This project reimagines architectural pedagogy as a tapestry of collaboration, fostering interdisciplinary learning and engagement with pressing global issues. Centered on mental well-being and care, this radical program transforms education into an interconnected “learnscape” where participants explore, experiment, and grow through ecological engagement.

Over a one-year cycle, participants question, research, design, and build devices merging ecology, care, and learning. The Interspecies Picnic, the first device, integrates overlapping campus cycles—participants, seasons, materials, plants, and animals—through adaptive systems. Constructed from campus-sourced materials such as food waste, wood, and soil, it fosters ecological repair and supports interspecies collaboration. Features include mycelium panels for growing mushrooms to aid bee health, modular kitchens for inclusive cooking, and seasonal adaptability for water harvesting and energy generation.

The program’s collaborative kitchen promotes inclusion and community through participatory cooking and dining. Beyond traditional metrics, this model nurtures neurodiverse ways of learning, providing spaces for creativity, joy, and stress reduction. Making Learnscapes creates mindful spaces where participants disconnect from rigid structures, engage in sensory exploration, and experience somatic healing. By treating the environment as a living laboratory, this pedagogy redefines learning as nurturing life, fostering connection, and encouraging growth. Would you like to join us?