ESLA - Egyptian Society of Landscape Architects
National Association
Egyptian Society of Landscape Architecture (ESLA)
Cairo, Egypt
Delegate: Amir Gohar
Our Story
The landscape architecture community, encompassing architects, agriculturalists, horticulturists, engineers, and environmentalists, has grappled with a myriad of perplexing issues related to landscape architecture. These complexities include defining the discipline, determining its scope, understanding its essence, establishing its recognition, framing its parameters, and executing its practices. Therefore, several years ago, a group of dedicated landscape enthusiasts came together to engage in profound discussions regarding the nature and practice of landscape architecture. Their endeavours sought to introduce exemplary landscape practices to the Arab world, with a specific focus on Egypt.
An essential milestone was the translation of the "New Landscape Architecture Declaration" from 2016 into various languages, including Arabic, and its dissemination among landscape education programs in Arabic-speaking regions.
Amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, a core group dedicated to promoting the values of landscape design in Egyptian education and practice initiated a series of public engagement efforts through social media platforms in 2020 and 2021. Through extensive interactions and productive dialogues, this core team established connections with LELA-Lebanon and initiated engagement with IFLA (International Federation of Landscape Architects). In pursuit of establishing a National Association, the core group worked diligently throughout 2022 on crafting foundational documents encompassing three critical aspects: a strategic plan for the association, the application for IFLA membership, and local registration under Egyptian law. With the 2023 IFLA Congress, the ESLA team collaborated closely with IFLA-Africa to refine and finalize the association's bylaws, aligning them with both Egyptian law and IFLA policies.
ESLA's founders represent a diverse group of landscape architects, spanning academia, industry practitioners, government officials, and landscape practice owners. They collectively cover various subdisciplines within landscape architecture, including landscape planning, design, contracting, national park landscapes, urbanism, and public space design.
ESLA has a multifaceted mission, which includes: (i) Ensuring the ethical practice of landscape architecture within Egypt and upholding the society's professional code of ethics; (ii) Promoting the landscape architecture profession at the local level and contributing to its advancement and leadership within Egypt; (iii) Advocating for the preservation and development of high-quality local landscape architecture projects in natural, rural, and urban settings, aimed at enhancing the quality of life for the Egyptian population; (iv) Facilitating the exchange of knowledge, skills, and experiences at both the educational and professional level between different parties in Egypt as well as between Egypt and the other National Associations in Africa and worldwide; (v) Providing continuous education courses for its members to enhance their skills and knowledge, while advancing the profession locally; and (vii) Playing a role in establishing accredited and specialized landscape architecture education programs in Egypt.
ESLA opens the door for all qualified members who fulfil its joining criteria, to submit an application to become a member and support the advocating and growing the recognition of the landscape architecture.
Photo by: Hany Helmy