• Greenstone Farm Soil Testing & Remediation (Eaton Fire)

• Hawthorne Case Study House

• Contemporary Hanging Gardens of Babylon: build healthier cities by transforming abandoned malls into regenerative spaces that foster community.

• Journal of Solastalgia & Soliphilia

Transforming abandoned malls—like the Hawthorne Mall—into regenerative spaces that foster community, connection to our urban ecology, and wellness through, indoor agriculture, cultural programs, and more.

These new community hubs would include:

• Affordable Housing

• Urban Ecology Library, Seed Bank, Tool Library

• Urban Agriculture, Green Walls, Natural Pools

• Art Studios, Fab Lab, Music & Dance Spaces

• Child/Elder Care, Play & Recreation 

• Small Business Incubators, Co-Working Spaces, Commercial Kitchen

Using the empty Hawthorne Mall in southern California as a template, we want to transform fallow infrastructure into affordable housing, provide workforce development opportunities, environmental education and recreation opportunities, indoor agriculture and small business development.

• Carbon Sequestration & Green Cooling Centers

• Workforce Development & Local Economic Stimulus

• Community Improvement & Capacity Building

• Integrative Environmental & Social Health

The American mall, originally envisioned by architect Victor Gruen as community-focused mixed-use hubs, has largely failed to fulfill that promise. Today, over 350 malls have shuttered since 2005, offering us a rare opportunity to reimagine these spaces.

Let’s replace consumption with connection. These structures can become places of learning, creation, healing, and growth—centers of art, ecology, culture, and resilience. The Urban Ecology Conservatory reclaims these landscapes as modern temples of nature, education, and vibrant third spaces.

We center community in all of our programs, ensuring inclusive participation, and collective stewardship.

Land Stewardship
We recognize the intersection between social equity and environmental health, and work to redress systemic imbalances in access to nature, clean air, and green infrastructure.

• Creative Reuse & Regeneration
  We believe in the transformation of neglected urban spaces into thriving, life-giving ecosystems through imaginative design and ecological restoration.

• Education & Engagement
  We value learning as a lifelong, community-rooted process. Our projects invite hands-on learning, knowledge-sharing, and civic engagement.

• Cultural & Ecological Integration
  We honor the deep interconnection between cultural expression and ecological systems, creating spaces where both can flourish side by side.

• Intersectional Climate Resilience
  We are committed to long-term solutions that mitigate climate impacts, reduce carbon footprints, and enhance community preparedness through nature-based strategies.

• Beauty, Joy & Healing
  We recognize that beauty and joy are essential components of social and ecological well-being. Our spaces are designed to nurture healing, creativity, and connection.