Collective Landscape Futures Events

COLLECTIVE LANDSCAPE FUTURES

ED WALL

IN MARCH we organised a series of events to explore future landscape and urban practices. Collective Landscape Futures included three roundtable conversations—with students, graduates, tutors, and guests—discussing prevailing challenges in the design of landscapes and cities and how our collective voices can inform future programmes and practices.

We were delighted to be joined by Julia Watson (author of Lo-TEK. Design by Radical Indigenism), Ben Campkin (Co-Director of the Urban Laboratory, UCL), Ross Exo-Adams (Co-director of Bard Architecture), and Martí Franch Batllori (EMF).

MORE-THAN-HUMAN HISTORIES

More-Than-Human Histories was a conversation about ecological thinking and practices that have the potential to address the climate crisis. Speakers included: Julia Watson, Lenka Rajmont, Loretta Bosence, Meredith Will, and Roo Angell.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIETS

Urban Development Diets discussed practices of urban change that can advance rather than undermine social and environmental justice. Speakers included: Ben Campkin, Helena Rivera, Henry Day, Toya Peal, and Will Sandy.

GARDENING INJUSTICE

Gardening Injustice examined the role of landscape in the uneven distribution, ownership, and access to land – and the potential of other practices. Speakers included: Anushka Athique, Gemma Hoult, Martí Franch Batllori, Ross Exo-Adams, and Rebecca McDonald-Balfour.

The roundtables were attended by students across the university as well as colleagues and friends from acournd the world. The events were not recorded, in order to support free and open converesations. Edited transcripts of the three events will, however, be shared publicly and will be central to the development of the Landscape Architecture and Urbanism programmes as we plan for the future.