that inform the field of ecology ranging from environmental, to social and political, artistic and spiritual. From plants to political dynamics, activism to artistry, the urban gardens studied will reflect the diverse topography of Berlin’s ecology.
In lieu of group site visits, we will be guided through virtual tours created by local organisers from each of the projects and a range of materials to give impressions of these gardens, their histories and current forms. Readings will contextualise each project with theory from the transdisciplinary field of ecology. Students will be supported with resources and prompts to work autonomously. Discussions will take place via on Zoom and through the forum of Moodle. There will be several smaller assignments throughout and a final garden design project to conclude.
The course embraces the wide range of cultural and academic backgrounds that students bring to ecological thinking, emphasising creative and critical reflection. The course is an opportunity to situate questions of planetary change through the study of Berlin as a complex ecosystem, gaining in-depth perspectives through its urban gardens. There is no requirement for students to have previous familiarity with the subject, only a willingness to engage.
- Course owner: Shelley Etkin