Remesha Design Lab is a multi-faceted research and design studio that specializes in landscape design, public art & public realm planning and consulting.
OUR STORY & MISSION
REMESHA (v):
to uplift
to give hope, or to encourage or improving a person’s social and emotional state.
We are on a mission to design beautiful and healing landscapes inspired by ancestral wisdom and Afrocentric values. We envision a future with an abundance of places that sustain culture, interconnectedness, and joy.
Remesha Design Lab was created in 2020 as an intention for founder Divine Ndemeye to be involved in work that is impactful and uplifting. It was also the clearest path towards working in environments that allow for curiosity and playfulness, as well as opportunities to develop–or be a part of–projects that highlight humanity and celebrate culture. We aim to create spaces that uplift culture and humanity while celebrating the interconnectedness of all life.
OUR VALUES
We believe that art and design can heal land and people. We also view design as a tool for social justice and believe that beautiful places should be accessible to all. Our values in design, and as an organization are rooted in curiosity, ubuntu, equity, indigeneity, stewardship, care, listening, and joy.
We draw inspiration from Afrofuturism, fractals, and more specifically, the ginkgo leaf–a symbol of resilience and longevity. With our founder’s roots in Burundi, Afrofuturism and fractals are essential technologies and tools which we apply to everything we do. Afrofuturism offers a future-oriented philosophy anchored in Afrocentric values, and fractal characteristics remind us that what we practice at a small scale can reverberate to the largest scale.
OUR FOUNDER:
Divine Ndemeye is an acclaimed landscape designer, artist, and educator. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Born in Burundi, Divine has lived in, and traveled across multiple countries which inspired her to be curious about the relationship between cultures and landscapes, and how they impact or influence one another.
Divine’s expertise spans both large-scale public projects and small residential designs. Before embarking on her design career, she gained invaluable experience in strategic and urban planning across various municipalities, accumulating over a decade of experience in community building and engagement.
Divine’s academic credentials include a Master’s in Landscape Architecture and a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Human Geography. Her exceptional contributions to the field have earned her prestigious accolades, including the 2020 Olmsted Scholar Award—an esteemed leadership recognition for landscape architecture students in the U.S. and Canada—and the British Columbia Society of Landscape Architects President’s Award in 2022. Divine’s dynamic background and dedication to innovative, community-focused design are the cornerstones of Remesha Design Lab’s transformative impact.
WHY WORK WITH US?
We love cities, gardens, parks and the all the places and environments that bring people joy and bring them into community. Our guiding principle— “Meeting Places With Curiosity”—shapes how we listen, observe, and design. We enter each project with openness, deep attention, and care. We design places that uplift people, place, land and culture.
Our commitment to accessibility and equity ensures that every facet of our work is welcoming and meaningful, particularly for historically marginalized groups.
Our approach challenges traditional design practices we know of today with a push to return to ancestral wisdom and indigenous or natural systems for guidance. These systems can be learned and implemented to solve many of the ecological problems we face today. We aim to create healing spaces that benefit from such life sustaining systems, and to nurture reciprocal relationships between land and people.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY:
“Remesha Design brought both care and intention to our community garden renovation. Their engaged and thoughtful process ensured that residents’ voices were meaningfully reflected in the final design. Accessibility was a clear priority, and the resulting space is welcoming, usable, and inclusive for all.
What stood out most was Ramesha’s understanding that a garden is more than a physical space—it is an extension of home and a place for cultural expression and connection. They approached the work with deep respect for this, creating a garden that feels rooted in community and identity. Their knowledge, responsiveness, and commitment to culturally informed design made them an exceptional partner throughout the project..”
— Djaka Blais, Executive Director, Hogan's Alley Society
“Remesha Design Lab brought deep care, clarity, and creativity to reimagining our outdoor spaces. Their thoughtful assessment honored our vision for inclusion, wellbeing, and connection, and offered practical, cost‑conscious strategies we can realistically implement across our affordable housing portfolio. Divine's team brings strong design expertise and a genuine commitment to community wellbeing, accessibility, and cultural sensitivity. We feel confident using their guidance as a foundation for creating vibrant, welcoming shared spaces for ENFHS residents!”
— Francesca Leonzio, Director of Community Engagement, Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society