Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Counterordinance: A Manifesto on Maintenance is a 2015 landscape-architecture proposal for Somerville, Massachusetts, that asks how routine public-works practices could shape urban habitat and public space. Created by Cali Pfaff, then at Harvard Graduate School of Design, the project focuses on test sites along a rail corridor and reimagines snow removal, vegetation management and wildlife support. Its plans are proposals, not documented construction work: the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) award record does not establish that they were implemented or that ecological outcomes were measured.
What is Counterordinance: A Manifesto on Maintenance?
It is a speculative landscape-design and maintenance proposal for Somerville, Massachusetts. Rather than treating maintenance as a series of neutral cleanup tasks, the project argues that municipal protocols influence what a city looks like, how people use public space and which urban habitats can persist. It proposes redirecting some existing public-works routines and equipment toward a more varied landscape and habitat for pollinators.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The proposal centers on test sites along Somerville’s rail corridor, which it presents as an underused linear landscape with potential for habitat and public access. Its framework is organized around three familiar maintenance activities: snow removal, overgrowth management and wildlife management. In each case, the design question is not simply what to build, but how schedules, work practices and acceptable landscape conditions might change.
ASLA recognized the project with a 2015 Student Awards Research Honor Award. The award page identifies Cali Pfaff, Associate ASLA, as the author and Jane Hutton as faculty advisor. The distinction matters: the source describes a design-research proposal, not a municipal construction contract, completed landscape or evaluated pilot. Read the project as a way to reconsider maintenance decisions, rather than evidence that a particular intervention has already delivered ecological benefits. ASLA’s project record supplies the proposal’s details and context.
Popular on Amazon
- Ergonomically Designed: Work in tight areas with a compact design that gets into tough spots
- Both tools are designed to fit into difficult to reach spaces
- Complete a wide range of applications with a high-performance motor that delivers up to 300 UWO, and an impact driver delivering up to 1,400 in-lbs of torque
- Both the DEWALT impact driver and drill driver feature integrated LED work lights with a convenient 20-second delay, ensuring enhanced visibility in dimly lit or challenging work areas
- One-Handed Loading - Keep one hand free with a 1/4 in. hex chuck that accepts 1 in. bit tips
Why does the project treat maintenance as a design decision?
Because repeated maintenance choices affect the physical character of a place. A mowing schedule determines which areas stay short and which can grow taller; snow and salt handling affect where runoff is directed; and choices about walls, soil and planting influence which habitat features are present. The project’s central argument is that these procedures have spatial consequences, so they belong in landscape design discussions alongside more visible interventions.
That framing also broadens who participates in design. The proposal presents maintenance as a shared question for municipal governments, public-works crews and landscape architects. A landscape may be drawn by a designer, but its long-term form also depends on what crews are asked to do, what equipment and routines are available, and what the public considers acceptable. This is a conceptual point raised by the project, not a report that Somerville changed its operating procedures.
For people who build or manage public infrastructure, the useful distinction is between a one-time physical feature and the recurring work that keeps a site functioning. A retaining feature or planted area is only part of a landscape proposal; access, seasonal care and routine operations also affect how that place works over time. Counterordinance makes those recurring decisions visible. It does not provide measured labor costs, construction specifications or a proven maintenance program, so it should not be treated as a ready-to-bid scope of work.
How does the proposal rethink snow removal?
It proposes routing snowmelt and embedded road salt into brackish marshes and retention pools, with water passing through the proposed system before reaching the Mystic River. In the project’s logic, snow removal is not only a road-clearing task: the design of the receiving landscape is also part of how the city handles the resulting meltwater.
Also popular on Amazon
- Valued Carpenter Pencil Set: You will get 2 pcs solid carpenter pencils with 26 piece 2.8 mm refills, 1 replaceable sharpener, 1 plastic storage box.The complete carpenter pencils combination allows you to finish your work faster and more easily
- Deep Hole Marker Pencil: The deep-hole construction pencils adopts 45mm elongated tip design, which is more convenient to mark in the small hole or in other tight areas that other carpenter markers cannot reach
- Carpenter Pencils with Sharpener: The sharpener is screwed into the top of the work pencil, which won't get lost either. Built-in pencil sharpener that keep the lead with pointed and smooth to Improves line of sight in fine work
- Stronger Solid Lead: This work pencil is matched with a 2.8 mm thick lead , which is much thicker and stronger during the drawing process of construction work, it will not break or damage easily
- Marks on Various Surfaces: 3 colors solid construction pencil can marks on various surfaces,such as metal, plastic, wood, paper etc. Ideals for woodworkers, contractors, craftsmen, builders, merchants and masons
This is a design proposal, not verified treatment performance. The ASLA narrative does not establish that the marshes or pools were built, tested, or shown to remove salt or otherwise improve water quality. It supplies no engineering dimensions, treatment rates, water-quality measurements or operating results. Accordingly, the idea can be discussed as a proposed relationship between winter maintenance and landscape design, but not as a demonstrated stormwater or salt-remediation solution.
