Design Matters

Working With: A Relational Practice

Working With: A Relational Practice

David Malda explores the potential of landscape to connect people to the land and to each other through the land. By focusing on building relationships among the people and places that already exist, our work can support broader initiatives for belonging rather than simply adding another new thing. This idea of "working with" begins with taking the time and care to understand what is already here, how it came to be the way it is, and then crafting strategies for the future from this foundation.

David will share this approach through recent projects including Hemisfair Civic Park in San Antonio, TX. As a former World’s Fair site that had become disconnected from the daily lives of residents, the park’s redesign focused on drawing together multiple narratives of the land to enhance everything that already existed around it and creating a new gathering place for all of San Antonio.

David Malda

David Malda’s work explores the role of landscape in connecting people to each other through experiences of the land. Narrative and engagement inform his designs, resulting in projects with impacts that extend beyond their sites. David’s emphasis on drawing and making throughout the design process is central to his role within GGN, and he shares this knowledge in numerous studio reviews and student engagements throughout the year.

Date: Wednesday,March 13, 2024
Time: 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. (MT)
Location: City Building Design Lab, 616 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary