Another five months before the annual highlight for European landscape architecture students, the ELASA conference, will take place this time in the Netherlands. In this when-what-who newsletter we would like to give you some information on next year's meeting. In order to keep you informed and to keep the ELASA fire burning throughout the year we will answer the questions that are torturing all of you: When is the meeting? What is it about? What do I have to do to prepare myself for Holland and the meeting? Who are organising this super-lowland-party?
After you have read this newsletter you can really start looking forward to the meeting and to seeing your European friends again...
First of all the date of the meeting. We expect all the participants, reps and delegates, to arrive Friday the 9th of May. After an intensive week of excursions, lectures, discussion and parties we expect you to go home exhausted and with mixed feelings (happy and satisfied, because you enjoyed the meeting in several ways, but also sad that another meeting has become history) on Saturday the 17th of May.
The 1997 ELASA meeting has been given the title POST-COW LANDSCAPE. The 'landscape of the cow' is a methaphore for the Dutch rural landscape. For ages the agricultural activity has had by far the largest impact on the development of this landscape.
However times are changing and the Netherlands are being subject to a metamorphosis. The policy which used to divide the country into regions, each with their own economic engines, is disappearing. The classical distinction between urban and rural areas is vanishing. The 'countryside' starts to show urban features, today's city is no longer just a constellation of streets, boulevards and squares.
All over Europe people are moving towards regions that are urbanising. In this process the Netherlands have a special position because of their high population density. Therefore the countryside isn't left behind empty. On the contrary; it is immediately subject to other, new claims; the landscape of the cow as, for instance, recreation area, new living environment or nature reservation. Apart from these 'new' functions the modern farms are developing into high-tech industries.
These developments contain many questions with a respect to planning and design which are really fantastic challenges for landscape architects.Whether the question is about conserving heritage landscapes, researching new concepts of urbanisation or designing the recreational needs of tomorrow's citizen; the Netherlands are one big laboratory!
Come and have a look for yourself, from 9th till 17th of May 1997!
Not much is needed to survive an ELASA meeting in the Netherlands. What you will need most is lots of money to buy traditional Dutch wooden shoes, tulips, cheese and of course ELASA souvenirs and lots of drinks. Besides it is very clever to bring along a pair of heavy weather boots (maybe an umbrella will do, too), to defy the Dutch rainy climate. And for the ones who want to be prepared for the worst: bring along a swimming suit and a pair of goggles. After all we live below sea-level her in Holland!
This year we will not ask you to write papers on the theme, instead we want you to think about the meaning of the theme for your country and to look for some POST-COW LANDSCAPES in your country. Take some colour slides of these spots or areas, include them with a small accompanying text (1 or 2 sentences) and your application form. The procedure will be as follows. Around february you will receive a second info bulletin on the progress we hope we have made. The third info bulletin will be sent to you together with the application forms. These application forms you have to return as soon as possible together with the colour slides. The photos will be part of a permanent exhibition during the meeting. For this exhibition we would also like you to bring along some work (made by students) of which you think it is a good example of the way landscape architecture is practiced in your country.
The main organizing commitee consists of six people, representing the three different schools for landscape architecture in the Netherlands. These six people are each responsible for a part of the organisation. Each part of the organisation is done by subcommittees, consisting of a member of the main committee. This provides unity in the organising activities.
SYL GOOTJES, chair, 3rd year student at the International Agricultural College of Higher Education 'Larenstein', Velp. Syl has been a rep during UK and Czech conferences and is the most sensible member of the organizing committe.
MICHEL VAN UNEN, secretary, graduated from the International Agricultural College of Higher Education 'Larenstein', Velp, at present 1st year student at the Academy of Agriculture, Amsterdam. Michel has attended the Norwegian meeting in 1994 and he has an excellent voice and guitar playing ability.
LYNKE KOOPAL, treasure, 4th year student at Wageningen Agricultural University, Wageningen. Lynke is going to attend her third meeting. After being a rep and setting up ELASA-L together with Mathias, this busy bee now wants to get as much money as possible from our sponsors and from you.
MADELON HENDRICH, programme and accomodation manager, 4th year student at Wageningen Agricultural University, Wageningen. Madelon was 'there' in the UK and in Czech Republic and next year she wants to do as much traditional dancing and 'polonaises' as possible.
JOHN BOON, programme and accomodation manager, graduated from former College of Higher Education, Boskoop, at present 5th year student at the Academy of Architecture, Amsterdam. Do we need to say anything? Well, OK, he was already present at the Swiss meeting in 1992! John tries to reunify 'Double Dutch' for a concert next year and he is ssetting up a new sub-association: the ELASA-dinosaurs.
BAS VOLKERS, public relations manager, 4th year student at Wageningen Agricultural University, Wageningen. This ELASA-benjamin (attended only 1996 meeting) wants to scream out his lungs to let the whole world know what is going to happen between 09-05 and 17-05 next year.
Please spread this info bulletin as much possible in your own school and country by means of copying, hanging on a bulletin board, etc.
This info bulletin is a production of the Dutch ELASA foundation, 'Stichting ELASA Netherlands'. The articles in this info bulletin contain information on the 1997 ELASA meeting ONLY. For all other correspondance the Czech ELASA Info Centre should be contacted.
Stichting ELASA Netherlands
Secretary
Voetiuslaan 37-4
6828 TD Arnhem
Netherlands
phone: +31 (0)26 44 58 663
fax: +31 (0)26 36 15 287
eMail: elasa97@tip.nl