That qualification is important whenever a conceptual landscape is translated into a construction or public-works conversation. A proposal to direct water through a landscape does not by itself establish how that system would perform, what approvals it would require, or how it would be maintained. Those questions would need site-specific technical investigation beyond what the award narrative documents.
What would change under the overgrowth-management plan?
Instead of mowing every area uniformly, the proposal divides plots into seeded, regularly mowed and untended sections. It describes alternating municipal seed blends, informal recreation areas and seasonal checks for caterpillar host plants before mowing. The aim is to make vegetation management more varied and to give habitat considerations a place in the timing and pattern of routine work.
The sections serve different purposes in the proposal: seeded areas introduce selected plant mixes; regularly mowed areas preserve open, usable space; and untended sections allow some vegetation to grow with less intervention. The document does not provide a final planting schedule, species list, plot dimensions or a measured comparison among these approaches. Its contribution is the proposed division of maintenance regimes, not proof that one regime is universally better.
Also popular on Amazon
- 【Great Compatibility】This Katerk 1/4 inch hex shank bit holder is specifically designed for 1/4 inch hex shank drill bits. It's compatible with most 1/4 fast hex handles, hex sockets, various electric screwdrivers, and handheld screwdrivers. The bit holder makes it a valuable addition for any handyman.
- 【Secure and Safe】Built with a secure backup nut design, each drill bit holder securely locks onto your bits, ensuring they stay firmly in place. Additionally, our bit holder incorporates a high-quality steel ball rolling design that holds up to several kilograms of weight, ensuring your various drill bits don't fall off.
- 【Easy One-Handed Operation】The bit holder for impact driver allows you to change bits single-handedly, simplifying your workflow. Its multi-color design further allows for quick identification of the drill bit you need.
- 【Compact and Convenient】Thanks to its compact size, this 1/4 inch bit holder is easy to carry around. The bit holder allows for easy attachment to various tools, making this a convenient addition to your construction accessories. The Katerk bit holder is cast from high-quality alloy material, promising a long product lifespan. Despite its rugged strength, the bit holder remains lightweight, making it portable.
- 【Cool Christmas Gift For Men Stocking Stuffers】 This screwdriver bit holder, driver bit holder, impact bit holder, can be given as a gift to your loved one, especially for anyone involved in construction or electrical work. It's a must-have for stocking stuffers for men and women, tools gifts for dad, tech gadgets for men, gifts for dad, gifts for him, gifts for husband, gifts for boyfriend, cool gadgets for men, and cool gifts for dad.
The seasonal host-plant check is a particularly concrete example of maintenance changing in response to ecology. Rather than treating a planned mowing date as the only consideration, the proposal asks crews to check for caterpillar host plants before cutting. The source does not quantify the labor or specify a full inspection protocol, but it identifies an operational decision point: a schedule can be informed by what is present on site.
For public space, the plan also acknowledges that not every area should be left untended. Informal recreation and regularly mowed sections remain part of the proposal. That balance matters: the project is not simply an argument to stop maintenance, but to differentiate it across a site according to intended use and habitat goals. Whether a community would accept that pattern is an open question the proposal raises rather than an outcome it reports.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →How does it combine wildlife habitat with landscape features?
The wildlife-management proposal links retaining-wall and erosion-control features with habitat areas. It also describes bare-soil or dry-cave nesting opportunities and selected plants intended to support pollinators. In this way, elements associated with site structure and stabilization are considered alongside places for wildlife, rather than treated as unrelated scopes.
The ASLA project narrative does not establish that these features were constructed or that they supported nesting or pollinator populations. Nor does it provide a species-by-species performance assessment. The intended ecological benefits should therefore be described as goals of the proposal. The available evidence supports the project’s design logic—pairing habitat considerations with landscape and erosion-control features—but not claims of observed biodiversity gains.
Also popular on Amazon
- Toolwiz 17-inch magnetic sweeper maintaining a load capacity of up to 8.8 pounds provides a perfect solution to the problem of clearing small ferrous metal objects, such as nails, tacks, bolts, and metal shavings from workshops or garage floors.
- Convenient and portable：17” is good for home, small workshop, or small yard as it is space-saving and more reachable for narrow areas. Perfect for collecting nails or small parts in the car, under the table, and in other nooks or crannies.
- Upgraded Handle Design: The handle features a sturdy, non-telescopic design to completely prevent slipping during use. By simply adding or removing the extension poles, the height can be adjusted to 3 different lengths: 18.9" (48 cm), 32.5" (82.5 cm), and 42.5" (108 cm) from ground to top. This customizable height helps prevent back bending and muscle strain, making your cleaning tasks effortless
- Flexible wheels: Upgrade wheel screws to avoid being too tight to spin or too loose. More comfortable 3-inch rubber wheels roll smoothly on carpet, grass, concrete, and hardwood floors. Just push and pull this rolling magnet-sweeper to pick up metal nails easily.
