Who am I?

My name is Bram van Overbeeke, and I joke sometimes that I design Human Habitat.

For the majority of human history we lived in balance with nature;  we had cultures, traditions and a love for the land that kept us in that balance.

I believe that through proper design and attention we can create that caring situation again. Now and in the future.

Most often I design for people that wish to live a more sustainable life. Folks that imagine a garden, home and lifestyle, that is close to nature. Growing their own food without turning their home and garden into a large scale farming operation. Something that is appropriate to their skills and scale.

Edible landscaping, kitchen gardens, natural swimming pools, energy conservation and production, food forests, waterwise gardening; these are some of the terms used when we design your ideal living space. Both inside and outside.

A balance between simplicity and function. The designs range from small balconies through urban lots to houses and large scale farms.

Click the images above or swipe to the left to learn more.

Earth Care

Without a healthy earth, no healthy humans could exist.

When I design something I try to take into account the land as much as the clients that will live on that land. In many cultures the earth is considered primary, the humans that live on that land are considered to be passing through.

Taking care of the earth means emphasizing practices and strategies that will empower the land to become the best version of itself. This often means planting a diversity of longterm plants and trees as well as making space for annual crop gardens. We co-operate with animals that benefit the land in the most optimal way without limiting their own being; connecting all their needs, characteristics and products to other parts of the system. Building deep, fertile Soil as we garden along.

Gardening like an eco-system. I think long and hard to interconnect all parts of the system in such a way that the waste of one is recycled by another. In this way, with the constant input of sun and rain, the system will grow and mature to be an eco-system. An eco-system that both relies upon and cares for the people living in it.

People Care

The Care of People is central in every design.

People are the driving force behind many systems. When these systems take over and subordinate the people in them, things get out of balance very quickly.

When we consciously design the network of relationships, we take into account the available personal energy and how people might interact. We strengthen bonds between family members, neighbours and neighbourhoods by social designs that are implemented over time. These systems can exist in the social sphere or in the physical sphere but most often overlap.

One simple example is the mini library.
This concept might seem trivial but it goes quite deep. Enabling people to freely share books amongst eachother generates trust; trust in the broader society and each other. We will get to know our neighbours better through reading similar books and have a place to meet and share. Perhaps the tiny library evolves into a small stall, where we can share other things like plants or clothes, offer help and request it. A small design implementation opens the door to sharing a whole lot more than books.

By understanding our own needs and limitations we can design for cultural transformation that benefits people as well as the earth.

Future Care

The best way to predict the future, is to help create it in the now. 

Very simply put, I believe that noone ever lived in the past, nor will they live in the future. We always exist right now.

Why did I choose to name my company FutureCare Design then? I did that because I believe we can live and design with intent the kind of ‘future now’ we want to live in, for us and future generations. That means taking care of people AND the earth, right now, in such a way that there is a future! We can embody new and old ways of thinking that take future, past and present into account.

It is possible to live fully in the now and at the same time give apples to someone in the future by planting an apple tree today!

Contact Form

If after reading this you would like to join me on this journey, please write me a quick hello. No strings attached nor pressure to be overly long, we all start somewhere! ^_^

Regards, Bram.