Charleville date farm: recycles all the town's wastewater through a wetland system.
Charleville date farm in remote NW Queensland recycles all the town's wastewater through a wetland system. Landscape architect John Mongard

The Foreground five: our most-read stories for June

A personal first story for our ‘2 Degrees’ theme leads our June posts. Similar climate concerns run through our interview with Dutch landscape architect Dirk Sijmons, and reflections on a unique exhibition ‘Waterlore’. Also popular: a chat with Catherine Mosbach and a look at awarded campus designs.

1. Two degrees: global warming up close and personal

As individuals struggle with how they can contribute meaningfully to the fight against global warming, landscape architect John Mongard commits to shift both his professional and personal life. As he describes, it’s time to plan and design landscapes not for image and amenity, but for survival.

Tenterfield. The author's friend’s farm burning in 2019. Photo: John Mongard
Tenterfield. The author’s friend’s farm burning in 2019. Photo: John Mongard

2. Design for the Anthropocene: the big-picture landscapes of Dirk Sijmons

Our landscapes will need creative, big-picture change to survive the 21st century. In this interview with Foreground, Dutch landscape architect Dirk Sijmons explains the uniquely influential background of his practice in public landscape works of the Dutch government.

The fragility and resilience of the land-creating polders of the Netherlands, home to landscape architect Dirk Sijmons.
The fragility and resilience of the land-creating polders of the Netherlands, home to landscape architect Dirk Sijmons.

3. Catherine Mosbach’s “submersive” experiments in landscape architecture

Catherine Mosbach talks about time, control and learning to let go when designing for living systems.

The detailed ground patterning of Park Louvre Lens Arts France by Paris-based design firm Mosbach Paysagistes.
The detailed ground patterning of Park Louvre Lens Arts France by Paris-based design firm Mosbach Paysagistes.

4. These five campus designs are changing the way students value university

The university campus is evolving, along with its relationship to the culture and economy of the city around it. The Victorian chapter of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) has recognised the ambitions of five campus designs from four universities in this year’s awards.

The exemplary campus design of Taylor Cullity Lethlean's Eastern Precinct Landscape received an Award of Excellence in the 2019 AILA Victoria Awards. Photo: Will Salter
The exemplary campus design of Taylor Cullity Lethlean’s Eastern Precinct Landscape received an Award of Excellence in the 2019 AILA Victoria Awards. Photo: Will Salter

5. WaterLore: what might drylands teach us about living with less water?

The ‘mapping’ of two iconic Australian waterways, the Murray Darling and Cooper Creek, reveals vital stories about resilience in the face of scarcity.

The detailed and evocative mappings of the WaterLore exhibition identify rich 'hotspots' for potential human intervention along iconic waterways.
The detailed and evocative mappings of the WaterLore exhibition identify rich ‘hotspots’ for potential human intervention along iconic waterways.