Urban ecology and the requalification of degraded areas: teaching as a vector for critical reflection

Abstract

This paper reports on a set of didactic experiences in teaching landscape design, focusing on the environmental recovery of the Mulembá Valley, in Vitória, Brazil. The main objective of these experiences was to raise students’ awareness about the applicability of landscape design as an environmental strategy, going beyond the merely ornamental interventions. The methodology included the presentation of theoretical concepts, case studies of environmental requalification, and an exploratory visit to the field of intervention. Via photographic records and observation drawings, students identified the main elements of local landscape and also the challenges for recovering the site. The results highlight the importance of working with native species, introducing approaches that go beyond human-centered strict strategies, as well as developing site-specific solutions that are sensitive to their respective context.