International Student Workshop "Think out of the Box 2025" at Valdeka Palace – Landscape Architecture Creativity and Sustainability

The event program is available via this link.

For ten years, landscape architects have been carrying out their creative work at Valdeka Palace, a place whose unique atmosphere and environment inspire both students and lecturers. Following its reconstruction in 2014, the palace was adapted for university needs, offering lecture halls, a drawing studio, a computer lab, and seminar rooms. Here, students not only gain theoretical knowledge but also apply it practically in real projects that enhance the quality and aesthetics of urban spaces.

Landscape architects play a crucial role in shaping urban environments and everyday life. On a global scale, their work helps mitigate the effects of climate change, while on a local level, they create aesthetically pleasing, accessible, and functional surroundings while preserving their uniqueness. In Latvia, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in landscape architecture and planning are offered exclusively at the Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences.

The international "Think out of the Box" initiative is now in its fourth year. As part of the event, LBTU students and their peers from foreign universities will meet at Valdeka Palace to create innovative and functional outdoor environmental elements using various wood materials, including construction leftovers.

To bring their projects to life, students will work throughout the week at the Interdisciplinary Scientific Laboratory of the Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences (MVZF), which is equipped with woodworking tools and machinery. The completed environmental objects will be installed in Valdeka Palace Park, where visitors can view and test them. Additionally, over time, students will monitor the durability of materials and the practical application of the elements to understand how different materials and design solutions influence the sustainability and functionality of outdoor spaces.

The event is part of the Erasmus+ BIP program, which fosters international collaboration and the exchange of new ideas in landscape architecture. The intensive course aims to enhance understanding of outdoor element creation, types of wooden structures, safety considerations, and sustainable design. Students will gain:

• knowledge – about the essence and functionality of urban space elements necessary for creating a balanced environment,

• skills – to design expressive and harmonious outdoor spaces that combine aesthetics with practicality,

• competence – to develop rational designs and implement similar elements in urban environments while adhering to sustainability principles.

Think out of the Box 2025 will continue to expand landscape architecture students’ knowledge and creativity, offering opportunities for international collaboration and urban planning innovation. This initiative serves as a vital platform for aspiring landscape architects, allowing them to develop the practical skills needed for the future development of urban spaces.