The Scientific Committee of the IFLA 2025 Congress encourages all interested participants to submit their abstracts aligned with the Congress theme: ‘Guiding Landscapes'

The IFLA WORLD 2025 congress in Nantes will take place in the context of global climate change, where adapting and building resilience in cities and territories requires profound and systemic transformations.

The deadline for the call for abstracts is 15th March 2025. More information can be found on the congress website here..

We are very excited to host our next webinar titled, "Urban Nature and Landscape Planning: The Role of Place for a Nature-Positive Future". It's happening this Wednesday, so register now!

Date: 26th March 2025, Wednesday

Time: 1 PM (GMT)

Register here: https://vuw.zoom.us/.../regi.../WN_0j9ttdPESS-8dY1_KKDyUw...

This webinar will explore the critical role of urban nature and landscape planning in achieving a nature-positive future. We will discuss how understanding and valuing the unique characteristics of a place—its ecology, culture, and community—can lead to more effective and sustainable landscape planning outcomes.

Our panelists, Xueman 雪漫 Wang 王, Urmila Rajadhyaksha, Tamsin Faragher, Francisca Fernández, and Dr. Rasha Sayed, will share diverse perspectives on leveraging urban nature to enhance biodiversity, improve human well-being, build resilience to climate change, and create vibrant, livable cities for all. The session will be moderated by Nadine Bitar Chahine.

The conversation would be interesting for landscape architects, urban planners, policymakers, researchers, and anyone passionate about shaping a greener and more sustainable urban future.

How can we design landscapes that regenerate nature and drive a circular economy? Explore this critical question with world-leading experts at IFLA's upcoming webinar.

Hear from Nick Jeffries (Ellen MacArthur Foundation), Audrey Timm (AIPH), Kathryn Moore (IFLA), Maria Ignatieva (URBIO), and Elisabeth Belpaire (ISOCARP) as they share their insights on nature-positive circularity and discuss key principles, practices, and global perspectives.

This isn't just about minimizing harm—it’s about actively regenerating ecosystems and creating landscapes that thrive.

Date: 26th February 2025

Time: 1 PM (GMT)

Register now: https://vuw.zoom.us/.../register/k6Wdl0tEQmipOkHEDATbKQ...

#landscapearchitects #landscapearchitecture #NaturePositive #CircularEconomy

IFLA Webinar: Landscape Architects Leading Climate Action: Nature-Based Solution

28th January, 1pm GMT, Online

Join leading experts from IFLA, Turenscape, UNEP, and UN-Habitat as they unveil ground-breaking strategies for climate adaptation, mitigation, and restoration. This webinar will reflect on IFLA’s participation at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP29 Azerbaijan and the important role landscape architecture plays in showcasing practical techniques to address the climate crisis. Discover the innovative "Sponge City" concept; learn how landscape architects can contribute to UNEP's mission; and explore the collaborative efforts of IFLA and UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) in driving sustainable urban development. Be part of the movement to create resilient, regenerative communities in harmony with nature.

You can register here.

IFLA is pleased to announce new Zoom webinar on the search to keep the global debate on landscape architecture education alive and proactive. 

IFLA International Webinar Conference on Landscape Architecture Education and Studio Pedagogy.

A Zoom Webinar organized by the IFLA Education and Academic Affairs Committee, Student Competition Working Group Chair.

Monday, November 18th, 2024. - Starting time: 9:30 a.m. (GMT)

The symposium aims to explore landscape architecture education and pedagogy today, show regional differences, and highlight the need for international dialogue to benefit the discipline. As landscape architecture programs face contemporary socio-environmental challenges regionally, they are evolving away from outdated modern standards. Furthermore, the rise of digital tools, such as GIS, AI, 3D modeling and rendering tools appropriate for landscape equip education and research with possibilities never seen before. Fostering international conversations is essential in the context of such developments. By sharing diverse perspectives and best practices, we can enrich landscape architecture education, encourage innovation and collaboration across borders, and advocate for a proper approach to landscape architecture. Indeed, regional differences play a crucial role, and they deserve not only to be nurtured but also confronted with the "others" to strengthen themselves without hindering the possibility of international mobility. 

