Landscape Research Projects and Links: Europe
Ian Thompson’s interest in European landscapes is reflected in the book he edited with Torben Dam, and Jens Balsby Nielsen: European Landscape Architecture, Best Practice in Detailing which is a collection of case studies in landscape construction with contributors from ten European countries. Another of Ian’s publications on European landscape theme is: The Sun King’s Garden (2006) which has been described as ‘a gorgeous book’ by writer and historian Antonia Fraser. Based on Ian’s research into the relationship between Louis XIV of France and the landscape gardener André Le Nôtre who created the famous gardens at Versailles, this book has ‘intertwined stories of an extraordinary garden and an extraordinary friendship’. We are also actively involved in the pan-European Le Notre project which is a multi-million Euro, European Union funded higher education network which involves landscape schools throughout Europe. We are also involved in various ways in the development of research in relation to the European Landscape Convention and participation in the European Council of Landscape Schools (ECLAS) which is the parent body of the Le Notre initiative. Maggie Roe recently spoke as keynote speaker at the European IFPRA conference in Finland on Reuniting Culture and Nature: Implementing the European Landscape Convention.