Park instead of canal

Hochparterre Special Issue, June 2020

Park instead of canal

For the first time, the Landscape Award of the Council of Europe goes to Switzerland for the renaturation of the river Aire near Geneva. A success for nature, humans and landscape policy.

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Contents

4 Everything is landscape The Swiss landscape policy is based on the European Landscape Convention and the Swiss Landscape Concept.

6 The services landscape provides The Swiss Federal Office for the Environment wants to raise awareness of the essential services provided by the landscape in politics and society.

11 The award winner 12 Awards 14 Nominees

Editorial

The procedure

Politics and communication

The Landscape Award of the Council of Europe

Switzerland took part in the European Landscape Award competition for the very first time – and won ! The winning project, i. e. the renaturation of the river Aire near Geneva, is deemed to be a major success for the landscape and for humans. With flood protection measures, ideal habitats have been created for animals and plants and an overlooked swathe of land has been turned into a vibrant park as shown by the photos in this magazine of the banks of the river Aire, taken by Matthieu Gafsou.

Further awards and nominations are presented on the following pages. The award-winning projects are based on an understanding of landscape which includes both, natural and cultural aspects, be it an urban national park in Finland or social farming in the Po Delta. This holistic approach has been promoted by the European Landscape Convention. The first article provides details of its 20year history. The second article contains details of the current work at the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment: It wants to raise awareness of how we humans benefit from the landscape – we need them now as much as we ever did. Rahel Marti

Based on the European Landscape Convention ( ELC ), the Council of Europe has awarded the biannual Landscape Award since 2008. Signatory countries of the ELC can nominate one project each. The jury consists of seven representatives of European Council conferences and commissions as well as external experts.

A national jury consisting of representatives from practical fields, science and administration awarded the project nominated by Switzerland. In addition to the renaturation of the river Aire, five other projects were discussed: – t he Bergell endeavours for the promotion of building culture and cultural landscapes ( Wakker Award 2015 ) – Fribourg sacred buildings ( Landscape of the Year 2018 ) – Valle di Muggio promotion projects ( Landscape of the Year 2014 ) – M urg-Auen-Park ( Murg Wetlands Park ) in Frauenfeld ( S chulthess Garden Prize 2017 ) – the projects for valorisation of recreation and green spaces in Uster ( S chulthess Garden Prize 2014 ) www.coe.int / landscape www.bafu.admin.ch / landscape

Masthead Publishing house Hochparterre AG Adresses Ausstellungsstrasse 25, CH - 8005 Zürich, Telephone + 41 44 444 28 88, www.hochparterre.ch, verlag @ hochparterre.ch, redaktion @ hochparterre.ch Publisher Köbi Gantenbein Board of management Lilia Glanzmann, Werner Huber, Agnes Schmid Publishing director Susanne von Arx Concept and editorial office Rahel Marti Cover photo and full size pictures Matthieu Gafsou, www.gafsou.ch Art direction Antje Reineck Layout Barbara Schrag Copy editing Linda Malzacher Translations Jutta Horton Lithograph Team media, Gurtnellen Print Stämpfli AG, Bern Publisher Hochparterre in cooperation with the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment To order shop.hochparterre.ch, Fr. 15.—, € 12.—. This magazine is published in German, French and English.

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The renaturation of the river Aire also created a park for the expanding western part of Geneva.

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Everything is landscape 20 years ago, the Council of Europe established the European Landscape Convention, laying the foundation for a new landscape policy. Its objectives are more relevant than ever.

Text: Gabriela Neuhaus and Rahel Marti

“ The 1992 European Urban Charter marked the beginning – it was a great success and it was translated into countless languages ”, Christiana Storelli remembers. “ This sparked the idea of drawing up a similar document for landscapes. ” The architect from Ticino was a member of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe at the time and, in that capacity, played a central role in drawing up the Urban Charter. The purpose of this charter was to improve the quality of life and the scope of design for city dwellers. It focussed on the significance and needs of European cities.

Similar to the Urban Charter, the Congress in­ten­ded to emphasise the value of landscapes and to promote their protection and management. On account of her Urban Charter experience, Christiana Storelli was asked to join the interdisciplinary and international commission of experts. The commission was to draw up a document for the protection of landscapes – a topic that was high on the agenda in the mid-1990s following the UN Environment and Development Conference in Rio and the Agenda 21 passed during that conference. As well as the Council of Europe, institutions such as UNESCO or the European Park Landscape Federation dealt with the landscape topic.

However, the European Landscape Convention ( ELC ) did not focus on exceptional landscapes ; it focussed on ordinary landscapes and acknowledged “ that the quality and the diversity of European landscapes present a common resource, and that it is important to co-operate towards its protection, management and planning ”. It took almost seven years for the document to be drawn up. According to Christiana Storelli it was difficult in the beginning to find a common language, but finally they managed to define their targets, and today the Convention is understandable and legible to everyone.

sult of an action and interaction of natural and / or human factors ”. It is to be shaped, managed and safeguarded by means of “ landscape policy ”. Article 2 states that the term “ landscape ” comprises “ natural, rural, urban and peri-­ urban a ­ reas ”. The regulations were very similar to those in the first Swiss Landscape Concept ( SLC ) which came into force in 1997. We will get back to that.

Raimund Rodewald, managing director of the Swiss Foundation for Landscape Conservation, had called for a narrower definition of landscape focussing on the protection of endangered cultural landscapes. Today he is pleased that the holistic approach was adopted: “ It was right not to make the Convention restrictive and to choose a definition which states that landscape is everywhere.

This avoids dividing landscape into areas worth protecting and areas of minor value. ” The logical conclusion is: There are no inferior areas – the interaction between man and nature should be seen in all areas and it should be managed in the best possible manner. Ilke Marschall, professor for landscape design at Erfurt University, is very knowledgeable about the ELC and its history. In connection with Article 1 of the Convention, she speaks about an “ ingenious definition of landscape ” which has led to an intensive exchange regarding landscape and landscape policy.

Regional and local initiatives When the document was presented in Florence in 2000 and signed by 19 countries including Switzerland, hopes for a speedy and comprehensive effect were high.

However, the Convention had to be submitted to na­tio­nal parliaments for ratification. This was a slow process. Ilke Marschall comments with regret that “ the expected cascade failed to materialise ”. Iceland has just joined the Convention which means that it has been ratified by 40 countries. Germany and Austria still remain outside. According to Marschall, nature conservation overseen by the au­thor­ i­ties has a long tradition in Germany. She presumes that this is the reason why German politics rejects the Convention which is participative in character. Marschall praises The holistic approach is adopted the Convention stating that “ in those countries which have While attitudes in Northern European countries were signed the international Convention a lot has been done more closely linked to nature, the more southerly coun- even though results are hard to measure. In politics and in tries and Switzerland took cultural and human aspects society, it has raised the awareness for landscape. ” It is not into consideration as well. This was the approach adopt- possible to imagine her work without terms such as landed, a holistic and inclusive approach to landscape which scape policy, landscape quality and landscape planning. supplants the traditional view of landscape as rural and Throughout Europe, new courses dealing with landgreen spaces, and it is one of the ELC’s most significant scape have been established. There are regional and local achievements. Article 1 of ELC defines landscape as “ an initiatives such as communal gardens in small villages in area as perceived by people, whose character is the re- the Czech Republic set up by women, or interdisciplinary

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Basis of landscape policy The European Landscape Convention ( ELC ), considered to be the first internation­ al agreement on landscape conservation, was commissioned in the mid-1990s by the Congress of Local and Regional Au­thor­ i­ties. This Congress consists of more than 200,000 regional and local entities of the 47 European Council member states.

A special commission drew up the paper­ work in a participative process. It was

passed in Florence in 2000 and has since then been ratified by 40 countries.

Switzer­land ratified it in 2013. ELC does not impose any sanctions if duties are not fulfilled, so its effectiveness is limited.

Based on ELC, the Council of Europe awards the European Landscape Award every two years see page 2.

Swiss Landscape Concept ( SLC ) forms the basis of Swiss landscape policy. It defines the targets of official agencies in order

to protect and sustainably develop our land­ scapes and natural areas. It was passed by the Federal Council in 1997 ; it has been developed since 2012 and revised and updated since 2018. The new SLC was sub­mitted to the Federal Council in spring 2020 for approval. www.bafu.admin.ch / landscape

pledge to take measures and use instruments in favour of a policy focussing on the “ protection, management and planning of landscape ”. Based on this, the Swiss Foundation for Landscape Conservation drew up a catalogue featuring characteristic landscapes in Switzerland which has meanwhile been adopted by FOEN. This catalogue is modelled on the Bri­tish “ Landscape and seascape character assessment ” used throughout Britain. In Switzerland, cantons such as Lucerne, Schwyz or Valais have commissioned similar landscape concepts and others are to folThe Convention and Switzerland In Switzerland there were two developments. The first low by 2024. On a fe­deral level, there has been a thorough was the initial Swiss Landscape Concept which was devel- review of the 1997 SLC in the last two years. Gilles Rudaz oped parallel to the European process. The Federal Coun- sums up the new amendments: “ Landscape now also comcil made it compulsory for the fe­deral agencies to include prises spatial aspects of building culture and biodiversity. landscape in their activities as of 1997 ; it became a firm The aim is its quality-oriented development. In addition, part of all related sectoral policies. This was commended its integration in spatial planning is deeper, more precise throughout Europe. Gilles Rudaz from the Swiss Federal and more ope­ra­tio­nal. ” Raimund Rodewald praises this Office for the Environment ( FOEN ) who is in charge of the development: “ Landscape is the key to the future – and ELC dossier says: “ With SLC, Switzerland was a pioneer. ” SLC is a step in the right direction. ” No other country integrates the topic of landscape in all political areas as consistently as Switzerland. So, one of the objectives formulated in the Federal Council’s “ 2030 Health Policy Strategy ” focuses on the link between landscape and well-being. This political integration became an integral part of ELC and is laid down in Article 5.

In contrast, Swiss ratification of ELC did not take place until 2013 as a result of a parliamentary initiative introduced by the Swiss Foundation for Landscape Conservation. On one hand, in 2010, the majority of National Council members had refused to ratify the protocols of the Alpine Convention, a similar dossier. Andreas Stalder who was in charge of the ratification process at FOEN remembers: “ On the other hand, the federalist reflex against paperwork imposed from the above started to stir. It was very helpful that from the very outset the Convention was based on subsidiarity. It was to focus on joint landscape care but the implementation was to be planned using existing instruments within the cantons and municipalities. ” According to Stalder, this is what makes it so difficult to name specific projects which came about as a result of the Convention. He shares Marschall’s assessment of the outcomes: The discussions themselves are what will draw attention to and raise awareness for landscape within cantons and municipalities.

Raimund Rodewald of the Swiss Foundation for Landscape Conservation confirms this: “ The topic of landscape gains importance if you can define it and give reasons for measures to be taken. This was ELC’s big success and its impact on Switzerland. ” In Article 5, the countries landscape planning by regional groups, for instance in San Miniato, Italy. Although landscape is recognised as an object of protection all over Europe, ELC lacks the powers of self-assertion, Ilke Marschall says. “ I would have welcomed it if the EU had created its own landscape policy guidelines. Such guidelines could require certain measures to be taken in the member states and progress could be monitored. ”

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The services landscape provides Landscape is not just a “ nice to have ”, it is a “ must have ”.

The landscape services approach should help to highlight the value of landscape for politics and for society.

Text: Rahel Marti

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land ”. Since then, those involved in landscape po­li­cy have been trying to reconcile these categories. The key feature in the 2000 European Landscape Convention was the holis­tic approach which was also a fixed component of As they say in economics, something is only valuable if it the 1997 Swiss Landscape Concept see page 5. Both, natural has a price tag. This does not, however, apply to landscape. and cultural values were to be strengthened. Now, FOEN You cannot hang up a velvet theatre curtain and then is talking about service. Value is a quality, whereas serv­ charge a fee to raise it. Access to natural landscapes and ice involves work, and work costs money. In future, FOEN habitats is free of charge. Landscape is free of charge – intends to familiarise politics and society with these no­ even though it is deemed so precious. Something is defi­ tions as value alone does not seem to be sufficient when it nitely wrong here, the system is faulty. The Swiss Fe­deral comes to preserving landscapes adequately.

Office for the Environment ( FOEN ) intends to set this right The age-old question of money by offering a new approach: the concept of landscape serv­ ice. A prime example of what they mean is the renatura­ Matthias Stremlow asks: “ How can you motivate peo­ tion of the river Aire near Geneva. A ne­­glect­ed canal has ple such as those involved in the health and physical been turned into a poetic river park which has won many activity sectors to invest in high quality green spaces in awards as well as the Landscape Award of the Council of set­t le­ment areas so that the landscape can enhance peo­ Europe see page 11. The park provides flood protection, a ple’s recreation ? How can we teach companies whose diverse and ecologically precious habitat for plants and marketing emphasises their strong local roots to support animals, paths for joggers, fields for recreation, benches the regional beauty of a landscape and in doing so pro­ where you can sit and chat and views that please the eyes. mote identification with the landscape ? “ Of course, such The river Aire and its banks make life more worthwhile services are already financially sponsored in one way or and beautiful. These are all services we derive from the another. A study commissioned by Zurich Cantonal Bank landscape. Are we aware of this ? We are, as far as the ba­ names the “ lake view ” as an important factor for land sis of life is concerned. Ecol­o­gy provides us with energy, pri­ces, and the 2012 study on landscape quality as a site food and materials and regulates the air, drinking water, factor, commissioned by FOEN, states: “ Attractive land­ climate and natural hazards. But landscape also deter­ scapes raise housing prices. ” In principle it is possible to mines how we feel. It inspires us, exhilarates us, calms us, quantify the value of landscape quality, and the influence and it helps us to feel at home here or there. certain landscape parameters have on building land pri­ ces can be determined. “ The construction of a motorway From value to service reduces the land value at a distance of X metres to the As the former FOEN director Marc Chardonnens so motorway by Y percent. A natural field increases the value aptly remarked, landscape is not simply a by-product or of real estate 500 metres away from the field by Z percent. co-product of land use. “ It is a public asset which is ex­ If buildings are erected on the field, property values de­ periencing an increasing demand within society, and it crease accordingly. ” In politics, such data show the effect has to be seen and treated as such. ” The preservation and of decisions regarding the use of spaces. According to planning of this common asset cannot simply be left to the study on landscape quality as site factor, “ financial the market and land users. It needs a co-ordinated and compensations within cantons could take landscape serv­ integrated approach. At FOEN, Matthias Stremlow is head ices into account. They could then ensure that muni­cip­ of the Landscape Policy section in the Biodiversity and alities receiving more taxes because companies set up Landscape division. He adds: “ Landscape services are not there or housing is created make payments to those muni­ just “ nice to have ” but a “ must to good life ”. Safeguarding cip­alities protecting landscapes and creating the respec­ landscapes is only possible if we raise awareness. ” FOEN tive landscape services. ” wishes to promote issues such as identification, sense of belonging, recreation and health, aesthetic pleasure and Delicate buds, less leverage attractiveness of location.

