Our inaugural Human/Nature conference, which took place in October 2024, provided a spectrum of multidisciplinary talks on how design can help mitigate climate change. We had many immediate takeaways from our international roster of speakers. Now, on the 40th anniversary of the magazine, we present the definitive people and projects from the two-day event that are informing our thinking going forward.

Stay tuned for details about our second annual Human/Nature conference, taking place October 29 & 30!

Pat Hanson’s Heroic Public Infrastructure

How remarkable can a project called “Real Time Control Building #3” truly be? If it’s in the hands of Pat Hanson, founder of Gh3*, the question itself is redundant. The architect’s works in Toronto and Edmonton, including the aforementioned “state-of-the-art engineered mechanism for monitoring the time-sensitive dynamic loading of urban store and wastewater,” (shown) demonstrate the power of inspiring infrastructure design – the topic of a panel at Human/Nature in which Hanson participated. An outlier in Canadian procurement culture, the City of Edmonton awarded Hanson in its competitions for a number of park pavilions — and ever since, she has amassed a portfolio of stunning work (including the Warehouse Park Pavilion in Edmonton, top of article) that proves urban amenities can and should be beautiful.

3XN’s Fresh Catch

At Copenhagen’s 3XN, people are at the heart of every project. Case in point: the much-anticipated Sydney Fish Market, set to be completed this year. Designed as the first step of a revitalization of Blackwattle Bay, the relocated multi-use structure will function as a working fish market, vibrant foodie destination and cultural centre. As a local landmark, the 80,000-square-metre building stands out with a sweeping roof reminiscent of the open-air stalls of traditional markets. Made of timber and aluminum, this permeable canopy is also integral to the project’s sustainability strategy: It re-uses rainwater, offers sun protection and filters hot air from southern winds. 3XN/GXN partner Susan Carruth presented the soon-to-be iconic structure, and many more showstoppers like it, at our inaugural Human/Nature conference — and we’ve been anticipating its completion ever since.

Downsview Framework Plan

Few sites are less conducive to good urbanism than airports. From sprawling runways and hulking terminals to the sea of parking and the stench of burning jet fuel, aviation infrastructure is practically anathema to a thriving, inclusive city. In Toronto, however, the recently shuttered Downsview Airport is on the cusp of a radical transformation. Led by developers Northcrest, the 210-hectare Downsview Framework Plan brings together the likes of Henning Larsen, SLA and KPMB (to name just a few) to reimagine the former airport and its surroundings as a pedestrian- and transit-oriented “15-minute city” suffused with greenery and some 50,000 homes, along with over a million square metres of commercial space. The striking vision – one of sky-high ambition and deeply grounded principles – was the subject of our most-attended workshop at Human/Nature.

Land Acknowledgement

“You’ve had 150 years. It’s our turn now.” This was the defining sentiment of the Indigenous Urban Futures panel, which took a deep dive into Vancouver’s Jericho Lands mega-project. In it, Dennis Thomas-Whonoak, elected Councillor
of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and co-founder of Kwasen Enterprises, spoke to the Indigenous-led design process, which involved the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Developed
through engagement sessions with Elders and other community members, the scheme, which includes 13,000 much-needed homes (30 per cent of which will be affordable housing) and over eight hectares of park space, is rooted in shared values and connection to the land. At its centre is the idea of honouring the topography, namely the ridge known as Watchmen’s Hill, which once served as an important vantage point for the Indigenous people who lived there. While the project is guided by Indigenous ways of knowing, its principles are universally applicable.

The Future Is Circular

More than simply minimizing waste, circular manufacturing methods are necessary advancements that promote a more regenerative and holistic approach to design. And the end product can be stunning — case in point, Cicil’s all-natural handmade rugs. Working directly with farmers’ collectives, the North Carolina–based studio diverts wool and deadstock jute destined for the landfill and combines them with other upcycled natural fibres to create heirloom-quality rugs with a near-zero impact on the environment. Or take the Catifa Carta chair from Arper, which utilizes PaperShell’s 100 per cent bio-based paper pulp material to reimagine a fully recyclable version of its timeless 2001 design: Once the sculptural seat has reached its end-of-life, it will be recycled by the brand into biochar, which then goes on to enrich soil and regenerate forests.