Between landscape and architecture: A resilient and sustainable future

The two-day symposium, organized by the Department of Architecture of the University of Patras and the Department of Architecture of the University of Reggio Calabria, aims to explore the interaction between landscape and architecture through lectures, discussions, and social activities. The symposium is supported by the Michelis Foundation and the Hellenic Institute of Architecture.

The relationship between landscape and architecture is fundamental to shaping a resilient and sustainable future for contemporary societies. The symposium will advocate for an integrated approach that views the landscape not as a mere backdrop, but as an essential component of architectural design—thus supporting a symbiotic relationship between the natural and the built environment. This is the same approach promoted by the New European Bauhaus initiative, launched by the European Commission, which aims to merge aesthetics, sustainability, and inclusion. Inspired by the original Bauhaus movement—which revolutionized design and architecture in the early 20th century—this contemporary approach seeks to create living spaces that are not only functional and beautiful, but also environmentally conscious and socially just.

The symposium aims to strengthen innovation in construction by leveraging green technologies and sustainable materials, while ensuring that architectural designs are accessible and beneficial to all communities. Its work seeks to highlight the importance of an ecological approach, encouraging designs that harmonize with the environment, promote biodiversity, enhance human well-being, and emphasize the need for resilience in the face of climate change. This approach requires the creation of spaces that can respond and adapt to environmental pressures, such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events. By integrating natural elements like green roofs, urban forests, and water-sensitive urban design, architects and designers can mitigate these impacts, improving the resilience of urban areas. Moreover, this integrated approach promotes sustainability by reducing the carbon footprint and improving energy efficiency. Essentially, the future of resilient and sustainable architecture lies in blurring the boundaries between landscape and architecture, favoring a holistic approach that respects and enhances the natural world while simultaneously meeting human needs.

The choice to hold the Symposium on September 13 & 14 on the island of Tinos carries symbolic significance, as the Aegean archipelago—composed of land and sea in continuous interaction—constitutes a hydro-geo-landscape that is subject to ongoing pressure and transformation due to human activity.

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FIRST SESSION September 13
The first day of the meeting will develop an overall vision of the challenges and opportunities related to resilient and sustainable design in island and urban contexts, highlighting best practices and the differences between urban and rural landscapes, with an interdisciplinary approach: literary, aesthetic, and disciplines related to landscape architectural design. The individual presentations by the speakers will provide an interpretive reading of the landscape’s contribution to shaping and affirming cultural identity, while simultaneously offering an overview of innovative landscape experiences useful for improving quality of life.

Therefore, the session aims to provide not only a theoretical but also a practical overview of best practices in resilient and sustainable design, emphasizing the importance of an integrated approach that respects and enhances the natural and cultural landscape across various geographical and social contexts.

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SECOND SESSION September 14
The second day of the meeting will provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities related to resilient design, emphasizing best practices and the differences between urban and rural landscapes, with an interdisciplinary approach. The speakers will discuss innovation in construction practices, highlighting the importance of using green technologies and sustainable materials suitable for urban and island environments. Special emphasis will be placed on the contribution of the New European Bauhaus, a European initiative aimed at merging aesthetics, sustainability, and inclusion, in defining new operational tools for sustainable design in architecture and landscape architecture.

Through specific examples and case studies, the Symposium will explore how these principles can be applied to improve energy efficiency, promote biodiversity and human well-being, while respecting and enhancing the landscape and cultural identity. Additionally, proposals from related fields such as design and photography will be examined, as they play a key role in influencing and enhancing architectural and landscape design, offering new perspectives and further strengthening the importance of a sustainable and integrated approach.

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You can watch the symposium live on the following links:
https://www.youtube.com/live/19NeSzLlCRM   and   https://www.youtube.com/live/g9n_qDODejs

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13 & 14.09.2024: C.Tsoklis Museum, Tinos