Not monetized, the topic has recently gained great Since 1967, the Swiss Federal Act on the protection importance in the health policy. The environment and our of Nature and Cultural Heritage has called “ to carefully working environment have a decisive influence on our manage and protect heritage landscapes and sites of local health, according to the Federal Council’s “ 2030 Health character, historical sites, and the country’s natural and Policy Strategy ”. Similar to the UN agenda on sus­tain­ cultural monuments, and to promote their preservation able development, this strategy aims at “ reducing envi­ and upkeep ”. This early regulation aimed to protect but ronmental risks and preserving nature and landscapes ”. created a gap: There were a few beautiful places – and what Hospital research shows that a view over green ­spaces about the others ? Wayfarer Benedikt Loderer describes it encourages the healing process. This is why hospitals as the “ beautiful Switzer­land ” and the “ consumed Switzer­ are often si­tua­ted in parks. The significance of green →

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The landscape services approach Ecocentric perspective

Geophysical and biophysical structures and processes

Anthropocentric perspective

Ecosystem functions

Wealth and well-being

Ecosystem services

Regulating contributions

Material contributions

Non-material contributions

–c reating and maintaining habitat –p ollination and distribution of seeds – r egulating air quality – r egulating climate – r egulating water quality and water quantity – s oil formation –p rotection from natural hazards – r egulating harmful organisms etc.

– energy – food for humans and animals – materials for construction, clothing etc.

– livestock and pets – raw materials – medical, biochemical, genetic resources – support services as basis for infrastructure – attractiveness of the location

– l earning and inspiration –e xperiences both physical and psychological – aesthetic pleasure – identification and sense of belonging – recreation and health

Central landscape services

Identification and sense of belonging

Aesthetic pleasure

Recreation and health

Attractiveness of the location

New summit station and restaurant Chäserrugg

Development on the re­na­tu­r­ ised Schlipfbach, Wald ZH

Renaturation of the river Aire, canton of Geneva

Service providers: maintain and promote quality

Landscape services created by investors and tourism experts – attractiveness of the location – r ecreation and health – aesthetic pleasure It is worth considering landscape serv­ ices because aesthetic pleasure attracts more visitors and good design creates an authentic experience.

Landscape services created by architects – i dentification and sense of belonging – attractiveness of the location It is worth considering landscape services because the creation of a holistic environment is part of our social responsibility; it also leads to a good reputation.

Landscape services created by canton and municipalities – r ecreation and health – i dentification and sense of belonging It is worth considering landscape services because a beautiful park or well-designed green spaces near sett­le­ments make municipalities more attractive.

Users: recognise quality

Landscape services created for hikers and amateur sportspeople – health and recreation – aesthetic pleasure They appreciate this development because the landscape quality is not negatively impacted by the construction. The pleasure factor and the re­crea­tio­nal value are not affected.

Photo: Katalin Deér

Landscape services created for investors – r ecreation and health – attractiveness of the location They appreciate this development because a high-quality land­scape near residential areas raises the value of the property.

Photo: Markus Forte / Ex-Press / FOEN

Landscape services created for residents – r ecreation and health –a esthetic pleasure They appreciate this development because open spaces and green ­areas within easy reach have a positive influence on their health.

