The roots of our landscape architecture practice are founded on “the how” of child-friendly design and planning. We consider ourselves facilitators of the processes that lead to creating connections and relationships between kids, people, and places. We dare ourselves to always be curious and open to new ideas, especially when they come from children.
Design is our ability to interpret, collaborate, and execute what we have learned about projects, our clients, and the history, culture, and environment of a particular community or neighborhood. Our work process merges the art of landscape architecture with our enthusiasm for exploring new concepts and being open to all. We achieve this by promoting the simple pleasures of play and the strength of relationships, which are fundamental to resilience
We believe children should share the same world as adults, actively shaping their environments.We see children as active participants and future shapers, not just passive recipients of adult decisions. Our commitment is to advocate for their role as public citizens and ensure their perspectives are central to our projects. By investing in participatory design approaches, we strive to create inclusive spaces that consider all children, including those who are disadvantaged.Our goal is to build cities that are inclusive, vibrant, and responsive to the aspirations of all its inhabitants, especially the youngest among us.
Malda Takiedine, leader of Ubuntu Landscape Architecture, is a passionate landscape designer driven by a deep commitment to contributing and learning in response to the transformative demands of our time. She uses design and the art of landscape architecture to ground herself in each project, delving into careful research and analysis to understand the forces that shape the evolution of a place. For Malda, design is about facilitating and translating what people need and want into tangible projects.Her focus and mission are centered on children, helping cities, schools, and other professionals prioritize children in their decisions. Malda seeks to integrate children into the planning and design process to the greatest extent possible, building their future spaces with their input. She believes that the design process is as important as the final product, striving for beauty in every step from development to implementation. For her, beauty in design makes the community feel special and fosters a sense of belonging.Malda stays up-to-date with professional tools and programs that streamline the process for her clients throughout project development. Her experience spans both local and global projects, encompassing public and private endeavors. She continuously seeks to enhance her knowledge of participatory design approaches and tools, aiming to extend her work to disadvantaged communities.Children are 100% of our future, and Malda is dedicated to making their future healthier and happier through thoughtful and inclusive design.