The 4th International Conference on Brownfields Regeneration & Ecological Restoration was Successfully Held in Hangzhou, China

From December 1st to 3rd，2023, the 4th International Conference on Brownfield Regeneration and Ecological Restoration was successfully held in Hangzhou, China. It is co-organized by the Center for Brownfields Research at the School of Architecture at Tsinghua University, the School of Architecture at China Academy of Art, and the Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning. The event is supported by the Chinese Steering Committee of Landscape Architecture Education under the Ministry of Education, the Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture (CHSLA), and the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA).

Special thanks go to IFLA. As part of the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), the conference featured a keynote address by IFLA President Bruno Marques and a comprehensive report presented by IFLA-APR (Asia-Pacific Region) President Chris Tidswell.

Brownfield issues have increasingly garnered national attention as critical environmental concerns in recent years. As urbanization continues to accelerate, the management and redevelopment of brownfields have become essential components of sustainable development strategies. The conference is hosted by the Department of Landscape Architecture at the School of Architecture, China Academy of Art, and co-hosted by the Department of Landscape Architecture at the School of Architecture, Tsinghua University; the Critical Landscape Design Lab at the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University; the School of Architecture and Design at the Beijing Jiaotong University; and the Key Laboratory of Eco-Planning and Green Building (Tsinghua University) under the Ministry of Education.

Co-chairs of the conference are Associate Professor ZHENG Xiaodi at the School of Architecture in Tsinghua University who is also the Assistant Dean and vice chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture; Director of the Center for Brownfields Research at the School of Architecture, Tsinghua University; Secretary General of the Higher Education Landscape Architecture Professional Teaching and Guidance Sub-Committee; and Deputy Secretary General of the Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture (CHSLA); and Professor Nail Kirkwood from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, holding positions as Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Technology, who also serves as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; Co-Director and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Technology Platform, and Co-Director of the Brownfield Research Center at the School of Architecture, Tsinghua University.

Co-chairs of the 4th International Conference on Brownfield Regeneration and Ecological Restoration, 2023（Left: ZHENG Xiaodi; Right: Niall Kirkwood）

The conference, themed "Looking Forward: Brownfields 2035," featured a comprehensive agenda including a main conference forum, brownfield design studio review, junior scholar forum, and brownfield projects tours. It aimed to create a collaborative platform for both domestic and international experts and enthusiasts in the brownfield sector, fostering exchange and shared learning in brownfield restoration and regeneration. The conference focused on a global perspective, theoretical frontiers, and practical experiences. It invited experts and scholars from around the world to share advancements in brownfield governance and redevelopment. The event aimed to promote the exchange and collision of multi-disciplinary theories and technical methods and to provide references and guidance for exploring brownfield regeneration pathways that align with China's ecological civilization strategy.

The conference's supporting media include "Chinese Landscape Architecture," "Landscape Architecture," "Landscape Architecture Academic Journal," and "Landscape Architecture Frontiers Journal," and it is funded by the National Key Research and Development Project (Project number: 2020YFC1807505), and the Program of Art of National Social Science Fund of China, 2020 (Project number: 20BG139). We extend our gratitude for this support!

Group Photo of the 4th International Conference on Brownfield Regeneration and Ecological Restoration, 2023

Conference Venue at the Xiangshan Campus of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou

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