Landscape architecture in rural India - lessons for developing countries from Dhamori village

Contemporary discussions in landscape architecture focus primarily on urban settlements. Yet, a majority of human populations in developing countries still reside in rural settlements. This article explores the role of landscape architects in a typical agrarian settlement in central India, Dhamori, to demonstrate that such contexts in developing countries are unexplored territories for designers. In such areas, there is a huge unmet need for developing landscape infrastructural strategies and site-specific designs. Additionally, it is imperative to inspire villagers to become agents of change within their communities and educate them on best practices for engaging with the built environment, if needed. Through the process and proposed improvements in the built environment that would improve Dhamori villagers’ quality of life, this article argues that landscape architecture has much to learn about disciplinary contributions in such contexts and as much to contribute in rural contexts in developing countries as in urban contexts, if not more so.