Attuning to more-than-human worlds through sensory walks
The focus of the Tartu Living Lab is to make the umwelten of non-human species in urban environments more visible and to integrate this knowledge into human practices related to urban spaces. One of the methods Tartu LL has experimented with for this purpose is the sensory walk.
In ethnology, this method is used to emphasize both participants' sensory engagement with their environment and the researcher’s own bodily experience in the research process. In our case, we have introduced a more-than-human dimension to this approach, developing it to shift the human perspective and imagine how other species inhabiting a place might perceive it. This makes it possible to recognize how certain perceptual predispositions—such as reliance on vision as a primary sense or the specific visual spectrum and adio frequency human eyes and ears are attuned to—create stronger connections with some species or environmental elements while leading others to be overlooked.
By paying attention to and imagining how non-human beings experience the same environment, we can reflect on whether and how a given space meets their needs and explore ways to make it more hospitable for them. This also helps to identify points of convergence and divergence between human and non-human perceptions. For example, while the sweet scent of certain flowering plants attracts both bees and humans, some fly species prefer odors that humans find unpleasant. In this way, a single garden or park is transformed into a multi-layered environment, shaped by the diverse perspectives of the many species that inhabit it.
Tartu LL tested this method during a garden visit on a sunny September evening in 2023. We invited local residents to a private garden in Kvissentali, one of our LL city districts. The walk was guided by ethnologist Hildegard Reimann, who has applied this method in various environments. Throughout the walk, she provided prompts to guide participants on what to focus on and how to engage with the garden space. Initially, people were asked to pause and observe the garden environment with all their senses—listening to sounds, noticing scents, and identifying anything that stood out or felt disruptive. They were then encouraged to temporarily block certain senses to heighten others.
To further enhance their perception, participants were invited to engage their less commonly used senses in the garden by tasting plants from the garden, including those specifically selected by the garden owner. They were also encouraged to alter their bodily positions—lying down, climbing onto different objects, or varying their pace—to experience the garden environment from new perspectives. To deepen their awareness of non-human perspectives, participants were asked to choose one species or garden element and focus on it with full attention, observing its behaviors and interactions. The walk lasted approximately 30 minutes and concluded with a reflection session, where participants shared their experiences and insights alongside the facilitators.
This exercise is best suited for smaller groups and compact areas. Various tools can be incorporated to enhance or limit certain senses, such as scent bottles to emphasize specific smells, blindfolds to block vision, or magnifying glasses for closer observation. Inviting biologists who are familiar with local species can enrich the experience by providing insights and connections to participants' observations. The exercise is also weather-sensitive—while wind and rain can in principle enhance perceptual reflections, extreme weather conditions may hinder focus and reduce the effectiveness of the method. Advising participants to wear appropriate clothing and footwear is always a good idea.
