Forecast—the inaugural Festival of Landscape Architecture has announced its program for 2014, with walking tours, radio broadcasts and keynote speakers from 16 October in Brisbane.

Hosted by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), Forecast brings together designers, thinkers, collaborators and innovators of the landscaping field for three days of participatory events at the State Library of Queensland.

Outcomes through discourse and debate is the philosophy that informs the program, Creative Directors Sharon Mackay and Di Snape say that engagement and the exchange of ideas can lead to real systemic change.

"In the course of our diverse experiences, both on projects we've done together and in our own practice, we have been testing ways to curate engaging conversation that enables genuine exchange of ideas,” they said.

“The outcomes are always diverse, they are often unpredictable, they usually involve having a lot of fun, and they inevitably lead us immediately to devising the next project so we can continue the conversation. Occasionally they lead to real and systemic change. Forecast brings these experiences together to reimagine the conference for Landscape Architecture.”

The festival website lists 16 festival events which include an opening party, speaker sessions and the 2014 AILA National Awards, and will run over the course of the event.

See the Video below:

Program Highlights:

KEY CONVERSATION 6: Big Projects - Infrastructure and Procurement,  Saturday 18 October 11.00am – 12.30pm

  • The conversation will discuss the idea that Landscape Architects need to acknowledge, capture and incorporate the complexity of big projects and infrastructure. Image: John Gollings.

KEY CONVERSATION 1: Speculation and Research on Friday 17 October 8.45am – 10.00am

  • This session explores the relationship between data, design as research and how Landscape Architects can address complex contemporary urban challenges. Image: Peter Bennetts.

BROADCAST: The Interviews Various times and locations

  • Forecast brings media colleagues from 'The Plan' and 'The Architects' into the conversation to discuss their role in creating and curating the way that Landscape Architecture is profiled. Image: Tania Davidge.

EAT THE CITY: Long Table Dinner + 2014 AILA National Awards on Friday 17 October 5.00pm – 9.00pm.

Key Note Speakers:

  • Matt Baida from WAX Design, SA
  • Daniel Bennett, Adelaide City Council, SA
  • Pamille Berg OA, Pamille Berg Consulting, ACT
  • Cameron Bruhn, Architecture Media, Vic
  • Amy Grey, Meter Design, Qld
  • Penny Hall, Arup
  • Stuart Harrison, Harrison and White & The Architects 3RRR, Vic
  • James Hayter, Oxigen, SA
  • Timothy Horton, Architects Registration Board, NSW
  • Anton James, JMD Design, NSW
  • Perry Lethlean, Taylor Cullity Lethlean, Vic
  • Matthew Mackay, Hassell, Vic
  • Dr Jo Russell-Clarke, University of Adelaide & The Plan Radio, SA
  • Andy Sharp,Curtin University, PLACE Laboratory, WA
  • Rachel Smith, AECOM, Qld
  • Malcolm Snow, National Capital Authority, ACT
  • Yen Trihn, Queensland Museum, Qld

Visit forecast.aila.org.au to learn more and to register for the event.