Photo: Canton of Geneva

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The river Aire keeps changing course in its new bed.

Water means the landscape is also in motion.

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→ ­spaces in set­tle­ment areas is rising. The denser the set­t le­ment is, the more crucial green spaces become for recreation and as a habitat for plants and animals be­ cause plants provide shade and air and absorb water.

Landscape services have a direct bearing on ­tourism profits. Transport facilities, accommodation, leisure op­ portunities or artificial snow production promise to in­ tensify or, at least, to maintain the value derived from landscape services such as recreation and health – but the world is like a set of scales which can tilt. If you build more and more facilities to make money from the aes­ thetic enjoyment of nature, you will end up spoiling it. It is important to maintain the balance. My Climate Founda­ tion’s “ Cause we care ” project is like a delicate bud which stems from this attitude. Tourism enterprises are com­ mitted to “ preserving nature in all its beauty ” by “ con­tin­ u­ous­ly reducing the carbon footprint and compensating for unavoidable emissions, by living and doing business in a sustainable manner, by monitoring their energy con­ sumption and preserving natural resources ”. There are 48 partners to date including numerous hotels and some tourist resorts but few mountain railways. One example is the Niesen railway in the Bernese Oberland: Travellers can voluntarily pay one percent of the ticket price, and the railway operators promise to invest twice the amount in climate protection. The Federal Council’s tourism policy feeds this delicate bud because it believes that natural and cultural landscapes enhance Switzerland’s attractive­ ness considerably. This is one of the reasons why it tries to “ shift away from tourism growth and the consumption of re­sources ”. In reality, things are quite different though.

When it comes to construction work for tourism, busi­nes­ ses have more political leverage than landscapes. Nature conservation associations do not sit together with ­tourism companies to make plans for projects which are compati­ ble with climate and landscapes ; environmentalists pro­ test against their often unilateral and imbalanced plans in order to improve them.

Communication must become more targeted We seem to be aware of what landscape is worth – but we do not act accordingly. FOEN puts forward one reason for this: Landscape is a different commodity for politics, the society and the individual, for the tourism, construc­ tion and health industry. They all have a different percep­ tion of landscape. Therefore, FOEN wants communication to become more targeted. Christoph Grosjean who devel­ oped the approach, asks: “ Who is the target group, what is important to them, and how can we convince them about landscape services ? ” He makes a difference between those who perform or contribute and those who profit. “ Further development and management are the respon­ sibility of the people who own and cultivate the land and make the plans. They are directly or indirectly responsible for action and interference and they influence the poten­ tial to provide services. ” Those who benefit from land­ scapes attach greater importance to the common good.

For example, elderly people looking for a park bench near their flats, a nursery school in the suburbs who would ap­ preciate a pond, people who would welcome a bike trail or a lake to swim in. “ It is in everybody’s interest to look after and safeguard such public good. ” The key to convincing people is not the landscape itself but the services it can provide for each and every­ one: identification and sense of belonging, recreation and health, aesthetic pleasure or attractiveness of the loca­ tion. Every person appreciates at least one of these serv­ ices. “ If we manage to identify a person’s perspective we

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have a starting point for a dialogue, ” says Christoph Gros­ jean. To emphasise this approach, additional arguments modelled on environmental ethicist Uta Eser’s philosophy should be given – such as reason, fairness or happiness.

Care is reason “ b ecause we benefit from it ”. It is a mat­ ter of fairness and responsibility for nature and future generations “ because we are obliged to care ”. Or you may give spiritual reasons “ because the landscape makes us happy ”. Christoph Grosjean has combined services and reasons into a persuasive strategy. It is not a matter of knowledge because the important basics for the state of landscapes are at hand. “ We provide in-depth information, but we do not always get the content across, people do not always take it in. ” The ( hi )story of trees What do people involved in working for cantons, muni­ cip­alities or organisations or as landscape architects think about this service approach ? According to Elena Strozzi, responsible for space planning at the Pro Na­ tu­ra Association, it is of no importance as yet. As part of the continuous development of landscape policy, the approach is appreciated. “ However, we hardly know any­ thing about the service argument. At first glance, we be­ lieve that the concept focuses too much on human beings, keep­ing of nature well behind in the background. ” Accord­ ing to Peter Wullschleger, Managing Director of the Asso­ ciation of Swiss Landscape Architects, it is this empha­ sis which the association really appreciates. By drawing on services in connection with human beings, landscape is not only seen as a sanctuary for biodiversity but as a social space, a cultural asset. Landscape architects are predestined to safeguard and promote such qualities. Ac­ cording to Wullschleger, this intellectual approach could have a positive effect on their order books. Roger Wehrli, who is responsible for spatial policy at Economiesuisse, considers the effect to be indirect and internal to the ad­ ministration. A tourism company decides on a build­ing project or an investment in a local context. He thinks that the approach is too abstract on this level to assist any de­ cision-making. “ Cantons and municipalities approve or reject such projects and this work may influence them by raising the awareness of landscape. ” In the canton Zug, landscape plays an important role. Martina Brennecke, Head of the Cantonal Department for Nature and Land­ scape, has seen this time and again. The Zug Economic Development Department promotes the area by present­ ing the Zugerberg mountain and cherry trees in blossom.

