As we confront the challenges of rising waters, fragile ecosystems, extreme climate events, polluted cities, rapid, unplanned development and degraded environments, equitable healthy living environments and continued ecological appropriateness have become critically endangered. The self-healing capacity of natural systems is becoming severely threatened.
The role of the landscape architect transcends boundaries, in integrating intangible values of culture, people, places, land, water, air, context and site-specific conditions into ecologically healthy places to meet presnt and future challenges. Landscape architects play a critical role in synthesizing a range of professional expertise and skills and are best trained to function as members and heads of multi-disciplinary teams that can work on healing the Earth.
We come from a rich tradition of ecological wisdom and landscape aesthetics; a tradition that can help us direct, distinguish and protect the ecological processes that will define the future of the land and our habitats. The state of Kerala is symbolic of the juncture at which landscape architects stand today. Unquestionably God's own country, its ecological heritage is abundant yet finite and fragile. How we will address the ecological processes inherent in this land, and across the world, through practice and academia, in the years to come, will be our lasting legacy as a profession.
The INTENT of the conference is to learn from pioneers, share with our peers, and educate policy makers in the the role that landscape architects in India must play; a role that places us at the forefront of ecological processes and design practice. Ecological democracy combines the forces of ecological science and participatory democracy to design urban landscapes that enable us to act as communities that are resilient rather than imperiled. To understand also how a landscape reacts to a change or disturbance over time on its own or how human intervention can help it, can help us imagine ways of mitigating the effects of future disturbances. It is vital to understand how ecological process is addressed by designers across the globe, as it is to study how Nature adjusts to changes over time.
As few landscape and planning related professionals around the globe have been using ecological principles and processes to guide and inform their work. It is time to learn from them, as well as from the almost-lost cultural practices that for centuries have been using the Earth's natural processes and rhythms as a basis for development and design. It is time to study, design and create landscapes with ecological processes as their primary function.
2 DAYS | 6 SPEAKERS | 4 WORKSHOPS | 3 POST CONFERENCE TOURS
WHERE
Kochi
Kerala, INDIA
WHEN
Friday Saturday
15th-16th February
2019
www.isola.org.in
Kochi has been attracting explorers and travellers to its shores for over six centuries. The port city on the tropical Malabar Coast is a fascinating blend of sea & back waters, lush nature, giant Chinese fishing nets, synagogues, ancient mosques and medieval Portuguese & British Raj architecture.
Here, landscape is an integral part life and the region is blessed with amazing nature—rain forests, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, hills, cliffs, backwaters, lakes and sea shores.
The region is equally well-known for its rich heritage and culture as well as its diverse traditional cuisines.
Six esteemed guests who shall enlighten us with their perspectives!
Co-founder & Director,
Shma Company Limited,
a landscape architectural firm in Thailand
Shma Company Limited is a landscape creative platform that aims to make the Earth better by working towards ‘inclusive territory’. This landscape design firm uses the principle of a human-centred approach to understand human behaviours, needs, insights throughout the design process to improve the lives of people living the ongoing and future city challenges. This creative and interactive approach requires not only a collaborative platform to pull all the resources and tools from different stakeholders, shareholders, organizations and multidisciplinary to implement the territory, but also, it broadens perspectives to identify the appropriate strategies
Web URL: http://www.shmadesigns.com/
Co-ordinator,
Energy and Wetlands Research Group
Convenor,
Environmental Information Systems (ENVIS) at Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), IISc, Bangalore
A passionate researcher at the Centre for Environmental Studies (IISc. Bangalore), Dr TVR’s research interests range from specialised ecological studies to energy renewability and further, to curriculum planning of environmental education. His in-depth knowledge and expertise in these fields is widely sought after, by the State of Karnataka and the Govt. of India to develop environmental policies and their implementation strategies at the state and national level.
Web URL:
http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/T_V_Ramacha
Design Principal
SCAPE landscape Architecture & Urban Design Studio,
New York
As the design Principal of SCAPE, Gena draws from her inter-disciplinary training to create ecologically rich and culturally relevant landscapes from the infrastructure level to the site level. She has been actively involved in several of SCAPE‘s pioneering State-initiated research and design programmes for New-York State.
