We’re happy to share that the report Report on the current situation of European landscape architecture research with respect to landscape architecture archives (Deliverable 5) based on our preliminary research carried out within COST Action CA23128 ConnectLAA, is now available in open access on Zenodo: https://zenodo.org/records/20089032

Staniewska, A., Mexi, A., Brinkhuijsen, M., van Hellemondt, I., Krippner, U., Fonseca, M. J., Jakobsson, A., & Gerra, M. (2026). Report on the current situation of European landscape architecture research with respect to landscape architecture archives (D5). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20089032

The report was developed in collaboration with members of Working Group 2 (WG2) of the COST Action CA23128, with the scientific support of Daniela Guju and Giovani Luca, ConnectLAA STSM grantees. The final version of the manuscript was prepared by: Alex Mexi, Anna Staniewska, Marlies Brinkhuijsen, Metin Gerra, Imke van Hellemondt, Anna Jakobsson, Maria João Fonseca and Ulrike Krippner, and technically edited by Mariana Veludo.

The WG Leaders would like to warmly thank everyone who contributed to this report, as well as those who offered valuable feedback and critical insights in the final stages of its preparation. Your support and engagement made this publication possible!

Prepared by Working Group 2, the report provides an overview of the current state of landscape architecture research in Europe with respect to archives. It highlights emerging topics, key challenges, and knowledge gaps and is intended as a starting point for further work and collaboration. This approach aligns with the broader goals of ConnectLAA, which seeks to build a sustainable European platform for sharing knowledge on landscape architecture archives, connect archival research with practice, enhance access (including digital access), and support education, heritage conservation, and public engagement.

The report also highlights uneven development of landscape architecture archives across Europe, particularly in Inclusiveness Target Countries, reflecting broader disparities in professional conditions. It confirms that many archival collections remain vulnerable due to fragmentation, deterioration, unclear ownership, lack of institutional responsibility, insufficient processing, and the particular risks associated with digital-born materials.