35th IFLA Europe Regional Conference hosted by the Hungarian Association of Landscape Architects (HALA)
Our association was established in 1991 as a professional advocacy group, comprising landscape architects as its members. Our overarching goal is to protect and enhance the natural and cultural values of landscapes, improve their complex ecological systems, raise awareness of the importance of planning, and develop environmental culture in both urban and rural settings. Until the establishment of the chambers, the professional advocacy was the responsibility of the Hungarian Association of Landscape Architects (HALA).
In 2010, we launched the "Landscape Odyssey," an exhibition showcasing outstanding works in Hungarian landscape architecture from 2000 to 2010. This exhibition toured various locations beyond Budapest, including rural and cross-border areas, attracting a total of 5,000 visitors. Similar publications and exhibitions followed in 2015 and 2021.
In 2011, together with our co-founders, we established the Landscape Architect of the Year and Junior Landscape Architect of the Year Awards, honouring outstanding representatives in our field biennially.
In 2012, we published "What Landscape Architecture Can Do for a Livable Settlement," a booklet that reached numerous municipalities and informed local decision-makers about the importance and possibilities of landscape planning and protection.
In 2021, we estabilished the Landscape Architecture Excellence Award, which, alternating with the Landscape Architect of the Year and Junior Landscape Architect of the Year Awards, recognizes professional excellence. While the Landscape Architect of the Year and Junior Landscape Architect of the Year Awards highlights the work of individual practitioners, the Landscape Architecture Excellence Award acknowledges projects across multiple categories developed over the preceding three years.
In 2010, the organization underwent a renewal. Among our long-term tasks, we place significant emphasis on establishing and strengthening professional organizational relationships, forming social partnerships with governmental bodies, and effectively representing the cause of Hungarian landscapes and landscape architects beyond our borders.
We established our own website, Facebook page, and Instagram page, keeping professionals and enthusiasts informed about current professional topics. We send our newsletter to about 800 email addresses. We hope that the development of our website, along with increasing membership and sponsorship, will be supported by our major events (Landscape Odyssey, Landscape Architect of the Year Award, Landscape Architecture Excellence Award). We plan to offer these services and events as a package, resulting in sponsorship agreements that support our organization's sustainability.
Besides programs for practicing professionals, we consider it very important to support, train, inform, and recognize landscape architecture students beyond the university framework (e.g., Junior Landscape Architect of the Year Award). These young individuals will be our future members, successors in our leadership, and volunteers.
We also place great emphasis on international cooperation and participation in foreign conferences. This provides opportunities for networking, information exchange, and joint participation in international projects with foreign partner organizations, ensuring our organization's long-term sustainability. Such grants contribute to the dissemination of our professional informational, promotional, and educational publications. This greatly helps to understand our goals and communicate our specific actions, contributing to the increase of our membership, maintaining the enthusiasm and activity of our members, expanding their knowledge, and supporting their professional development.
