Paper short abstract:

Promoting Urban Nature-Centred Design (UND), this study emphasizes the pivotal role of agency in a multidisciplinary literature review. UND advocates a shift towards nature-inclusive urban approaches, aiming to envision non-human inhabitants as integral contributors to urban coexistence.

Paper long abstract:

Motivated by the imperative to address climate change impacts, notably the critical biodiversity loss, this study advocates for a novel urban design methodology. It aims to propel the shift from a human-centric to a nature-inclusive approach in urban areas, positioning non-human communities as primary agents in participatory design processes, coining this approach as Urban Nature-Centred Design (UND). Rooted in the intersection between participation and nature-inclusivity, UND demands a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach, merging diverse knowledge and experiences. With a dual aim of fostering an innovative, interdisciplinary design approach for participatory urban design processes and cultivating collaborations across different disciplines and cultures, the project begins with an extensive literature review. Combining a narrative review of the evolving relationship between cities and nature with a conceptual review of participation and nature-inclusivity, the literature exploration concludes with the pivotal concept of agency. Spanning post-humanistic and bioinclusive ethical considerations and notions of urban ecology and indigenous knowledge, the analysis recognizes the inherent multidisciplinarity of urban design. The paper concludes by emphasising the paramount significance of establishing a UND methodology. This methodology aspires to facilitate a profound reconnection between individuals and nature, urging the acknowledgement of non-human inhabitants as integral contributors to the community. Such recognition is envisioned as a catalyst for fostering harmonious coexistence in urban environments.