In the past century, the temperature of the global ocean has increased more rapidly than at any given time in the past 11,000 years. Storm surges and cloud bursts have intensified, and the level of our groundwater is rising—a scenario that seems to only worsen in the future. As sea levels rise and storm surges increase, the interactions between humans and water intensify. This is a call to renegotiate our relationship with natural processes and nature. Our future landscapes call us to establish new perceptions and renewed landscape practices spanning from our daily lives to policies and politics.
For an afternoon, Copenhagen Architecture Forum (CAFx) and Center for Emerging Landscapes at the Aarhus School of Architecture (AAA) have joined forces to focus on our meeting with the water: How has water been perceived historically and today?, What are future perspectives? What are current landscape practices and what points of actions and policies are needed to adapt to and mitigate these anthropogenic climatic changes? We have invited international experts and artists from Georgia to give us their perspective on the above together with some of Denmark’s leading researchers, practitioners and policy makers within the field.
The day is divided into blocks under these themes:
- Notions of water, cities and processes
- Agencies of rivers and forming landscape practices
- Present policies and future landscapes
Program
2:00 PM Welcome + introduction by Josephine Michau, Director of CAFx and Katrina Wiberg, Head of Center for Emerging Landscapes at AAA.
2:15 PM
Block 1: Concepts - Notions of water, cities and processes / Blue, grey and green landscapes: deep concepts and future perspectives
In a rapidly changing climate with changing waterscapes, growing urbanization and declining biodiversity – how do we perceive and understand deep concepts of water and the entanglement between geological and human processes and take on a renewed perception of the modernistic views on cities?
1st. Speaker:
Tinatin Gurgenidze, an urban researcher, curator, author and co-Founder, Curator at Tbilisi Architecture Biennial:
Perceptions of water in Georgia - “Water Blessing- Tskaloba”
The geography of Georgia is shaped by the Caucasus Mountains, resulting in a rich abundance of water resources, including rivers, lakes, springs, and mineral waters. These elements sustain the environment and economy and hold significant cultural and spiritual meaning. Water symbolizes life, vitality, and divine energy in Georgian mythology and traditions. Conversely, its obstruction is seen as a source of evil. This reverence for water is reflected in rituals, folklore, and the naming of rivers after gods, which serves to emphasize its central role in shaping identity and belonging. The current exploitation of these resources has disrupted this historical relationship. From the policies implemented during the Soviet era to the neoliberal commodification of water, the mismanagement of these resources has caused environmental degradation, inequality, and displacement.
2nd. Speaker:
Tom Nielsen, an architect and professor of urban and landscape planning at the Aarhus School of Architecture. (AAA):
Earthly Cities - Tom will introduce his 2024 book Earthly Cities (Danish Architectural Press), in which he explores how ideas of ‘landing on earth’ (Latour) and of living within planetary boundaries can be translated into a new understanding of what cities could be.
3rd. Speaker:
Thomas Juel Clemmensen, professor of landscape architecture at UiT The Arctic University of Norway :
Geologic Resonance (or Humanly Modified Ground and Time-based Aesthetics) -
The Anthropocene not only questions perceptions of nature, but also inspires us to expand and rethink the aesthetic repertoire of landscape architecture. The discussion is centred around a study of the Port of Aarhus in Denmark. The study includes a description of material conditions found at the port and a discussion of their aesthetic potential in sensitizing humans to the environmental conditions of the Anthropocene.
3.00 PM - Break
3.10 PM
Block 2: Case studies, architectural practice - Agencies of rivers and forming landscape practices
Climate change causes changing waterscapes. However, flood disasters are closely related to human practices and understanding of control. Furthermore, land use changes are critically required. Thus, landscape practices and new perceptions and practices are needed. The case studies exemplify how we may engage to form new practices and understandings.
1st. Speaker:
Gigi Shukakidze, director of the architectural practice Wunderwerk and Co-founder of the Tbilisi Architecture Biennial:
Vere: The Lost River of Tbilisi (more information will follow soon)
2nd. Speaker:
Rikke Munck Petersen, Architect and Landscape Architect KU:
Ribe Riversystem (more information will follow soon)
3rd. Speaker:
Kasper Albrektsen, postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Emerging Landscapes at Aarhus School of Architecture and Aarhus Municipality:
Co-shape - In the future, we face extensive changes in how we perceive and use our urban landscapes. This requires not only technical planning but also an architectural and aesthetic approach to ensure well-being, biodiversity, and a balance between urban and natural spaces. The CO-SHAPE research project explores urban and landscape architectural methods for developing emerging urban landscapes.
4th. Speaker:
Lado Shonia, Architect and co-founded the studio W2KSHOP and MAUDI.
Currently he is lecturer at VA[A]DS, Free University of Tbilisi:
How politics have shaped the ecological landscape in Georgia - “Common Water Bodies “
The coastal town of Anaklia in western Georgia, near the de facto border with Abkhazia covers the region and is also highlighted, particularly its role as a major waterway and the location of a key hydroelectric dam. Anaklia is unique because the Enguri River meets the Black Sea, forming a delta that creates a biodiverse environment rich in flora and fauna. Finally, the presentation looks ahead to Anaklia's future, including plans for a deep-sea port in collaboration with Chinese companies to transform the town into a node for trade between China and Europe. This summer, a summer school, "Common Water Bodies", was organized in Anaklia, focusing on the Enguri River, the Enguri Delta, and the town's shaping.
5th. Speaker:
Jakob Miland-Samuelsen, Architect at Urland (more information will follow soon)
4.15 PM - Break
4.20 PM
Block 3: Present policies and future landscapes / Policy Making - a way forward
Which policies halter the blue-green transition, and which policies are needed to move forward? What are the key disputes, and do we know of best practices from which we can learn?
1. Speaker: Karsten Arnbjerg-Nielsen, Climate Scientist DMI (more information will follow soon)
4.50 PM - Brea
5 PM
Block 4: "Unmapping Energy Geographies”
Film + introduction by Tekla Aslanishvili, an artist, filmmaker, and essayist based between Berlin and Tbilisi. Currently, Aslanishvili is a postgraduate fellow at the Berlin Centre for Advanced Studies in Arts and Sciences (BAS) at Berlin University of the Arts.
The symposium will be moderated by Katrina Wiberg, Associate Professor in landscape architecture and climate adaptation and head of Center for Emerging Landscapes at the Aarhus School of Architecture (AAA). Katrina´s current research is on sea-level rise, coastal cities and adapting urban landscapes to changing waterscapes with cross-scalar and cross-temporal perspectives. Some of her main methods are interaction research and mapping, thus focusing on transferring data and knowledge via visual formats and interaction.
The program is still under development - it will be updated.
Price: 50 kroner, free for CAFx Community Members.
Coffee, tea and water included.
The symposium has been made possible by the generous support of The Agency of Culture and Palaces, Denmark
