“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.”-Angela Davis

  • 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.