However, Martina Brennecke does not wish to speak about services. “ This sounds too much like economics. After all, landscape itself does not become active. ” The term seems to be cumbersome and complicated. “ When talking to the people it is awkward if you have to explain a term first. ” Brennecke relies on stories and has recently initiated two mediation projects. One concerns the western banks of Lake Zug where some private parks are lined up adja­ cent to each other. To provide the population with more information, Brennecke is currently researching into the parks’ history and their creators. The project “ Zug and our trees ” heads in the same direction. Arborists provide in­ formation on valuable and rare trees and the tree owners tell people where the trees come from and present their favourite trees to everyone who is interested. The stories are supposed to stir feeling in people and enhance the perception of landscape services. The Zug projects have only just started, but they could fulfil what FOEN intends to achieve with the ser­vices approach: to strengthen the value of landscape in politics and society.

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Geneva →

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The award winner Park instead of canal The renaturation of the river Aire near Geneva has been a great success. Having won a number of awards, the Landscape Award of the Council of Europe was the real jewel in the crown. This was a big surprise because this was the first time Switzerland had taken part in the competition.

What makes the river Aire so attractive ? For one thing, it is a wonderful park. The canal became a river which can meander and create its own course along a wide river bed. Excavators dug diamond-patterned paths to provide a choice of water channels. Only one year later, the current had moved gravel, sand and mud and imposed the river’s own course. The fascinating landscape is reminiscent of “ land art ” and resembles an open-air laboratory in which people take part and marvel at natural wonders.

In addition, the new river design protects the neighbouring municipalities from flooding, and the ecological restructuring has restored perfect ecosystems for both flora and fauna.

The original plan was to fill up the canal and make it disappear. But the design which was implemented won the competition because it did

not deny human influence in the landscape’s history. On the contrary, it brought it to the fore and offered new qualities. The canal was turned into a promenade to stroll along. The water can be accessed via steps. People can rest on benches or in pergolas, there are barbecue spots and many paths for walking or jogging. People love this long park at the edge of the city. Instead of restricting themselves to a technical / ecological approach, the planners and the project owners opted for landscape design and created an open space in the conurbation – a major gain for man and nature. The views in this landscape are more beautiful than ever before, and there is more room for recre­ation, relaxation and sport. The park also enhances the area in terms of the attractiveness of the location and urban planning. It anticipates the development of a new residential district for several thousand inhabitants.

The renaturation of the river Aire was award-­ winning on a European level because the project is a prime example of multidisciplinary and transnational planning. It involved experts from various fields such as landscape architecture, biology, engineering and architecture as well as se­veral

responsible officials from both countries, the canton of Geneva and local municipalities. The jury hopes that the co-operation continues beyond the planning and design phases. Rahel Marti Renaturation of the river Aire, 2001 – 2015 Principal: canton of Geneva Project partners: the municipalities of Bernex, Confignon, Perly-Ceroux, Onex ; canton of Geneva ; Geneva local au­thor­it­ ies’ association, Archamps ( F ) ; society for the pro­ tection of the river Aire and its tributaries, Confignon ; Pro Natura Geneva ; WWF, Geneva ; citizens’ association “ Vivre à Lully ” ; farmers’ association AgriGenève, Satigny ; Geneva vegetable producers’ association, Perly Planning group ‹ Groupement Superpositions ›: Architecture and landscape architecture: Georges Descombes, Geneva ; Atelier Descombes Rampini, Geneva Engineers: B + C Ingénieurs, Onex ; ZS Ingénieurs Civils, Onex Biology: Biotec biologie appliquée, Delémont Construction costs: Eur 65 Mio. 1 2 3 4

French-Swiss border Pont de Lully N ew diamond-patterned river bed A 1 , Perly junction

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Awards Italy: Social agriculture in the Po Delta

3 Finland: The national park in the city

The community association Consorzio Uomini di Massenzatica has been supporting extensive and socially-oriented production in the Po Delta for centuries. At the moment there are 600 fam­ i­lies who own 353 hectares, cultivate the land and do not lease it to maximise their profits. The Consorzio grows strawberries, fruit, sweetcorn, soya, tomatoes, potatoes and green asparagus and employs people from the region throughout the year. Massenzatica is situated east of Ferrara on the edge of the Po Delta’s conservation areas. By keeping an eye on the water level, the association establishes the basis for production and looks after and protects the landscape. Since 2010, the Consorzio has been calling for sensitisation, applied research and new agricultural practicies in order to preserve their cultural and land­scape heritage. A new landscape agreement demands sustainability, fairness and solidarity.

