By the end of the nineteenth century, the available professional identities such as architect, engineer, and gardener were perceived by many to be inadequate for the social and environmental challenges of rapid urbanization. These new conditions demanded a new professional identity explicitly associated with landscape. In the US, Olmsted used the term landscape architect first in 1860, but he remained bothered with the new term. Olmsted was convinced, that adopting the mantle of the architect would bolster the new field in the eyes of the public, and mitigate against the tendency to mistake the work as being primarily concerned with plants and gardens. It would also, Olmsted argued, guard against the greater danger of landscape’s potential future „dis-alliance“ with architecture. Olmsted became convinced that the range of study that was called for by increasing demands of scientific knowledge would press the new profession toward increasing reliance on specialised bodies of technical knowledge and a resulting alienation from the fine arts and architecture. (Charles Waldheim: Thinking landscape as urbanism, in: Thinking the contemporary landscape; Princeton Architectural Press, 2016) Now landscape architecture as a profession and discipline is a 150-year-old success story. In some places. In others, not. But everywhere there is a need to cooperate with engineers, architects, and scientists. Increasing challenges with urbanisation and climate change, social disparities and digital revolution forces all planning parties to work together. Landezine LIVE explores the question of interdisciplinary collaboration considering the design of open space and invites experts to exchange experiences and views. Participants on the round table are Ana Kučan (AKKA, Biotehnical Faculty), Matej Blenkuš (Abiro, Fakulty of architecture), Jenny B. Osuldsen (Snøhetta, University of Life Sciences), Antje Stokman (Studio Urbane Landschaften, Institute of Landscape Planning and Ecology) and Martí Franch Batllori (EMF, ETSAB Barcelona). The round table was moderated by Robert Schäfer.
Discussion: Interdisciplinary approach to the design of open space at Landezine LIVE 2017
Published on January 20, 2017
