What does it mean to be a landscape architect in 2019, at a moment when the globe is rapidly warming, as the market economy is hitting its zenith, and, at least in the context of the United States, civic society is unraveling? Landscape architects are trained to make shapes, to sketch plans, to detail and construct outdoor spaces but what else do we need to be doing?

SCAPE’s practice aims to test and expand the agency of the designer. It embraces the act of convening, of advancing dialogue, and of stewardship as deeply creative acts that combine patience and vision, grit and gravitas. Design for the next century is deeply rooted in social life and designing conversations, fostering interaction, and encouraging interdependence. Moving forward, in light of increasing climate shocks and stressors, designing the social must be paired with new forms of architectural expression like un-making, un-doing, subtracting, reversing, decarbonizing, tearing out, ripping up, re-planting, softening, and connecting. This concept of un-making as a difficult and creative act will be discussed alongside examples from SCAPE’s practice.

This lecture is part of “Towards a New Architecture: Climate change and design,” a series of discussions held by New York’s Architectural League in which leading practitioners and educators describe the urgent need for change and sketch the outlines of new ways of thinking and acting as architects and landscape architects. On each evening, respondents will draw out the implications of the ideas presented and offer suggestions for implementing them at a speed and scale commensurate with the climate emergency.