LANDSCAPE FORUM 2016 PAFOS, 16TH-20TH March, Coral Beach Hotel & Resort

The 5th LE: NOTRE FORUM PAFOS 2016  “From Natural to Cultural”, was successfully organized by Neapolis University in Cyprus,  from 16th to 20th March 2016 at Coral Beach Hotel & Resort.

The programme of the forum encouraged the exchange of contemporary critical thinking and provided the foundation for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. Participants from 20 different countries empowered the dynamic of the forum with main Key note speaker, Prof. Kathryn Moore, Birmingham School of Architecture and Design and President of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA President) that for the first time participated at a LE:NOTRE FORUM.  The FORUM was coordinated by Prof. Julia Georgi, Head of the Department Architecture, Land and Environmental Science, Neapolis University in CYprus, Board Member of LE:NOTRE INSTITUTE.

The day before the opening ceremony of the vent on March 16^th 2016, Prof. Jorgen Primdahl and Prof. Lone Kristensen, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Science presented their lecture and a technical workshop on vertical gardens took place.

The opening of the Conference took place on March 17^th 2016 where the vice president of Neapolis University, Mr. George Leptos  welcomed the participants. The opening was held by the President of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yiannakis L. Omirou.  Greetings to the participants were addressed by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Mr. Nicos Kouyialis. Finally,   and the LE-NOTRE Hon. President, Prof.  Richard Stiles, Head of Landscape Architecture, Vienna University of Technology, Austria, addressed his greetings. Finally had been presented the Neapolis Smart Ecocity project that is strongly related to all the topics of LE:NOTRE FORUM (urban growth, cultural heritage, sustainable tourism and rural development).

The event was attended by Mr. Michel Leptos, President of Neapolis University of Pafos,  Mr. Costas Konstandinou, Member of Parliament of Cyprus (ΔΗ.ΣΥ), Mr. Neofytos Koursiotis, Mayor of Peyeia, Mr. Michael Pavlidis, Mayor of Geroskipou, Mr. Stelios Axniotis, President of ETEK, as well as Pantelis Pantelides, Chief Engineer of Peyeia Municipality  Mrs Myria Loizide, Civil Engineer of the Municipality of Peyeia, and Mr. Neofytos Zavridis, Chief Engineer of the Municipality of Pafos.

Next, keynote speakers presented their lectures: Prof. Simon Bell, Head of Department of Landscape Architecture, Estonian University of Life Sciences, ECLAS President, Marcο Visconti (http://www.mvarchitects.it/) architect, Sustainable Design Groups, Torino, Prof. Spyros Amourgis, Professor Emeritus of architecture at California State Polytechnic University, President of Athens School of Fine Arts, Christos Christodoulou, Architect, President at Cyprus Architects Association. The afternoon was dedicated to the field trip to the urban areas and neighbourhoods of Pafos, the archaeological park of Kato Pafos, the waterfront of Pafos, Lemba and Peyeia. All participants enjoyed their night at a traditional tavern in the village of Kathikas, Peyeia.

On March 18^th 2016, keynote speakers presented their lectures: Prof. Stefano Della Torre, Head of the Department of Architecture (ABC), Milano Polytechnic, Hanne Bat, Danish Centre for Rural Research, Annita Demetriadou, Acting Director General of Cyprus Tourism Organization and Phaedon Enotiades, Department of Town Planning and Housing.

Also there were short presentations held at the thematic workshop “Sustainable Tourism: Waterfront and Hotel Resorts” by Dr. Andreas Masouras, Lecturer at Neapolis University of Pafos, and  Prof. Dr. Dominik Siegrist, Head of Institute, Institute for Landscape and Open Space HSR Hochschule für Technik, Rapperswil, Switzerland. During the thematic workshop session “Urban growth and peri-urban sprawl: Walkability in the everyday landscape of Pafos” short presentations were given by Aggelos Oktorides, Architect at The Leptos Group, and Prof. Sara Protasoni, Politecnico di Milano, ABC,  Architecture Built Environment and Construction Engineering.

On March 19^th 2016, Keynote speakers presented their lectures: Prof. Kathryn Moore, Birmingham School of Architecture and Design and President of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA President), Dr. Marina Solomonidou Ieronimidou/ Dr. Stathis Raptou, Director of the Department of Antiquity, Cyprus / Department of Antiquity, Dr. Andreas Christou, Head of Research Publicity and Silviculture Sector Department of Forests, and Dr. Costa Apo9stolides, University of Malta.

Next, the 4 thematic workshops took pace.  During the thematic workshop session “Heritage and Identities” short presentations were given by Dr. Kyriakos Themistokleous/ Dr. Branka Cuca, Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, Cyprus University of Technology and Marios Christodoulides, Architect, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Simpraxis Architecture Design Studio. During the thematic workshop “Rural change: landscapes, circular economy and local food production: rural landscape in vernacular settlements” short presentation was given by Antonia Theodosiou, architect, Environmental Engineer & Tourist Guide Project Director of the Akamas Peninsula Management Plan.

On March 20th 2016 the results of the 4 thematic workshops were presented:

• Urban growth and peri-urban sprawl: Walkability in the everyday landscape of Paphos
• Sustainable tourism: Waterfront and Hotel Resorts
• Heritage and identities: Kato Paphos Archaeological Park
• Rural change: landscapes, circular economy and local food production: rural landscape in vernacular settlementsThe event continued with the presentation of the 6^th LΕ: NOTRE FORUM in Munich, Germany by Prof.  Frieder Luz, University of Weilhensterphan, Triesdorf and the award ceremony for the student competition “Akamas Landscape – Between Science and Myth”.

 The 5^th LE:NOTRE FORUM PAFOS 2016 concluded with the round table discussion and the presentation of the LANDSCAPE MANIFESTO OF PAFOS to all interested participants of the Forum, citizens, students, academics, professionals and authorities.​