Taking care: on the practices of social sustainability in danish circular design – ‘the swan’ as a case study

Social sustainability is key for a successful green transition and circular design, focusing on justice and quality of life for all at both local and global scales. Despite its importance, social concerns are often underexamined in contemporary design practice and possibly even overshadowed by material concerns. This paper unfolds a theoretically informed discussion and analysis of a Danish case study to explore the complex context and practices of social sustainability in a circular design project, ‘the Swan’ kindergarten, and its’ design-related phases. We collected empirical data from online videos, interviews with key design related stakeholders, and social media showcasing local community involvement. Our theoretical framework highlights a ‘caring perspective’ that relies on situated knowledge and emphasizes understanding complex social phenomena within their broader contexts. Our approach foregrounds the entanglement of material and social concerns through three interrelated lenses of care: 1) material practice (what is done), 2) affective involvement (who it involves), and 3) ethical intentions (why it matters). Our findings reveal that, despite ethical intentions, material practices are often driven by environmental agendas and tectonic aesthetics, overshadowing social concerns like global justice and local affective involvement. With these preliminary insights, we aim to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining a focus on social sustainability and advancing the debate on ‘the social’ in circular design.