Swiss Connection

For Lasserre Olivier, ideas are waiting to be found, handpicked and put to optimum use. And for this, nature is his bounty. 8220;I live in it and with it,8221; he says, as he takes seat at the UT Guest House, snaps open his laptop and clicks into his work 8212; landscape masterplan of Rhone Alpine Valley, Switzerland, and Coupvray, Paris, the lighting plan in Geneva and regional project of Nyon District, Switzerland, among others. Interestingly, each highlights a conversation between human and natural structures. 8220;I like to keep the virgin greens intact, just the way it8217;s here,8221; for Olivier, Chandigarh has a complete blend of human organization and raw wilderness.

8220;The strong relation between landscape structures and landscape quality of the two places is hard to miss,8221; Olivier feels that an aerial view of both would reveal a similar territory structure. 8220;Both have a valley in the back drop, a cone shaped structure Panchkula in Chandigarh8217;s case and a fluid body read Beas, though it8217;s subject to different types of vegetation, surfaces and functions,8221; he emphasises that treatment of the place is what marks the difference. 8220;The placement of elements like path, plot limit, wall, hedge, fence, infrastructure, river, tree alignment and forest edge, along with political inclinations define the uniqueness of both the places.8221; What8217;s also of importance is the mindset of people and how they preserve it. 8220;More than the design, it8217;s how the people respond to it that shapes a city and Chandigarh8217;s doing just fine,8221; Olivier wraps up the conversation.

Lasserre Olivier will present 8216;Emerging Trends in Landscape Architecture8217; on November 9 at 10:00 am at Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10.

Spaces in between

As we speak of landscape design, voids cannot be left behind, says architect Andy Schonholzer, also a part of the conference. He has designed and redefined public spaces in Switzerland. 8220; Last time, I visited Sector 17 and the plaza with its horizontal structure reminded me of shopping complexes back home,8221; he says though Switzerland is pretty what it misses is Chandigarh8217;s greenery. 8220;Besides, Chandigarh has an edge 8211; it was designed as a planned green city.8221;