Landscape architecture conference in Tromsø

The Autumn Conference 2012

 (foto: Michele Widerøe)

Last week I attended to a Landscape architecture conference here in Tromsø. It was the first time a conference like this was hosted by Tromsø architects. The theme was Urban and Arctic landscapes in change.

There was a wide range of speakers (nine in total) both local and from abroad, and the topics were varied. We could get an insight in the process of designing Japanese gardens, a proposition for marine kelp farm, projects in Greenland, studies about mining towns in the arctic, and last but not least how to use the northern landscape in marketing.

So different, yet so similar. The similarity was as far as I understood that they all touched the question: What is landscape?  this is an essential question when working on the development of it.

I learned that landscape is our overall physical environment, both natural and manmade. That landscape is shaped by the interplay between nature and man. But the most important thing I learned was that landscape is changing and our perception of it has to change too.

It is not every day (not even every year) that I have the possibility to participate in this kind of conferences, so I would like to thank all the people involved on the planning and execution of it. A special thanks to the Tromsø landscape architects involved. You did a great job. The conference place was elegantly decorated, lunch was fabulous and the Arctic adventure dinner was truly an adventure.

Thank you!

(foto: Michele Widerøe & co)