Feasibility study of urban development in the northern region
Erpeldange-sur-Sûre
Welcome to Insanity Defense, our latest urban study project that dares to ask: What happens when architecture stops trying to control nature and starts inviting it to the party? Forget luxury condos and greenwashed rooftops. We're talking about controlled vandalism, feralization, and the glorious return of nature in the most unexpected urban places.
Think of it as architecture gone wild (literally). Inspired by Jason Rhys Parry’s Anticipatory Theory of Ruin Ecology and the experimental Krater project in Ljubljana, Insanity Defense introduces the concept of the third space: a zone that’s neither wild wilderness nor priced-to-sell on the real estate market. It's a space for unbuilding, for letting buildings go to seed—on purpose.
In this third space, abandoned buildings aren’t erased or prettied up. They're cracked open to allow light, moss, weeds, birds, bugs, and maybe the occasional curious raccoon to move in. These ruins become urban rewilding hubs, increasing biodiversity, lowering extinction rates, and giving us all a much-needed break from polished concrete and glass boxes.
The project began in our thesis as a critique of the Nordstad urban development plan in Luxembourg. There, we proposed turning a former factory into a luxury residence for plants and animals. No human tenants, sorry.
But here’s the twist: we’re not just daydreaming. We use architectural plans, models, and all the usual tools of the trade—not to build, but to unbuild. Our goal is to get city planners, developers, and citizens excited about making space for non-humans in our cities. Yes, we’re pitching feral architecture as a legitimate design strategy.
So if you’re into urban ecology, post-human design, sustainable architecture, or just love the idea of buildings going full Tarzan, join us. We believe the future of the city might just look a little more... overgrown.