Do you sometimes lack an overview? That happens to us too. That’s why you’ll find news, discussions and planning projects well organized here. September 2022 in retrospect.

Let’s start with some good news: in September 2022, the bdla published a Pixi book on landscape architecture entitled “Landscape architect Lena plans a park for everyone”. The 24-page book focuses on the profession of landscape architect.

Events for planning

In September, the Biennale of Urban Landscape was also held for the first time at the Gelsenkirchen Science Park. Over the course of two weeks, various stakeholders interested in the future of the urban landscape in the Ruhr metropolis came together. The special thing about it: The IBA Emscher Park started at the same location over 30 years ago.

The IAA will take place again in Munich in September 2023. Since 2021, the former motor show has presented itself as a major mobility event. However, the new trade fair concept has not only been met with praise. Find out more about the discussions surrounding the IAA 2023 here.

Also interesting: The bdla is organizing two interesting events at the beginning of October. The bdla Designer Days in Berlin and the Sustainability and Climate Adaptation symposium.

Park(ing) Day conquered public parking spaces in German cities in September. The annual event aims to draw citizens’ attention to the relationship between living space for people and parking spaces.

Occupy parking spaces, create seating. In Melbourne, researchers at RMIT University have developed a non-commercial parklet. It bears the name “playful parklet”.

Projects and competitions

A special competition: the surroundings of Notre Dame are to be redesigned. Two years after the fire at the famous cathedral, the city of Paris launched a competition. Bureau Bas Smets from Brussels, together with other planning offices, won over the jury.

The Calder Gardens is an exciting project in the making. Herzog & de Meuro and Piet Oudolf are planning the gallery and garden for the works of artist Alexaner Calder.

Energy crisis: what is the status of renewables?

Also interesting: hydropower is valued as a renewable energy source. At the same time, there is also criticism of the consequences that hydropower plants entail. Find out more about the pros and cons here.

Good news in the face of the energy crisis: more solar power was produced in the EU this summer than in any summer before. 99.4 terawatt hours were produced between May and August 2022, according to calculations by the think tank Ember City Climate.

A little off the beaten track

With Build the Change, the LEGO company wants to get children excited about sustainable construction and urban planning. Find out more about LEGO’s sustainability initiatives here.

Also: The latest G+L about lighting design is available here.

Italian designer Moreno Ratti wants to set an example against the waste of natural resources. That is why he uses natural stone waste to create new objects. His “Contrasti” series is made from recycled marble. The bowls and vases in the “Contrasti” series each consist of two volumes: a rectangular block and a round element. The designer thus plays with contrasting […]

Italian designer Moreno Ratti wants to set an example against the waste of natural resources. That is why he uses natural stone waste to create new objects. His “Contrasti” series is made from recycled marble.

The bowls and vases in the “Contrasti” series each consist of two volumes: a rectangular block and a round element. The designer thus plays with opposing shapes – contrasts, as the Italian title translates.

One half of each object is finished; only the edges of the other are cut. In order to create a visual unity, the surfaces are treated uniformly.

Ratti cooperates with the Italian company Stonethica. The company recycles natural stone to produce new raw materials. These are slabs of marble slips from the Carrara region. According to the company, the elements are glued together with non-toxic resin.

Moreno Ratti explains: “The result of Stonethica’s ecological production cycle is the creation of a homogeneous material. The layered structure results from the combination and overlapping of stone slabs.”