GREECE Πανελλήνιος Σύλλογος Αρχιτεκτόνων Τοπίου (ΠΣΑΤ) – PanHellenic Association of Landscape Architects (PHALA) Katerina Gkoltsiou, IFLA Europe Delegate and President of the Panhellenic Association of Landscape Architects (PHALA), Greece Valuing Landscape: Connecting people, place and nature
Fig. 01. Stavros Niarchos Park. Athens 2016. Source: Photo archive of K.Gkoltsiou
The European Landscape Convention acknowledges the important public role of landscape in the cultural, ecological, environmental and social fields and among each specific measure stress the need for awareness raising among the civil society, private organisations and public authorities about the value of landscapes, their role and changes to them. Two prominent projects following the above objectives of the E.L.C. are presented. The project “Developing Water Codes in the center of the city of Larissa, Thessaly – The Sculpted River” by Nella Golanda, Urban Landscape Sculptor, was constructed from 1992 to 1998 and was official candidate of Greece in 12
the 5th Landscape Award Session 2016-2017 of the Council of Europe in the context of the European Landscape Convention. The emergence of the Ancient Theatre of Larissa, which has been excavated in the city center, led N.Golanda to suggest the reconnection of the city of Larissa with the great river, Pinios. She tried to develop water codes, upland and lowland and combinations between plane trees and water, and generally the experience of the temporal riverside relationship of the city. The project enhanced public awareness for the particular historical landscape of Larissa, educated people and especially the children
