IFLA Newsletter # 104 April 2013
WINNER ANNOUNCED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS’ PREMIER AWARD—SIR GEOFFREY JELLICOE AWARD 2013 Auckland, April 10, 2013 The International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), which represents the worldwide profession of landscape architecture, announced that Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles, is the winner of the Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Award – the International Federation of Landscape Architects’ premier award - for 2013. Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles has made an outstanding contribution to Landscape Architecture through his life-long commitment to his chosen profession. His achievement in all aspects of landscape architecture – landscape planning, landscape policies, landscape design and landscape education has been quite phenomenal. The defense of democracy, the humanization of the landscape and the quality of life of the Portuguese population are hallmarks of his civic life and professional career. With a long involvement and initiative in public intervention, he has for decades been pioneering in the delivery of ideas and designs as well as and working towards the recognition of productive landscape as recreational space. He is still actively participating in the defense of a sustainable development model for Portugal on key issues connected to planning and the environment such as forest policy and green infrastructure. Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles graduated in agronomic engineering and landscape architecture in 1950 to be part of the first generation of landscape architects in Portugal. He is a founding member of the Portuguese Society of Landscape Architects (APAP), which was founded in 1976, and is still active in the association. The revolution in Portugal in 1974 brought him to the forefront of the country`s political life. In 1975 he was appointed Secretary of State in the environmental sector and undertook his work in environmental policies in Portugal. He was a pioneer in the defense and conservation of environmental values, the promotion of land-use planning, sustainable development and the humanization of cities. He is mainly responsible for the current legal framework laws on conservation, land-use planning and environmental quality. He continues to be active in the dissemination of ideas and principles in these fields where he was a forerunner and for which he has fought unceasingly. He has published over 100 works on various subjects, such as land-use planning, the environment, urbanism, visual analysis, landscape, projects, agriculture, resource management, education and policies. His career spans over 60 years and he has clearly had a unique and lasting impact on the development of landscape architecture as a practitioner, in teaching, in public administration and as a member of various governments. Within the Housing Department Institute he set up the Landscape Planning and Green Areas Department. He was also Minister for Quality of Life and was one of the first Portuguese politicians to call attention to ecological problems, having an influence far beyond the small size of the parties he has led. Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles, has, within 60 years of active work, opened many doors and minds, and has contributed hugely to an awareness and integration of landscape architecture. His life achievement is an example for everyone to follow and he is a most worthy recipient of this 1
year’s IFLA Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Award. The IFLA Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Award is the highest honor that the International Federation of Landscape Architects can bestow upon a landscape architect. The Award recognizes a living landscape architect whose lifetime achievements and contributions have had a unique and lasting impact on the welfare of society and the environment and on the promotion of the profession of landscape architecture. The award is bestowed annually on an academic, public or private practitioner whose work and achievements are respected internationally. The IFLA Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Award was launched in 2004 on a quadrennial basis. Its inaugural recipient was Peter Walker (USA) in 2005. Prof. Bernard Lassus was awarded in 2009, Cornelia Hahn Oberlander in 2011, Mihály Möcsényi in 2012 and for 2013 Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles. Since 2011 the award has been bestowed annually. Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe (1910 – 1996), IFLA President of Honour, served IFLA as its founding president from 1948 – 1954. He was a trained architect, town planner, landscape architect and garden designer, but his prime interest was in landscape and garden design. Jellicoe was a founding member (1929) and then president of the Institute of Landscape Architects (now the LI) and was knighted for services to landscape architecture in 1979. In 1994, he was given the Royal Horticultural Society’s highest award, the Victoria Medal of Honor. IFLA President, Desiree Martinez, made the announcement in the award ceremony on April 10, during the 2013 IFLA World Congress in Auckland, New Zealand. The 2013 SGJA International Jury was chaired by Jenny B. Osuldsen (Norway) and comprised of: Anton Comrie (South Africa), Alan Titchener (New Zealand), Diana Wiesner (Colombia) and Fritz Auweck (Germany).
Courtesy of the Portuguese Association of Landscape Architects—April 2013 2