New Challenges for the Landscape New Challenges for the Landscape

After the Second World War, the small-scale Dutch agricultural landscape changed into an efficient production landscape through the policy of agricultural minister Sicco Mansholt. The modernisation, rationalisation and up scaling of the agricultural sector became literally visible in the landscape. With a broad institutional embedding, Mansolt laid the foundation for the development of landscape architecture in the Netherlands.

Over the past two decades, this major development in land use planning has nearly come to a complete standstill. Agricultural policy no longer focuses on the design of space, but rather on economic, technological and infrastructural aspects. As a result, an important institutional pillar of landscape architecture has disappeared. In the essay 'Institutionele landschapsarchitectuur', Eric Luiten, Government Advisor on Environment and Water, writes "that one could say that the future of the cultural landscape has become a foundling and new adoptive parents have not yet been found."

Is this true? And if so, does that pose a problem? The intensification and expansion of the agriculture, as well as issues concerning energy transition and water safety, will again radically change the landscape. How can scenic and ecological values be safeguarded within these developments? What design issues are presenting themselves? And on what scale? What positions can designers take? What is, for example, the potential of the greening of the Common Agricultural Policy?

During this evening programme, Eric Luiten will give an introduction into the development of landscape architecture under the impulse of post-war agricultural policy. Subsequently, landscape architects, policy makers and professionals from the agricultural sector will talk about the future of our (cultural) landscape. Participants include Ingeborg Thoral (Mixst Urbanisme/Advisor Ruimtelijke Kwaliteit, Provincie Utrecht), Peter Veenstra (Lola Landscape Architects) and Rob Hendriks (DAAD Architects). The programme will be moderated by Sandra Rottenberg.

This programme is organised in collaboration with Bureau Europa, as a result of a shared interest in the changing landscape.

In the context of the lecture programme on Thursday we would like to provide you with the opportunity to have a meal at Het Nieuwe Café prior to the programme. We serve organic quiche, bread and salad. The price of the meal is 12,50 euros. It is necessary to make a reservation, no later than two days in advance. The catering is normally provided by Chez Moi.

New Challenges for the Landscape
Date: 6/11/2014
Time: 19.15 start guided tour| 20.00 - 22.00 h
Location: Auditorium, Het Nieuwe Instituut, Museumpark 25, Rotterdam
Language: Dutch
Entrance fee: ¬ 7,50/ Student ¬ 3,75
Tickets