Theory & Discorse
Landscape Discourse | Suneet Mohindru
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| Landscape architecture, as a profession, shoulders the responsibility of allowing the space for development and realising one's imagination whilst protecting and conserving the environment and culture. It is not merely the designing of a space, but instead comprises understanding and sustenance of one's surroundings. There is a lot of scope for the discipline to help evolve and better development by being the universal language that bridges the gap between growth and conservation.
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Our conversations at the jury for the Students' Competition-2017 constituted by the Landscape Foundation extended over a dialogue between me and Geeta on issues concerning landscape education, professional work and the role of the Landscape Journal. That's when we hit upon the idea of putting together thoughts and impressions on what would be called 'Landscape Discourse' and bring out a dedicated issue of the magazine. I started off by first penning my thoughts into a piece that would encapsulate my understanding of the scope and breadth of issues that we engage with as practicing and teaching professionals. This ended up producing an extensive list of potential topics that necessitated deliberation. The web of conversation extended to invite fellow professionals to contribute their opinions with the objective of initiating an enduring dialogue. What we are going to enjoy reading hereafter is the beginning of such contemplation that must carry on! Let me try and string together these sets of exchanges thematically to explore the wide ambit of what we are talking about.
To begin with, Akshay's quest hovers around the essential question of whether we as landscape architects can contribute positively to alleviating the crisis concerning social, environmental, education, health and infrastructure issues in a shrinking democracy. He laments the fact that the vast potential of our multifaceted environment in becoming a source for livelihood and youth engagement is becoming a lost opportunity with rampant disregard and deterioration. Coupled with this, he mentions, are the misplaced urban planning strategies that put undue pressure on people and resources, deepening the abyss to deplorable levels. His makes a strong plea to landscape professionals to daringly explore the unchartered territory, leaving behind the 'garden-designer' tag to embrace participative ecological restoration and community development.
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