The jury praised how the Consorzio has managed to combine care for landscape and social commitment for such a long period. Photo: Consor­zio

When we think of national parks we normally think of natural landscapes. There is, however an official urban national park in the Finnish city of Kotka.

Covering an area of 2675 hectares, it is a combination of parks, developed areas, areas near the Gulf of Finland and on the banks of the river Kymijoki. The areas are connected and ecologically linked with each other and the surrounding areas.

This means the park comprises natural and cultur­ al landscapes. Some neglected city districts have been refurbished. The inhabitants were involved in the planning and now enjoy a wide network of paths and spaces for recreation, relaxation and sport. According to the jury, the city national park is an instrument for sustainable planning which may well inspire others. Photo: Airi Kattelus

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Kotka City National Park, 2004 – 2014 Sponsorship: City of Kotka 4

Estonia: Cleaning up

In 2008, 50,000 volunteers cleaned up the entire country of Estonia within five hours. In the meantime, this “ Let’s do it ! ” project has become a naUomini di Massenzatica tional day of tidying up. On the first Saturday in Between land and water – a different kind of ownership May, people focus on subjects like waste, public Sponsorship: Consorzio Uomini di Massenzatica spaces and environmental education. In this project for and with the population, entire cities and landscapes are cleared and cleaned. In 2018, this 2 France: Reclaiming in Rouen The banks on both sides of the river Seine in initiative led to the “ World Clean Up Day ” where Rouen used to be wastelands. The land had been people cleaned up worldwide for 36 hours. In used for industrial and for port purposes for a Estonia, this day of action helps to enhance and long time, and following their demise, they left strengthen people’s awareness of the land­scape behind polluted soil and neglected areas. Owing and a sustainable development. The jury sees to its central location, the area was predestined this as a valuable contribution to drawing people’s for a different use. An extensive nature and recre­ attention to the life-long learning process about ation park has been created as part of a large the value of landscapes. Photo: Vete Hainsoo landscape planning project. Today, the banks of “ Let’s do it ” project day, since 2008 the river Seine proffer a river promenade of great Sponsorship: Estonian Fund for Nature, Tartu ecological, social and landscape value which cov­ ers almost 25 hectares and stretches over 3 kilometres in length. Reclaiming this part of the city for its people enhances the dense urban buildings and prevents urban sprawl. Two new city districts for mixed purposes are being created: They benefit from the open spaces along the promenade.

According to the jury, the project enhances the cultural and landscape heritage of Rouen and uses it for new and varied public spaces ; it also shows that approaches involving landscape and open spaces are cogent means of promoting the city development. Photo: Karolina Samborka Reclaiming the quais and river promenade on the left bank of the river Seine, Rouen, 2010 – 2022 Sponsorship: City and Metropol Rouen Normandie, Rouen

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Nominees 1

Azores, Portugal

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Slovakia

A new landscape policy, based on the natural and cultural values of Pico Island, has stimulated the revival of traditional wine growing in a volcanic area which was gradually depopulating. The wine is now marketed regionally and internation­ ally. The dwindling population is growing again and the characteristic style of agriculture attracts many visitors. Photo: José Feliciano

Careful restoration began after the Calvary Complex was included in the list of the hundred most endangered UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Calvary Fund and its association contributed to restoring the Calvary hill with its sacred build­ ings to its original design, and to the revival of the site as a religious landscape and as a venue for events and excursions. Photo: Vladimír Ruppeldt

Landscape with vineyards on Pico Island, since 1996 Sponsorship: Regional Government of the Azores, Horta

Restoring and protecting the Baroque landscape of the Banská Štiavnica Calvary, 2008 Sponsorship: Calvary Fund and Civic Association, Banská Štiavnica

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Serbia

Sremski Karlovci, located on the river Danube between Novi Sad and Belgrade, is a historic town and district. Over recent decades, urban sprawl has taken its toll on this important cultural land­ scape. The new spatial development strategy is designed to revitalise Sremski Karlovci’s land­ scape and townscape. It is the first Serbian spatial planning document based on the European Landscape Convention. Sremski Karlovci will be European Capital of Culture in 2021 alongside Novi Sad and two other municipalities.