The participation is free - everyone is invited to reserve a place by registering for the webinar at https://vuw.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwof-utqTotHdciQCOMsJyAoGVI0YY7AGe-#/registration

Program

Session I: 9:30 - 11:30 (GMT - London)

Institutional Perspectives on Landscape Architecture Education

9:30 - 9:35 Institutional welcome by IFLA

9:35 - 10:00 Günther Vogt, ETH Zurich

About education trends in ETH, Europe

10:00 - 10:25 Terrence Tan, National University of Singapore, Singapore

About education trends in NUS, Asia

10:25 - 10:50 Ellen Fetzer, Nürtingen-Geislingen University, ECLAS Immediate Past President

Building capacity for democratic landscape transformation

10:50 - 11:15 Ebru Özer, Florida International University, ASLA Education Immediate Past VP

About education trends in FIU and USA

11:15 - 11:30 Roundtable Discussion + Q&A

Moderated by Ebru Özer, Florida International University

**********

Intermezzo: 11:30 - 12:00 (GMT - London)

11:30 - 12:00 Gareth Doherty, Harvard GSD

On Landscape Architecture Education and Studio Pedagogy

**********

Session II: 12:00 - 14:30 (GMT - London)

Landscape Architecture Studio Pedagogy

12:00 - 12:15 Alessandro Martinelli, Chinese Culture University, IFLA EAA Chair

Ideas and questions about a global pedagogy of landscape architecture

The IFLA GSP experience: Challenges for a global landscape academia

12:15 - 12:30 Şukran Şahin, Ankara University: The GSP - IFLA World Congress Charette

12:30 - 12:45 Wen-Shan Huang, Fu Jen Catholic University: The GSP - GLAC Charette

12:45 - 13:00 Amer Habibullah, King Abdulaziz University: The GSP - SSLA Charette

13:00 - 13:15 Michelle Meza, Universidad Autonoma de Mexico: The GSP Mexico Charette

13:15 - 13:45 Rosalea Monacella, Harvard GSD

Key findings of “Designing Landscape Architectural Education” research

13:45 - 14:30 Roundtable Discussion + Q&A

Moderated by Mahdi Khansefid, University of Tehran, IFLA SC WG Chair

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You can download the program here.

Join IFLA at the World Urban Forum Building a One Health Future

The International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) joined forces with the Ville et Eurométropole de Strasbourg as well as other leading organizations at the World Urban Forum 12 Egypt to explore the transformative potential of urban green infrastructure for healthier and more resilient cities. More here.

In the previous IFLA APR Talk and Share, the status of landscape architecture in Hong Kong and Australia was explored. Landscape Architect Chris Tidswell outlined the professional status in Australia and its regulation by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA). Landscape Architect Paul Chan, President of the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects, discussed the current challenges and state of the profession in Hong Kong. Despite facing limited recognition from other sectors and advocacy efforts, both regions are working to boost the visibility and impact of landscape architects.

Continuing the session on the status of the landscape architecture profession in the IFLA Asia Pacific Region, now the focus shifts to Malaysia, New Zealand and the Phillipines. The IFLA Asia Pacific Region, a subset of the International Federation of Landscape Architects with 14 member associations, aims to advance education and professional development in landscape architecture. The upcoming event will explore how the profession is recognized across the region, address challenges, and highlight recent advancements, providing insights to enhance the field further.

This session aims to:

1. Provide insights on the status of Landscape Architecture in the respective countries within the Asia Pacific Region.

2. Discuss the current issues and challenges faced in the recognition of the Landscape Architecture profession with regard to their legal recognition.

3. Recognize the significant advancements that the profession has achieved, highlighting the progress made in establishing standards and gaining recognition.

More, including registration here.

More here.

Strategic planting in cities can reduce temperatures and improve air quality.

Join this online webinar: 19 September 2024 - , 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm BST, Online

This webinar briefing will focus on the importance and opportunities to plant trees and plants in urban areas to help mitigate the urban heat island effect. Hear from experts on the use of plants to create more sustainable and resilient cities.

