The importance of designed landscapes for Baukultur in Switzerland

Welcome and introduction:

• Andri Gerber, Professor at ZHAW and member of the Steering Committee of NRP 81

Invited talk by:

• Georges Descombes, Landscape architect, Geneva; Art and landscape historian, Senior lecturer at ETH Zürich
• Annemarie Bucher, Art and landscape historian, Senior lecturer at ETH Zürich
• Anette Freytag, Professor at Rutgers University, New Brunswick (USA)

Questions & answers

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After developing a deeper understanding of Baukultur roots in the different European countries, the Seminar Series oft he National Research Programme «Baukultur» (NRP 81) is dedicated to «themes» and «periods» that have characterised the Swiss practice and debate.

In the history of architecture, landscapes determined the location and the form of settlements. There is no such thing as Baukultur without landscapes. For the past century, Swiss architecture and landscape architecture have been closely intertwined and recognized world-wide for their quality, innovation, sensitivity to place, material culture, and plant life. Swiss thinkers and designers have always made it clear that landscape may never be reduced to a surrounding for buildings and landscape architects must not considered as their simple beautifiers. Together with Georges Descombes, Anette Freytag and Annemarie Bucher, we explore the genealogy of landscape architecture in Switzerland and what Swiss ness means in this context.

The presentations will be held in English – in presence and online.

More information + registration for the live stream >