ConnectLAA 1st General Meeting in Budapest, Hungary

The main goals of this meeting were to stimulate the working process, share information about the Action and exchange experience related to landscape architecture archives, as well as to discuss the next steps for the Action and its working groups (WGs). 

The event lasted two days, and participants were actively engaged in the WG sessions. Participants also had the opportunity to attend sessions of other WGs. This helped to create an initial, broad common knowledge base within the Action. Participants were assigned to sessions on site. 

WG1 workshop: ‘Inventory existing archives’ 

The objective of the WG1 workshop was to identify and categorize landscape architecture archives and repositories based on the general criteria outlined during the first Working Group online meeting. A brainstorming session was initiated to explore methods for collecting information on best practices. Additionally, the participants started mapping different archive locations across the Action countries, which were sampled in a Google Maps application. 

WG2 workshop: ‘Enhancing the use of landscape architecture archives for research and practice’ 

This in-depth workshop focused on mapping users’ needs, experiences and expectations concerning the accessibility, operation and information of landscape architecture (LA) archives and archival repositories. Participants were asked to bring an example of archive material that they found particularly interesting and/or important for their work, in digital form.  This served as a starting point for a discussion about how archival sources influence and improve work, design, and research. At the end of the second workshop, further WG2 activities were planned, with a particular focus on identifying research gaps related to LA archives. 

WG3 workshop: ‘Enhancing Education Through the Use of Archives’ 

Exploring how archival material is used in education, including the types of courses it is used for, the learning objectives it supports, and how it is used. Participants shared their experiences of using archives in education. These insights will inform the preparation of the next two workshops in 2025, which together will provide an in-depth understanding of the current use of archives in education. This will contribute to a catalogue of teaching methods and tools and form a basis for developing other innovative educational uses. 

 WG4 workshop: ‘Communication and Dissemination’ 

This workshop focused on developing effective and targeted communication methods, forms and tools for European landscape architecture archives, from the perspectives of LA archive management and operation, and the use of LA archives for research, practice and education. Members of all working groups exchanged ideas and brainstormed what, how, and to whom should be communicated to achieve the best possible communication and outreach. We are looking for inspiring ideas, experiences and discussions.