More, including booking here.

IFLA will be hosting Pre-World Council Virtual Session for any of our members to attend - this will explain the agenda, how the council and voting will work and be an opportunity to ask any questions about how the 2 days will work.

This will be on Wednesday 21st August at 14.00 Brussels time (find equivalent global times here).  

The zoom link is here, Meeting ID: 929 4508 7725.

This will be recorded so if you cannot make it we will share the recording with our members afterwards. 

More about the congress here.

The "Towards an International Landscape Convention - Rethinking Land Use" is a PhD workshop part of the Urban Thinkers Campus (UTC) and a larger movement to establish an International Landscape Convention (ILC) by UN Habitat, which will provide a framework for the policy, planning, protection and management of landscape worldwide to help address global challenges.

Currently, there is no international legal instrument specifically addressing the policy, planning, protection and/or management of the everyday landscape.  While some special landscapes are protected under existing conventions, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Convention or the Convention on Biological Diversity, these instruments do not provide a comprehensive, integrated or holistic approach, recognise the immense restorative capacity of the land to address global challenges or understand landscape as the bedrock of society, the very infrastructure upon which we depend to survive and thrive. 

The proposal for an ILC aims to provide a framework to see this bigger picture, recognising the cultural, natural, and socio-economic value of land and by promoting collaboration among various stakeholders, including governments, civil society and local communities.

As part of development of the ILC, UTC in cooperation with IFLA invite PhD students around the world to showcase their research that is giving voice to this infrastructure, exploring the power of the physical, cultural, everyday landscape to ensure that it is no longer a blind spot but recognised as a vitally important resource to be looked after, resuscitated, celebrated; the very fabric of our identity, wellbeing, self-confidence and worth.

In particular, we invite current PhD candidates and those who have completed within the last two years to submit a Pecha Kucha-style presentation of 400 seconds, each presentation consisting of 20 slides, each shown for only 20 seconds before automatically progressing to the next one.  We are looking for work which expands the perceived boundaries of landscape architecture beyond the technical - research that is creative, original and unpublished. We welcome research that explores the bigger picture, the rich complexity of landscape and its contribution to quality of life and quality of the environment, its social, cultural, spatial or economic facets.

Key Dates

August 15th, 2024: Abstract submission deadline:  300 word abstract, setting out theme, subthemes, literature, methodology and findings

September 2nd, 2024: Notification of acceptance week commencing 2nd September

September 27th, 2024: Pecha Kucha submission of complete timed presentation (20 slides x 20 seconds, pdf format) to UTCBirmingham@gmail.com and chair.eaa@iflaworld.org

October 3rd, 2024: Presentation at BCU, Birmingham. We welcome submissions which can be presented in-person or remotely via MS Teams. The presentation language is English.

For more information, please download the brief here or email UTCBirmingham@gmail.com

You can find details of the event here.

Attendees for the IFLA World Council must register for this event independently from the World Congress. Registration is now open.

• Official Delegates to IFLA should register via the form here.

• Observers should register via the form here.

The forms will close Tuesday 23rd July 2024.

Full information here.

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024 teaching fellowships, which require teaching to start in 2025. The deadline to apply is July 1, 2024, and announcement of the winning candidates will take place in September 2024. The brief can be found here and more information is available through the dedicated website of the Foundation: https://obelaward.org/initiatives/2024-teaching-fellowships/.

More here

Registration here.

IFLA 2024 Student Competition

Deadline: May 26, 2024, 23:59 GMT

Theme: PROJECTING CODE RED for POST-VIOLENCE LANDSCAPES

Categories:

1.⁠ ⁠Analysis and Planning

2.⁠ ⁠Landscape Design

3.⁠ ⁠Applied Research

Total 9 awards in 3 categories!

More information can be found on www.ifla2024.com/en/student-competition

Enter Third Nature

A few stories about the return of wood and nature in architecture

A Zoom webinar organized by the IFLA Education and Academic Affairs Chair, kindly supported by Scouthouse.

