Nomadic Gardens as a Design Paradigm: Linking Everyday Practices, Cultural Memory and Adaptive Urbanism

Rapid, state-led urbanization in China often generates socio-spatial vulnerabilities, leaving interstitial “waiting lands” in a state of regulatory and ecological limbo. This paper investigates “nomadic gardens”—spontaneous, resident-led cultivation in Jinan—as a bottom-up strategy for adaptive capacity. Using a mixed-methods approach involving site typologies and community surveys (n = 100), we identify eight distinct garden forms that function as socio-ecological buffers, mitigating the risks of social isolation and psychological distress among elderly residents. Findings reveal a significant resilience gap caused by rigid land-use policies that prioritize ornamental aesthetics over functional productivity. We propose an Adaptive Urbanism framework that utilizes modular design and transitional governance to transform these precarious spaces into managed resilience assets. By shifting the planning focus from enforcement to risk-responsive design, this research provides a scalable model for sustainable urban risk management in rapidly transforming global cities.