Spatial plan for a special-purpose area “ The Cultural Landscape of Sremski Karlovci ”, 2015 Sponsorship: Urban and Spatial Planning Institute of Vojvo­dina, Provincial Secretary for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection, Government of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Novi Sad

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The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre, 2015 Sponsorship: Northumberland National Park Authority, Hexham

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Lithuania

Great Britain

The National Landscape Discovery Centre’s yearround programme aims to encourage people of all ages to discover and love the land­scape, and to help preserve the wild landscape and ecosystems of the Northumberland National Park and the wider North East of England. The Sill has rapid­ly become a focus for tourists, attracting over 150,000 visitors every year and transform­ ing the way people interact with the land­scape in their region. Photo: The Sill

Denmark

cultivated extensively just like in the traditional agricultural landscape and make a significant contribution to the protection of biodiversity. Orchard meadows and their apples have become a symbol uniting the community, the conservation area manager, NGOs and local residents.

Photo: Teo Hrvoje Oršanič Orchard meadows and landscape in Kozje, since 1999 Sponsorship: City of Kozje

Additional projects – Wortel-and-Merksplas-Colony: A cultural land­scape revalued, Vzw Kempens Landschap, Belgium – Dragodid.org: Preserving the dry-stone masonry techniques of Eastern Adriatic, 4 Grada Dragodid, Croatia – Multifunction seaside park in Limassol, Limassol Municipality, Cyprus – Martvili Canyon sustainable development, Martvili Municipality, Georgia – Recreation of Lake Karla, Region of Thessaly, Greece – Landscape revitalisation initiative in the spirit of the Pogányvár Landscape Charter, local governments of Zalaszentmárton, Dióskál, Egeraracsa, Esztergályhorváti, Kerecseny, Orosztony, Pacsa, Zalaszabar, Zalavár, Hungary – T he origin of the Latvian cultural traditions: Dikļi, the birthplace of the Latvian song festival, Kocēni Municipality, Latvia – A nother landscape for Vianden, syndicate for planning and maintenance of the “ Nature Park of Our ”, Luxembourg – Y eşilırmak Basin Landscape Atlas, Duzce University, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Land­scape Architecture, Turkey

The research project acted as means of updating European Union and government funds have Danish landscape planning. Data from twelve rubeen used to implement more than twenty land­ ral projects for the protection, management and scape projects in the urbanised area of the dis- enhancement of landscapes, led to conclusions trict town of Telšiai, restoring the connection being made regarding landscape management on between the town and Lake Mastis. The contours a local level. The result is a multidisciplinary, partiof the town with its seven hills have been em- cipative land­scape strategy for rural areas. Photo: phasized, the northern shore of the lake cleaned Jørgen Primdahl The copy for the awards and nominees is based on and recreational infrastructure created. The sus- Landscapes of the future, 2013 – 2018 the jury report of the Landscape Award of the Council Sponsorship: University of Copenhagen tainable and integrated planning improves the of Europe, 6th competition, 2018 / 2019. population’s quality of life and encourages urban development. Photo: Algirdas Žebraukas 8 Norway Landscape planning in and around Telšiai, 2008 Lista is home to some of Norway’s most varied Sponsorship: City and Region of Telšiai bird and plant life. Its valuable ecosystems are dependent on sustainable coastal and agricultur­ 4 Spain al landscape management. The Municipality of Following an in-depth analysis, a series of careful Farsund, with the assistance of volunteer groups, interventions have been carried out in the Bay of associations and regional authorities, has system­ Bolonia, improving access to its natural and cultur­ atically championed the protection and careful al heritage. Information boards and tour sug- development of this unique coastal district since gestions communicate the val­ue of the cultur­al 1976. Photo: Berit Hessel heritage. This has succeed­ed in maintaining and Lista – unique landscape and partnership, since 1976 upgrading the bay in accordance with the Euro- Sponsorship: Municipality of Farsund, proposed by Vest-Agder Provincial Council pean Landscape Convention. Photo: Jesús Granada 3

Research, planning and measures in the Bay of Bolonia near Tarifa, Cadiz, 2000 Sponsorship: Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage, Municipal Administration of Andalusia Department of Culture, Seville

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Slovenia

In Kozjansko Regional Park, nature conservation measures have succeeded in preserving large areas of orchard meadows. They continue to be

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Park instead of canal For the first time, the Landscape Award of the Council of Europe goes to Switzerland for the renaturation of the river Aire near Geneva. The project is a major success for the landscape and for humans. With flood protection measures, ideal habitats have been created for animals and plants and an overlooked swathe of land has been turned into a vibrant park. This magazine presents this and other award-winning projects in a context alongside the European Landscape Convention which has been calling for a holistic understanding of landscapes for 20 years.  www.foen.admin.ch

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