"10 Questions for Landscape Architects" is a series of short talks inspired by the series "10 Questions for...". This time our attention is turned to landscape architects and architects. In today's episode, Łukasz Przybylak (Hortus Excelsior) talks about his approach to design.
LukaszPrzybylak - President of the Eduard Petzold Foundation and specialist in historic gardens. Author of numerous revaluation and study studies for historic residences in Poland. Among other things, he worked with the Swiss landscape architecture studio VOGT Landschaftsarchitekten AG Berlin branch on the construction documentation of the Lohsepark in Hamburg and with Brandenburgische Schlösser GmbH on the revaluation of the park in Altdöbern. In 2015-2021, he managed the Garden Department of the King John III Palace Museum in Wilanów and the process of revaluation of the garden there. He is currently pursuing doctoral research at the Technical University of Dresden and serves as president of the European Route of Historic Gardens (ERHG). He is a member of the International Scientific Committee on Cultural Landscapes (ISCCL), the German Society for Garden Art and Landscape Culture (DGGL) - historical gardens working group, the Dresden Historical Society, the Society of Landscape Architecture (SAK) and the Society of Historic Preservationists (SKZ). Since 2021, he has also been a consultant to the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland on historic gardens, where he is responsible for the revaluation of the gardens at the Presidential Palace and Belvedere.
1 Landscape Architecture in one sentence is....
... a synthesis of all possible fields of design, art and responsible use of natural resources, as well as many fields of knowledge. If you want to create a so-called Gesamtkunstwerk, become a landscape architect.
2 The most underrated aspect of landscape architecture is....
... first of all, to appreciate landscape architecture in itself as a serious and interdisciplinary field of design, and to recognize its importance for the quality of life, and cultural and natural security.
3. the most inspiring space for you is ....
... I don't have one ... I was raised with a sense of total appreciation of the landscapes around us. However, for as long as I can remember, it was the mountainous landscape and river valleys that inspired the most emotion. For several years, I have been strongly captivated by the picturesque valley of the Vlodzica River in the municipalities of Nowa Ruda and Radkow in the Klodzko region.
The 4th most important book related to landscape architecture is ....
... of substantive, cognitive and timeless value;
- Russell Page, "Education of the Gardener" - worthy of recommendation to all those who want to better understand the specifics of the design workshop of landscape architects,
- Marguerite Charageat, "The Art of Gardens" - an unabridged but informative publication that introduces the intricate history of garden art. It was thanks to her, among other things, that I entered the professional path of the history of garden art and conservation of historic gardens,
- Eduard Petzold, "Die Landschafts-Gärtnerei: ein Handbuch für Gärtner, Architekten und Freunde der Gartenkunst" - The essence of knowledge straight from the mid-19th century on landscape design using the potential of the natural world,
- Dieter Hennebo, "Gartendenkmalpflege" - an absolute and timeless treasure trove of knowledge on the conservation and restoration of historic gardens,
- John Sales, "Shades of green" - a masterpiece book bordering on reportage and guidebook by the long-time head of gardens of the National Trust in the UK for the encouragement of all those who in practice are involved in the care of a historic garden, and for others to understand the difficulty of managing such a place.
5 The most inspiring figure is?
... historical ones are quite a few, such as Eduard Petzold, Lancelot "Capability" Brown or Franciszek Szanior.
Of contemporary figures, I am strongly inspired by a person who does not have an academic background in horticulture or architecture, and yet his landscape sensibility, sense of style, qualities of place and awareness of the equivalent importance of all components of the cultural landscape make him (in my opinion) a master of landscape design. She is the current King of Great Britain - Charles III 's approach to the cultural landscape and redefinition of garden styles adapted to the needs of modern conservation and marketing efforts are second to none. I wish for myself and all local governments in our country that at least one person with similar qualities and skills to the British monarch would be revealed. "Carolingian" model of revitalization of historical spaces, known for example from the implementation in Highgrove or Dumfries House, should be included in modern curricula and standards for revitalization of former landed estates.
6 I begin the design process with ....
... detective work related to searches of archival sources.
7. favorite moment during the work is ...
... the stage of implementing the assumptions of the stand management project. The moment when a view that hasn't existed for decades or a scenic link between sites known only from archival accounts appears before your eyes is downright mystical.
8 The most important realization in your career is ....
... one that I hope to give without a stammer once I decide to end my professional activity :). For the professional development so far, however, I would point to a few; a small landscape garden at the Kamieniec palace near Klodzko, which was recreated basically from scratch - thanks to the current owners of the place, the Gesamtknstwerk I mentioned at the beginning of the conversation came into existence. In terms of satisfaction with the results achieved, I would point out as important fragments of the garden at the palace in Wilanów (along with reconstructions of details like Saxon buckets forexotic plants, ceramic tiles for flowerbed borders, or rustic garden furniture), as well as the surroundings of the Presidential Palace and Belvedere in Warsaw.
Among the important, because anticipated to begin with, I include the spa park in Duszniki-Zdrój, and by anticipated completion is the park at the Sarny castle near Nowa Ruda and the private historic garden at Villa Klementynka in Zywiec. Among the important ones, because they teach humility in the face of the power of the elements, I include the project for the revalorization of the park at the palace in Komierowo in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian voivodeship - in within a few minutes of a strong hurricane in 2017, the revalorization project completed a few days earlier turned into a reconstruction project. From the drawer, where many studies often go, I would recall the project for the castle driveway in Domanice and the monastery utility garden in Głębowice in Lower Silesia.
9. dream project is ....
... I have three of them. Being a classic example of the proverbial cobbler, I dream of owning and designing my own garden.
The second dream project is a project for a large-scale landscape complex of several historic residences, in which, in addition to micro-scale design including all the details of the garden furnishings, it will be important to restore the entire network of compositional and programmatic links between the buildings.
The third is a project for the revalorization of the historic space, along with the complementary function and narrative of the interiors of the accompanying buildings and the scenario of events held there. I would like to try my hand at the already mentioned "Carolinian" model of design, and I very much hope that one day I will be able to implement it ... preferably in a beloved place, that is, in the Vlodzica valley in the Kłodzko district.
10. favorite plant is ...
... in a revaluation project, everything depends on the context and purpose of the plant, which often leaves no room for introducing one's botanical sympathies. Privately, however, the plant that stirs the most emotion in me is the snowdrop(Ornithogalum nutans).
