Scales of change

12. – 14. 9. 2022

Ljubljana, Slovenia + online

Organized by the Department of Landscape Architecture, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana

The ECLAS 2022 conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia, will address the question of scales, which is not new to landscape architects. But is one that does not have a definite answer; it needs to be asked again and again. The issue addresses the very identity of the profession and the nature of the context in which landscape architects operate and teach.

The theme is inspired by the 50th anniversary of landscape architecture programs being offered at the University of Ljubljana, as well as the fact that 50 years have passed since the pioneering conference on landscape planning was organized in Ljubljana by Dušan Ogrin (you can read the English and German proceedings to the conference and get inspired here).

During the intervening half-century, landscape architecture has evolved into a mature discipline, and has developed tools and theories for different scales of operation which are able to address a wide spectrum of challenges.

Another driver for this debate is the possible regulation of the profession within the EU and the need for agreed minimum common standards for study programs. How inclusive should this streamlining process be? How much diversity is needed or wanted within the profession?  

The conference in Ljubljana will act as a platform to reflect upon the internal processes that shape the profession and position it in the wider context, as well as upon issues of cohesion and fragmentation. The answers to the following questions will be sought in five thematic tracks and its concluding roundtable (The next 50 years) and the doctoral colloquium focus on research by design. The five tracks are:

• Evolution and reflection.
• Relation between design and planning.
• Teaching across scales.
• Context matters.
• Beyond the field.

Read more about the tracks and submit an abstract here.

We are delighted and honoured to announce that keynote speakers at the conference will be prof. dr. Carl Steinitz and prof. dr. Martin Prominski.

Join the conference in person or online!

The conference will be primarily held in person at the Biotechnical faculty, University of Ljubljana and various other venues in the city. However, due to positive experience with online participation from the 2021 conference, we will also offer an option for online attendance.

The registration fees will be anounced soon.

Check travel and accommodation tips here.

Important dates:

5^th November: Call for abstracts opens

Late November: Call for doctoral colloquium submissions opens

10^th January: Call for abstracts deadline

End of February: Abstract acceptance notification

March: Doctoral colloquium submission deadline

March: Registration open

End of June: Registration deadline

11^th September: Doctoral colloquium “Research by design”

12^th and 13^th September: Conference

14^th September: Excursions