May 21st, 2024
h. 10.20-12.00 AM (Central Europe time)

Read about the speakers here.

It is with pleasure that IFLA announce that on Thursday May 9th, 2024, the first public meeting of the GSP - Global Studio Program will be held on occasion of the IFLA Americas Regional Conference 2024, that takes place in Buenos Aires.

The IFLA GSP - Global Studio Program is the first experimental attempt by IFLA to solicit coordination across the major global landscape events with students charette in 2024, in particular covering the IFLA Europea, Asia Pacific, Americas, and Middle East region.

The meeting of Thursday May 9th is an introductory one and will see the presentation of the program alongside that of the landscape architecture schools that expressed intention to participate in the GSP with their students and tutors. Also, the Regional IFLA Education and Academic Activities Chairs, together with the President of the ECLAS - European Council of Landscape Architecture as well as the Immediate Past President of CELA - Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture, will express their expectations from the GSP.

FInally, after the organizers of the charettes already under advanced development -e.g., the one on occasion of the Istanbul IFLA World Congress 2024 Charette- wil present the topic and didactic methodology of their charette, a short debate will be open to the tutors representing the schools that joined the GSP.

The meeting will be broadcasted through Zoom and it is open to anyone interested. It will be about 1h. long.

Time:

Washington ​08.00 AM

Buenos Aires​09.00 AM

London​​13.00 PM

Berlin​​14.00 PM

Gaborone​14.00 PM

Istanbul​​15.00 PM

Riyadh​​15.00 PM

Shanghai​​20.00 PM

Wellington​00.00 AM (+1)

Program:

1. Alessandro Martinelli, IFLA World EAA

general introduction (3 minutes)

2. Rafael Dodera, IFLA Americas EAA

highlight of the IFLA Americas Regional Conference, introduction of regional participants and expectations (7 min.)

3. Attila Toth, IFLA Europe EAA

​introduction of regional participants and expectations (5 min.)

4. Goabamang Lethugile, IFLA Africa EAA

​introduction of regional participants and expectations (5 min.)

5. Amer Habibullah, IFLA Middle East EAA

​introduction of regional participants and expectations (5 min.)

6. Wenshan Huang, IFLA Asia Pacific EAA

​introduction of regional participants and expectations (7 min.)

7. Sukran Sahin, IFLA World Congress Istanbul Organization Team Member

​introduction to Istanbul IFLA World Congress 2024 Charette (7 min.)

8. Ellen Fetzer, ECLAS President

​Expectations and suggestions from the perspective of ECLAS (5 min.)

9. Chingwen Cheng, CELA Immediate Past President

​Expectations and suggestions from the perspective of CELA (5 min.)

10. The IFLA GSP Meeting Panel and the tutors from the participating schools

​Open debate (15 min.) ​

Zoom Link:

Join from PC, Mac, iOS or Android: https://vuw.zoom.us/j/99182429011
Meeting ID: 991 8242 9011

The deadline for application by the interested Bachelor’s programs is May 7th, 2024.

More here.

IFLA APR April Talk & Share - Towards Sustainable Futures: Bridging Circular Cities and Landscape Architecture

Landscape Architects are instrumental in implementing circularity concepts, using their expertise and technical skills to "bridge" the natural and cultural environment. In a circular economy, markets incentivize product reuse over disposal, minimizing the demand for extracting new resources. This strategy optimizes natural resource usage, fuels innovation, increases employment, cultivates new capabilities, and promotes environmental preservation.

To achieve sustainable urban development and enhance livability, it includes integrating Circular Economy principles into resource management. This month, IFLA APR will spotlight Circular Cities and the Circular Economy, emphasizing their significance to Landscape Architecture.

This session aims to:
1) Introduce the concept of Circular Cities and the Circular Economy model.
2) Showcase innovative projects that exemplify the Circular City concept, analyzing the underlying principles of the Circular Economy model.
3) Examine how landscape architects incorporate Circular Economy principles into their projects, highlighting effective implementation strategies and real-world applications.

More here.