Examples are ‘Oyster-tecture’ (adaptation strategy for climate change and sea-level rise in NYC), SIRR (Special initiative for Rebuilding and resiliency of NYC), ‘Rebuild by Design’ (pro-active design strategies for disaster management), ‘Living Breakwaters’ (a climate change resiliency strategy for the South Shore of Staten Island)
Web URL:
https://www.scapestudio.com/people/gena-wirth/
https://www.scapestudio.com/projects/oyster-tecture-moma-rising-currents/
https://www.scapestudio.com/projects/living-breakwaters-competition/
Design Director
Ramboll Studio Dreiseitl,
Singapore
The Ramboll Studio Dreiseitl strives to be a catalyst for ‘liveable public spaces that integrate natural systems’. Their work is grounded in the belief that a vibrant public realm is at the heart of liveable cities.
The innovative design solutions of the studio, derive from collaboration, active public participation and cross agency co-ordination. Their developed design philosophy is honed all over the world by their multicultural teams in Germany, Singapore, China, the Nordic countries and the Middle East.
The firm’s stated vision is
Web URL:
http://www.dreiseitl.com/en/start
Ecosystem Ambassador
the COMMONLAND FOUNDATION
Visiting Faculty,
Netherlands Institute of Ecology
Director,
Environmental Education Media Project
Known to many as the ‘Indiana Jones of Landscape Restoration’, John. D. Liu (ecosystem restoration researcher, educator and filmmaker), has dedicated his life to sharing real-world examples of once-degraded landscapes newly restored to their original fertile and biodiverse beauty.
Liu, through his work, attempts to prove that when humans work with nature, degraded landscapes can be restored in a matter of years, and economies can be regenerated, putting food security and climate change mitigation within our reach. He believes that humanity must shift from commodifying nature to ‘naturalising’ our economy, in order to survive as a species.
Web URL:
https://knaw.academia.edu/JohnDLiu
Senior Associate,
Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects,
Charlottesville, VA, U.S.A
NBW creates resilient landscapes by artfully combining eco-technologies, aesthetics, and the embedded histories of a site. We understand that sustainable landscape architecture design succeeds when it is based on ecologic performance, beauty, and an authentic engagement with the public. In design projects of all scales, emphasis is placed on the symbolic, ecological, and practical potential of plants, water, and natural processes in the sustainable landscape.
Careful response is made to the environmental considerations of a site such as stormwater retention, wildlife conservation and habitat creation, and energy efficiency. These landscape designs engage the site in a way that informs the observer about the environment we occupy and the greater world around us.
Web URL:
http://www.nbwla.com/
Detailed breakup of workshops itinerary
This includes 4 Multiple Session Workshops
By Gilles Boulicot
Auroville Centre for Scientific Research
By Ganapathy P
Director- Programme, CDD Society of India
By Latha Raman Jaigopal
Governing Body Member, CDD Society of India
& Karthik Ravichandran
Senior Engineer, CDD Society of India
Native plants in the planting-palette:
PART1:
PART2: Garden as Permaculture:
Design Charette:
Water Bank : Equilibrium in Nature
Nature’s Design: The holistic water-system
Catchment area analysis and flow dynamics of Urban water bodies
Live project (Thevara Perandoor Canal – Panampilly Nagar stretch)
PG Category Winner
Mr Chris Schoenster
College: Morgan State University, Maryland, USA
UG Category Winner
Shared between:
Mr Azad R.K. & Ms Akhila P. Jayan
College: Avani Institute of Design, Kerala
Mr Shubham Sharma
College: Bhagwan Mahaveer School of Architecture, Haryana
Jurors
Ar.Sujata Kohli, Ar.Sridevi Rao and Ar.Jitendra Pawgi
Decent hotel options near the conference venue
0 km from Venue
2 to 3 km from Venue
2 to 3 km from Venue
4 to 6 km from Venue
By boat half an hour & by road 18 to 20 km
By boat to venue half an hour & By road 10 km
