Grounded In is a collaborative design and engagement practice working at the intersection of participatory practice, design and ecology. Led by Sophie Hardcastle, the practice partners with landscape architects, local authorities, environmental organisations and community groups to shape publicly accessible landscapes through participatory and more-than-human approaches.
The work centres on designing meaningful engagement processes that move beyond consultation. Grounded In supports projects from early visioning through to delivery, facilitating dialogue and developing creative methods that bring diverse human and ecological voices into the design process.
The principles below guide how the work is approached and shape the way we listen, learn and collaborate…
1. Recognise the value of all living thingsHarnessing a ‘more-than-human’ approach to design that recognises the inherent value of all living things — not just humans.
4. Recognise interdependence to cultivate empathyMaking visible interdependencies between people and nature to help us empathise with others and overcome conflict.
2. Connect with nature and integrate into the natural worldSpending time outdoors to learn with and from our environment, engaging the senses and supporting people to see themselves as part of nature, not separate from it.
5. Build in reciprocity and move slowlyWorking slowly and testing ideas on a small scale over time to allow landscapes to respond and teach us about what works well and what doesn’t.
3. Respect the diversity of all speciesDeveloping sensitive and creative methods that honour diversity within the living world through listening in different ways to expand who and what gets heard.
6. Harness local knowledges and partnershipsPartnering with local communities to surface situated and intergenerational knowledge to inform emerging design processes.