Malgorzata TOMCZAK

Landscape architecture

"Landscape architecture is a way of thinking, it should be included in planning and design in the broadest sense," stresses Urszula Forczek-Brataniec.

We devote the February issue entirely to landscape architects and discuss in detail the specifics of their profession. We want to show their perspective. In the context of climate change, at a time when we desperately need more greenery in urban areas, when landscape architecture should be a full-fledged element of urban infrastructure, work to improve the quality of life, co-create the urban bloodstream of the city, cooperation with landscape architects seems obvious, but often is not.

Katerina Gkoltsiou, president of IFLA Europe (International Federation of Landscape Architects) notes that "the profession of landscape architects is recognized as a full-fledged one all over the world, including by Unesco or the World Trade Organization, yet in some European countries there is resentment about its role and official title." So why do we often treat greenery merely decoratively? Do we allow healthy trees to be cut down in order to put up another building with underground parking? Surely it's impossible to stop building overnight and only revitalize the existing fabric, but maybe it's time to invite landscape architects into every project that is built? From the very beginning of the process - to help solve the problems of a given investment, and not to green up the aesthetics of the implementation. We, in any case, support this trend.

It is good to breathe clean air, it is good to live surrounded by greenery and trees, not only because it is pleasant. Mainly because it is simply healthy.