What is the Université d’Eté? What topics were addressed?
This third article concludes the series of interventions that took place on 9 September in the delightful setting of the Monastery of Astino, during the Landscape Festival “The Masters of the Landscape”.
For those who missed the reports of previous interventions, we recommend reading “Masters of the Landscape – Université d’Eté – Bombardieri and Schegk” and “Masters of the Landscape – Université d’Eté – Gandi and Degré“
Recall that the topic of discussion that linked all the interventions of this stimulating afternoon was PROFESSIONS FOR THE LANDSCAPE. A collection of design and construction suggestions for the growth of the concept and culture of the landscape in Italy.
The key questions that the invited professionals answered were:
How is the territory taken care of? Why can and should new landscape professionals be trained?
As always, we renew our thanks for the skilful organization of the Arketipos association which made possible a discussion on these important topics.
I was undecided on how to deal with this afternoon’s information transfer, however, to savor each step, I decided to divide it into 3 parts and report the interventions as they were without journalistic interference.
So here are the pregnant interventions of the guests and good reading.
Université d’Eté: Landscape professions
Speech by Mrs. Maguelonne Dejeant-Pons – Head of the Cultural Heritage, Landscape and Territory Management Division of the Council of Europe.
It is always a great pleasure to come to Bergamo, it is a city that makes you dream and think. I begin the presentation with the silhouette of Bergamo in the background because it is unique in its kind and is an example of the identity of the territory, but also of the people who created the territory: the history, the geography of the place. the lawyer Rodeschini spoke to me about the idea of creating this pedagogy and training center and I will base my speech on this.
Landscape Lessons: Landscape Professionals for Sustainable Development
Landscape and sustainable development through the connection and promotion of landscape training to strengthen the skills of the landscape professions.
The climatic changes occurred very quickly and involved every aspect: agricultural, forestry, industrial etc. on a global level, of course, and this happens both at a rural, urban and peri-urban level.
The peri-urban area is the one on which it has most impacted and therefore needs more attention from the political world and the public administration.
How can you deal with divergent interests? How do you keep it all together? work on spatial planning policy with urban development and cultural, environmental, social and economic policy.
So, how is the territory taken care of?
Politics can have a direct or indirect impact and no one thinks about what real impact it has on the territory. The common denominator is in two words quality and diversity: both must be protected. We must not standardize and we must have a qualitatively high goal and this is important thinking about the future because it will not be possible to do it in a short time. We need to have a vision of the territory for the future.
The Convention (of Europe) also spoke about the quality of life and the word quality is for the landscape and for the life of the person. We must always remember that the person lives in a territory and has to do with his health otherwise the arguments made do not work.
Professions and Professionals for the Landscape, what are they and why are they fundamental?
The other important issue is that there is a need for professions. And what are the professions directly or indirectly linked to the landscape? Because there are so many. Land planners, urban planners, road and bridge building engineers, landscape architects, architects, farmers, foresters, horticulturists, geographers, historians, geologists, climatologists, environmentalists, ecologists, lawyers, economists, sociologists, culture and heritage specialists, and areas such as gastronomy and health, this list is endless.
There is not only one discipline that must work on the landscape: it is a common project of professions that work on the subject and each profession has a responsibility with respect to the subject. A profession that bears the word landscape in its title is the landscape architect.
Declarations of the Convention of Europe concerning the profession of the Landscape Architect
It is an underprivileged profession, but important for the Convention because the group has worked with many disciplines but more with this one.
In 2019 the Convention, through all its 40 member states, made a statement saying that the profession of Landscape Architect is important and must be recognized nationally and internationally.
He said that he supports a multidisciplinary approach to landscape and that the diversity of training of disciplines that have to do with the landscape must be increased. In 2021 there was another document on the theme of urban landscapes and climate change and how these professions can contribute to improving the quality of life. This document will be published but it is important to see how it can impact the area and the example of Bergamo is exemplary. The inhabitants of Bergamo understand better than others, as well as a visitor or tourist.
A green city, in fact or with a new approach to landscape thinking, helps to improve the living environment and adaptation to climate change.
Landscape Lessons: Why landscape education is essential
The question of education and training in the field of landscape becomes essential both to consider the role of the landscape as fundamental and to monitor the transformation if needed with professionals who know the discipline.
In 2018 there was a meeting in Tropea on the theme of the landscape and on education and training and Arketipos presented the Université d’Eté. This conference was interesting because it talked about training at different levels. Primary school education with children, secondary and university. In Switzerland you are educated all your life. Continuous education that leads to infinite knowledge: you can always study. This is interesting.
Now I will quickly read the basic text of the conference of the convention which was adopted by the committee of the ministry of the Council of Europe. She says that the ministry is only of culture and the environment, but through this text he tells what to do to the countries of the union. (The intervention then concludes with the reading of part of the text that you will find in full in the pdf below)
Thanks for your attention.
The mondo del giardino advice
If you want to learn more about the “Council of Europe for Landscape”, start by visiting the Wikipedia site
Université d’Eté: Landscape professions
Speech by Mrs. Serena Porcari, co-founder of Dynamo Camp
Serena Porcari’s speech focused on the presentation of Dynamo Camp. For many years this foundation has been organizing a free week’s holiday for very fragile children without the presence of their parents. A titanic work carried out with gaiety and responsibility. The video is very nice even though it was shot live. If you want to donate for this initiative it will be money well spent.
A beautiful video was presented at the meeting that I shot (badly). I asked for a release for publication. In the meantime, for information and insights you can go to the website of Dynamo Camp.
The mondo del giardino advice
Reading full of content is exhausting: it’s time for a good refreshing drink.
Now on horseback! Work awaits us! Our new wonderful outdoor space is about to be born!
GOOD WORK and … if you have any questions please write to info@mondodelgiardino.com
Sources of images: view of the Council of Europe from coe.int