The nature of the city

Unlike the wilderness, landscapes are shaped by humans. In essence a cultural good, discourse is at the heart of working with landscapes. Concepts and typologies such as gardens, parks, courts, squares and promenades lend landscapes a signature. They provide a matrix for the layout of the urban landscape and help distinguish its many facets from private to public spaces and their uses, scales, functionalities and ambiences. The rise in global temperatures induced by climate change not least creates the need for customised solutions addressing local conditions and a discourse about large-scale developments. Viable, future-proof cities must be conceived from a landscape perspective (lecture in German).

Urban landscaping is the core business of VOGT Landschaftsarchitekten. The international team has designed, planned and implemented national and international projects at diverse scales for 20 years, ranging from small-scale town squares to metropolitan parks, collaborating with renowned architectural firms and artists. Projects such as the Tate Modern in London, the Allianz Arena in Munich and the Masoala Rain Forest Hall at the Zurich Zoo earned the firm international recognition.

The business partnership with Dieter Kienast led to the formation of VOGT Landschaftsarchitekten in 2000, with branch offices established in Berlin (2010), London (2009) and Paris (2018). The affiliated Case Studio VOGT provides an interface between practical operations and theoretical studies and research activities of Günther Vogt’s institute at the ETH Zurich. Case Studio is both an exhibition and debating platform and an instrument for staff training, a key element of VOGT’s corporate culture.