Urban Roots
Service Design | Research
February – June 2023
My Role
The Problem Area
It was asked to the students of the MSc in Service Systems Design to design a service that would address accessibility in the urban realm in Nordhavn.
After investigation, we decided to work with the lack of green areas and infrastructures that would leverage community and sustainability practices in Nordhavn’s area.
Although the modernisation of Nordhavn is evident, people have highlighted concerns regarding its resemblance to a “concrete jungle,” the absence of green spaces throughout the area, the inadequacy of sustainable practices, and the lack of community cohesion.
The complexity of working with the sustainability and urban realm demands an approach that goes beyond merely understanding user needs. It needs a creative solution that encourages people to envision the future and embraces forward-thinking proposals.
The Concept
“Urban Roots” is a rooftop farming service system and platform that aims to bring accessible green communities to the heart of Nordhavn. It operates in the following way:
- It helps the building owners to transform their rooftops into vibrant urban farms
- It makes urban farming accessible for residents in Nordhavn with a plot renting system
- It creates sustainable and resilient communities with activities and events
It provides accessible green areas to Nordhavn residents, in order to leverage sustainability and the community feeling.
But... how does it work? Check out Peter's journey!
What is the service impact in Nordhavn?
A Sneak-Peek of the Design Process
The design journey delved into the statistic analysis, historical narratives, current events, ongoing initiatives and future plans of the Nordhavn area. Overall, the design process encompassed the research of literature exploration as inspiration and the learning and application of methods that helped me grow as a service designer.
Be a hands-on, creative and explorative designer
Get inspired about how to (re-)think the urban context and the community space
Generate AI-powered image using Midjourney
Use design fiction & video prototyping
Learn how to bring ethics to the design process
"Ethics for Designers" (Ethics for Designers, 2017)
Promote a staging initiative
Gain ownership of the tools to design the service system
