2015 HALS Challenge, Documenting Modernist Landscapes

The National Park Service Historic American Landscapes Survey announces the 2015 HALS Challenge: Documenting Modernist Landscapes. Winners of this national juried competition with cash prizes will be announced at the 2015 Annual ASLA Meeting and Expo in Chicago.

The Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) was created in 2000 to document our country's dynamic landscapes. Much progress has been made in identifying cultural landscapes but more is needed to document these designed and vernacular places.

For the 6th Annual HALS Challenge, you are invited to join the ASLA Florida Chapter HALS committee to document modernist landscapes unique to Florida. During the mid-20th century, landscape architects responded to the Florida environment using design as an agent of social change, creating human scale space, modern forms, and sculptural compositions, which were intended to be experienced rather than simply viewed.

The designs of renowned modernist landscape architects like Church, Eckbo, Kiley, Halprin and Rose face developmental threats despite growing national awareness. The works of Florida landscape architects must be documented to encourage their preservation.

If you know a Florida modernist landscape that should be documented, please let FLASLA HALS Chair David Driapsa know about it. Better yet, participate with the FLASLA HALS team to record it. We’re looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you.

David Driapsa, ASLA
FLASLA HALS Chair

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