- Lightweight materials: The magnetic nail sweeper's compact and lightweight design makes the sweeping can be done anywhere you want, Push or pull it under the furniture, passing through the workshop floor, driveway, mud, grass, and gravel.
That distinction is useful when evaluating any design concept that combines multiple purposes. A feature may be proposed to address site conditions while also offering habitat opportunities; those aims still need to be assessed against site requirements and ongoing maintenance. Counterordinance invites that integrated way of thinking but does not supply construction details or an evaluation framework sufficient to establish performance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do the project’s 2015 figures say—and not say?
Pfaff’s project narrative gives several figures to frame Somerville’s open-space context and its tree canopy. It states that Somerville had 6% open space, compared with 13% for Cambridge and 31% for Medford, and that 90% of Somerville’s street trees were wind-pollinated. These are figures reported in the 2015 project narrative; the ASLA page does not establish their underlying method, and they should not be presented as current measurements.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The figures help explain the proposal’s stated concern with urban habitat and pollinator species, but they are not a current inventory or a measured result of the proposed rail-corridor work. They also do not, on their own, establish what a particular site needs. Their proper role is historical context for the project’s argument, with the date and attribution kept attached.
ASLA’s awards page attributes this assessment to the Awards Jury: “Shines a spotlight on an aspect of landscape topic often poorly understood—maintenance.” The statement recognizes the project’s focus; it is not an independent finding that its proposed interventions were built or effective. The 2015 ASLA Student Awards page provides the broader award context.
Also popular on Amazon
- APPLY TO MOST DRILLS : 6 pieces screw extractors work with any drill and all the screw size or bolt (3-12mm), These extractor tools are used to reverse the damaged screw counterclockwise until it is released
- The DIY Tools for Men-Men won't know they need screw extractor set until they have one! This screw extractor set is GIFTS WRAP AVAILABLE, can be gifted to your loved ones as it reflects a fresh trend with fun and practical. Amazing and Unique tool gifts for men women. The must have stocking stuffers for men, gifts for dad, husband, father, him, guy teens, adult, Boyfriend, son on Birthdays, Christmas, Fathers Day or anniversary. Perfect Holiday Gifts Guide
- HIGH QUALITY - This damaged screw remover tool kit is made from High-Speed Steel H.S.S 4341# , which have high hardness of 63hrc, it's durable and easily to remove any damaged screws.
- EASY TO USE: Just two simple steps to get the job done - drill a hole with a cutting size using the right size screw extractor and easily remove the screw or bolt using the removal tool Hardness 63-65HRC: Titanium hardened steel material, more durable than most screw extractors on the market, better hardness and durability than others, buy with confidence and complete peace of mind
- Cool Gadgets for Men Dad Christmas Birthday Gifts for Men and Women - Men won't know they need screw extractor sets until they have one! Every screw has the potential to rust and break, which can create a situation where it cannot be removed. Owning it, there will be no anxiety about rusty screws. This screw extractor set is GIFTS WRAP AVAILABLE, can be gifted to your loved ones as it reflects a fresh trend with fun and practical. Amazing and unique tool gifts for men women. A must have stocking stuffer for men on birthdays, Christmas, Father's Day or anniversaries, a gifts for dads, husbands, fathers, him, adults, boyfriends, sons. The best and most practical and surprising Christmas gifts
What can a municipality or project team take from the proposal?
The project is most useful as a prompt for examining routine decisions, not as a construction specification. A team considering similar questions can use its three maintenance maneuvers to structure a site discussion:
- Snow and runoff: Where does meltwater go under current routines, and is a proposed landscape connection technically assessed rather than assumed to provide treatment?
- Vegetation: Which areas need regular mowing for access or recreation, and where could a different schedule or seasonal check be considered?
- Habitat and site features: Can habitat objectives be considered alongside retaining or erosion-control elements, and what maintenance would those features require?
These are questions implied by the proposal, not a checklist validated by its results. For any real project, decisions would depend on local conditions, technical requirements, maintenance capacity and public expectations—details not resolved in the award narrative. The project’s enduring contribution is to make the maintenance brief itself a design subject: the routines that shape a landscape deserve consideration alongside the landscape’s initial form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does “counterordinance” have a standard technical definition in landscape architecture?
The ASLA record presents it as the title of Pfaff’s project, not as a standardized technical term. It is safest to use the word for this specific proposal rather than assume it names an established municipal practice.
Who created the project, and who advised it?
ASLA credits Cali Pfaff, Associate ASLA, then at Harvard Graduate School of Design, as the project author and lists Jane Hutton as faculty advisor. The award record identifies it as a student research project.
Did Somerville adopt the proposal after the award?
The cited ASLA project record does not document adoption or implementation. It supports describing the work as a proposal, but not claiming that the city built the suggested systems or changed its maintenance practices.
