35th IFLA Europe General Assembly and Regional Conference took place 17-20 October 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. General Assembly and Regional Conference were hosted and co-organised by Tajepiteszek, Hungarian Association of Landscape Architecture and MATE Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The annual landscape architecture event started with a Regional Conference organised by Tajepiteszek on topic ‘Plan(e)Tscape’

Addressing landscape architecture as a profession deeply rooted in nature, the event intended to draw attention to the multifunctionality of plants, their diverse application possibilities, and to all the positive ways of thinking with which we can achieve meaningful results in the fight against contemporary environmental challenges. We are convinced, that with the help of innovative and conscious plant application landscape architects can contribute considerable to a sustainable, and healthy vision of our Plan(e)tscape.

The Conference was opened by Katerina Gkoltsiou, IFLA Europe President, Attila Vincze, HALA President, Bruno Marques, IFLA World President, Rego Lanszki, Ministry of Construction and Transport and Albert Fekete, HALA Vice President who presented “Hungarian Landscape Architecture from IFLA 1984 to IFLA EU 2024”.

Three sessions on four topics ARTISTIC, URBAN, TRADITIONAL and PLANT were organised with renowned speakers and panellists: György Szloszjár, Kathryn Gustafson, Sándor Bardóczi, Gwendolyn Kusters, Merrick Denton-Thompson, Attila Vincze, Arjan Boekel followed by visits to PÜNKÖSDFÜRDŐ PARK and VÁROSLIGET PARK.

General Assembly was officially opened with addresses from Katerina Gkoltsiou, IFLA Europe President and Attila Vincze, HALA President.

2024 IFLA Europe Award laureate is EEA - European Environment Agency! IFLA Europe Award was introduced in 2014 IFLA Europe General Assembly with the objective to recognise the work of exceptional people and organisations that believe that our way of perceiving and understanding the world – derived from our profession – could contribute to its sustainable development. Katja Rosenbohm, Head of EEA’s Communications Programme, was present and accepted the award on behalf of EEA.

 

Environmental challenges, climate change and the living conditions of the inhabitants of larger cities oblige us to take nature beyond the emphasis on aesthetic perspectives. In design, planning and management of landscapes, landscape architects face a contemporary challenge to repurpose our cities : to design with nature and introduce a more natural shape for cities, utilizing nature-based solutions and thus bringing cities function closer to the cycles of nature. As Landscape Architects, we are sharing our knowledge and capacity building to develop nature-based solutions, to design urban areas to be more sustainable and resilient, to manage stormwater runoff, reducing the risk of flooding and water pollution, to enhance biodiversity, reduce the urban heat island effect in urban spaces, to improve mental health, and foster social interaction, contributing to overall community well-being.

Ellen Fetzer, immediate Past President of ECLAS - European Council of Landscape Architecture Schools was awarded Honorary Membership in recognition of the long and exceptional work that Ellen has undertaken to promote landscape architecture education and a fruitful cooperation all these years. Honorary Membership is awarded to honour extraordinary people for their support and engagement with the profession on a regional or national level, and their exceptional loyalty, assistance, and dedication to the promotion of IFLA Europe, its aims, aspirations, and strategic goals.

 

Pecha Kucha presentations from members showed a variety of implemented landscape architecture projects from our member Associations.

General Assembly was closed by the adoption of 2024 IFLA Europe Resolution ‘Plan(e)Tscape! IFLA Europe Resolution is one of our key documents which reflects our mission and vision and sets objectives for our future strategy and action. As such it can be used as a powerful tool to help in promoting landscape architecture profession and its recognition. In order for our Resolution to reach wider audience and becomes a powerful tool of landscape architects, we ask all IFLA Europe members - National Associations of Landscape Architecture - to support the Resolution at your Association level, publish it on their website and translate into their respective languages and disseminate it among their members as well as other related professions, landscape architecture universities, relevant government bodies and the general public.

Big thank you to our partners and sponsors Hunter Industries, Aubrilam, TerraWay and Vestre for their support.

We took opportunity to say thank you and goodbye to our Executive Secretary Daniela Micanovic who has been with us for 10 years.

Images from the Conference and General Assembly available at https://www.facebook.com/tajepiteszek/posts/pfbid0ygZfTWs1MhYpEsNcbW4Hn4gUc7zd3JD4dk9YPg7n5i6cqFchjjD6UrJFRbFXGYH4l

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