IFLA President James Hayter attends CHSLA activities

The International Academic Week of Landscape Architecture at Beijing Forestry University (BFU) was held on October 12 and 13, 2019. The event hosted the “International Landscape Architects Symposium — Resilient Landscape”, “BFU International Garden-making Festival”, “Young Landscape Architects Round Table Forum and Resilient Landscape Themed Forum” and “BFU Asia Landscape Architecture Educational Seminar”. Several experts, scholars, as well as teacher and student representatives from China, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany,Republic of Korea? and Japan were invited, including James Hayter, President of International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), to participate in in-depth discussions and exchanges on topics in various fields.

Focused on the theme of “resilient landscape”, the 2019 International Landscape Architects Symposium was sub-categorized into three topics, namely “human settlement environment system based on water conservancy systems”, “structure, transition and restoration of coastal ecosystems” and “transformation of coastal bay areas and deltas”. Fifteen guests from various countries shared their successful experiences and case studies, carried out in-depth exchanges during round-table discussions, and put forward suggestions for Chinese landscape architecture practitioners on the development of the delta in the context of urbanization. They have enlightened and inspired more landscape architects to explore different means to build resilient landscape and balance the natural context with the needs of urban development.

Delegates from nine Asian colleges and universities delivered speeches at the BFU Asia Landscape Architecture Educational Seminar. They discussed topics on landscape architecture education and teaching related to design and construction, and offered an opportunity for the exchange and display of landscape architecture education and research in Asia. The event promoted scientific research and innovation of Asian landscape architecture education, and helped to encounter common challenges in the education, scientific research and practice of landscape architecture. It would enhance the quality of education and practical innovation capabilities of Asian regional landscape architecture, thus widening its influence on the global education of landscape architecture.

During the 2nd BFU International Garden-making Festival in 2019, over 100 participants from 15 teams constructed small gardens at a 4m by 4m site using bamboos and flowers. The activity aimed at respecting the natural characteristics of bamboos and building skills. A panel of 15 experts and scholars from across the world evaluated 15 gardens. IFLA president James Hayter, who also serves as chairman of the panel, gave an overall review of the festival and announced the award-winners.

The International Academic Week of Landscape Architecture is a flagship annual event organized by BFU. The Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture (CHSLA) and BFU have co-hosted a series of seminars and garden-making activities, and have invited experts and scholars from the world landscape architecture industry to gather in BFU to explore the role of landscape architecture in balancing the conflict between man and the natural environment in the context of contemporary urbanization. In addition, participants provided new ideas for the construction of a better living environment, promote the influence of Asian landscape architecture, and contribute to the development of the global landscape architecture industry.