Inspired by the paper Aesthetics of Sustainability: The Relation of Aesthetics and Environmental Sustainability (Hemmati, 2016), this project involved youth in co-developing artistic and functional structures by portraying landscape as an ecological and cultural phenomena. In this project we built structures as urban food production tools and to increase biodiversity using an artistic approach. These prototypes were designed, developed and built by youth groups with the support of the project team and external educators.

Youths were encouraged to upload their prototype ideas on Cobudget. Throughout the idea submission period, Blivande and Dodo provided support to participants who had questions about the platform or the process. When needed, youth participants also received technical assistance with using the digital platform. We actively encouraged cross-collaboration and the cross-pollination of ideas between projects, knowing that in the end, only three projects would be funded. The timeline below illustrates the participants journey from submission to building phase.

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Sweden
‍An outdoor table with a resin-filled core transforms a neglected urban pocket into a shared gathering place rooted in memory, care, and seasonal change.
A water play installation made from reclaimed copper vessels provides clean, accessible drinking spots for birds and insects in an overheated industrial area.
A flower garden with local pollinator-friendly plants, wooden paths, and a stone mosaic centerpiece creates a living space for biodiversity, rest, and cultural expression.

Finland
‍A sensory bench surrounded by edible and fragrant plants creates a multisensory sanctuary for people, plants, and insects to meet and pause together.
Roots of the City is a sculptural insect habitat cast from recycled metal, reimagining a tree stump as a lasting monument to urban biodiversity.
A sail pavilion combined with young pear trees transforms an urban terrace into a shaded, fruit-bearing meeting place shaped by reuse and community life.
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Central to the project were a series of practical workshops designed to equip participants with artistic and urban gardening skills essential for developing their individual prototypes. These workshops served as a foundation for experimentation, enabling each project group to deepen their understanding of materials, techniques, and environmental considerations.

The NEB Stockholm Mini-Fest and Growing Beauty project presentation gathered professionals, creators, and the public for a full day of exchange inspired by the New European Bauhaus, welcoming around 300 participants.

Dodo’s final Growing Beauty event, HarFest at Turntable, celebrated the project’s outcomes through exhibitions, workshops, and live music, highlighting prototypes created by young people from Stockholm and Helsinki.

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This project was a collaboration project between Dodo ry (Finland) and Blivande through the Erasmus+ Small Scale Partnership program. Located in similar climates and similar old industrial areas, predominantly marked by asphalt and betong, this project supported the development of sculptures that increase green areas and biodiversity. Given the similar climates, the structures can be replicated in both places. The descriptions on these prototypes is available in form of a PDF document here and in the Erasmus result platform to download.

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