MIND THE GAP. Landscape For a New Era. EFLA REGIONAL CONGRESS OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, 02-04 NOV 2011 Tallinn, Estonia

GAP. PROBLEM. DIFFERENCE. LIMITATION. INTERRUPTION. HOLE. DIVERGENCE. EMPTINESS. DISPARITY. CONFLICT. DISRUPTION.

This is a small sample of the symptoms that our landscapes are suffering nowadays due to the worlds continually change and reconfiguration. The concept of landscape has changed considerably over the past decades.
The future of cities is a critical issue to today’s lifestyle. Now that more than half of the world’s population is urban, cities have transformations and decreasing the quality of life. Like living organisms, cities change: they grow and shrink, they flourish and
decline.
The aim of this congress is for academics and professionals to share knowledge about how city space is created by the intertwining of various spheres. From such interaction with city environments, gaps in urban structure and urban life will appear and by exploring and understanding them, we are better prepared to create appropriate and unique environments in our cities – quality of life/quality of living.
New lives need new landscapes and new landscapes create new lives. How will our landscapes look like if we do not find solutions for our gaps? What will our future landscapes look like if we ignore the gaps, which affect our environments and lives?
Should we begin from the small or large gaps and in what direction will one or the other push us?
This congress will provide the opportunity for landscape architects and other professionals of related fields, from all over the world, to exchange points of view and share experience and solutions to achieve new landscapes, to improve our quality of life, and to define new ways of living.
The undiscovered jewel of the Baltic Sea – Estonia – will host our congress. Geographically located in the north-eastern edge of the European Union, Estonia is very rich in natural landscapes, having almost half of its territory covered by forest.
However being a small country, but the richness and diversity of its landscapes is positively surprising. The medieval capital of Tallinn has the perfect conditions for our congress where everyone will have the opportunity to explore new landscapes and lives with a different twist.

 

TOPICS

Day 1

Gaps in Urban Landscapes - New Landscapes

- Forgotten places: landscape, culture and identity
- Eco-city: sustainable design and solutions
- Water as a key-element: waterscapes / water management / water fronts
- Dynamic landscapes
- Living systems: contemporary trends and innovative technologies in Landscape Architecture
- Open thematic topic

Day 2

Gaps in Urban Life - New Lives

- Landscapes of transformation: design for everyone
- Different places for different faces: multi-diversity in urban context
- Transforming communities: social learning and community engagement
- Changing disciplines, changing landscapes: communication as a gap
- From teaching to practice: new research and methodologies in Landscape Architecture
- Reading in between the gaps: philosophy and landscape
- Healthy cities, healthy lives: legislation, policies and effective governance
- Open thematic topic

Day 3

Quality of life / Quality of living

- Temporary landscapes and art intervention
- Critical and creative thinking
- Environment and behavior: improving quality of life
- Regional planning, infrastructures performance and mobility

FORMAT

Day 1: Two keynotes presentations and six parallel thematic sessions. Welcome Cocktail Party
Day 2: Two keynotes presentations and eight parallel thematic sessions. Gala Dinner
Day 3: Two keynotes presentations, four parallel thematic sessions and presentation of pilot project. Farewell Party
Pre-Post tours and Technical visits

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Landscape Architects, Architects, City Planners, Urban Designers, Environmental Designers, Engineers, Designers, Geographers,

Academics and Researchers, Sustainability Practitioners, Social Planners, Historians, Artists, Futurists, Philosophers and Psychologists,

Place Makers, Politicians, Policy Makers, City Governance Personnel, Public Health Administrators, National Resources Administrators,

Coastal Resource Managers, Planning Professionals, Elected Representatives, Mayors and Non-Government Agencies, Community and Industry Groups, Students and Active Citizens.

PAPER SUBMISSION

Deadline for Abstract Submission : 15 May 2011
Notice of Abstract Acceptance : 1 July 2011
Deadline for Full Paper Submission : 15 August 2011
Printing of Proceedings : 15 October 2011
Pre-Post tour : 1 and 5 November 2011
Date of Congress : 2-4 November 2011
EFLA General Assembly: 5-6 November 2011

ORGANISING COMMITTEE - ESTONIAN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS' UNION (ELAU)

Bruno Marques
Aljona Galazan
Epp Kesküla-Erard
Hele Möllits
Laura Männamaa
Laurent Erard
Martin Allik
Sirle Salmistu

CONTACT / REGISTRATION

www.efla2011.com

efla2011@maastikuarhitekt.eeThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Download the PDF EFLA 2011 General information