Living soil

The resulting image from the project, Co-creative Design Research on Soil Biodiversity & Editorial projects for Blauwe Kamer magazine and the Municipality of Amsterdam. © Inside Outside

A co-creative research project aims to develop a visual language for professionals and the public to foster a positive approach to soil biodiversity

Since January 2023, Inside Outside has been working on the design research project Living Soil, supported by the Creative Industries Fund NL as part of the Building from the Soil programme. This research explores the hidden biodiversity beneath our feet – an ecosystem more biologically diverse than what exists above ground. A vital soil plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change, storing carbon, purifying water, and preventing erosion. Yet urban development continues to degrade this essential habitat.

Our co-creative design research brought together soil scientists (Naturalis, WUR, and VU Amsterdam), ecologists, designers, artists, municipalities, landscape professionals and technical advisors. Through Open Studios, lectures, and in-depth research, we worked towards a visual language that makes soil life visible, highlighting its complexity and beauty while inspiring designers, clients, and the public to support its restoration.

The first phase focused on making the invisible visible, culminating in a 1:1 scale drawing of a vital soil ecosystem in loamy sand. This artistic representation captures the interactions between organisms, from earthworms shaping soil structure to mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots forming underground networks. The drawing does not aim for scientific perfection but rather to ignite curiosity and empathy for an endangered yet vital ecosystem.

In the second phase, we expanded our scope to urban soils, analysing their potential as biodiversity reservoirs. Exploring diverse conditions – from compacted urban ground to artificial soils on rooftops – revealed unexpected richness in spaces between hardscapes and green areas. A 3m-long cross-section visualised how soil life responds to urban pressure and design interventions.

Our research underscores the need for long-term soil stewardship – embracing spatial diversity, succession processes, and connectivity in urban design. The resulting visualisations, exhibited across multiple venues, continue to raise awareness and advocate for a paradigm shift in how we treat soil in cities.

Jana Crepon, is a Landscape Architect at Inside Outside and leads the Living Soil project.

Nafsika Efklidou, is a multidisciplinary design researcher at Inside Outside, focused on nature-inclusive design.

Radka Komrsová and Marcia Nolte, are landscape architects at Inside Outside and specialise in sustainable landscape designs and urban development strategies.