The Landscape Architecture Europe Foundation (LAE) has published the 7th edition of its book series, titled Full of Life. With each issue released triennially, the editorial board delves into high-quality landscape architecture projects, tracing the evolution of this young profession and highlighting the significance of addressing climate and social issues while crafting beautiful spaces. The book, launched following the March conference this year, was published by Blauwdruk Publishers, Harry Harsema, Daphne de Bruijn (design and desk editing), and the Landscape Architecture Europe Foundation. The selection committee—Jandirk Hoekstra, Martin Allik, Fujan Fahmi, and Merle Karro-Kalberg—curated a collection of 42 outstanding projects, portraits, and essays, under the close guidance of the editorial board led by Lisa Diedrich, followed by Sonia Curnier, Anaïs Leger-Smith, and Claudia Moll. Daphne de Bruijn oversaw the graphic design.

Beautifully equipped, this 320-page book is divided into two main sections—The Promise of Tolerance and Transitory Beauties—echoed by the prefixes in-, co-, de-, and re-, evoking themes of inclusion, connection, investment, degrowth, and resistance, all of which find expression in the featured projects. The book opens with an introduction by Lisa Diedrich, titled Aesthetics in the Anthropocene. Designing landscapes, as Diedrich asserts, plays a vital role in shaping social, ecological, and economic realities. Aesthetics can convey concern, empathy, critique, commitment, and collaboration, provoking change and countering despair through design. Landscape architecture creates a space for the tolerance of differences, mediating conflict to foster respect and coexistence, while acknowledging the transitory processes that shape both our surroundings and society.

The latest aesthetic tendencies in landscape architecture projects, as observed by the jury, tend to lean in one of three directions: bold, dramatic, and theatrical expressions of form; a romanticised embrace of informal, green nature aesthetics; or a consensus-seeking approach where “everything goes” characterizes the design. The book asks how these expressions suggest new forms of beauty in landscape architecture. Yet the central, critical question remains: whose narrative is being expressed through aesthetics? In a time of growing political intolerance, it is increasingly vital to speak out for justice through activist action.

The statements Lili Lička makes through her practice and teaching position her as a powerful influence and lasting inspiration for future generations. Both the book and its launch event paid a clear tribute to her contributions, marking the moment of her retirement from Vienna’s BOKU. Her portrait in the book, titled Too Many Borders Are Drawn – We Overcome Them, highlights her work. Another portrait in LAE #7 features Taktyk, the renowned French-Belgian office known for their innovative work with communities, artists, and especially everyday users, driving socio-ecological and educational processes through design.

The theme of borders, cultural and national, is explored in the essay Orient? Occident? by Lisa Diedrich, where she engages in a dialogue with practitioners from diverse backgrounds working and living across landscapes in East and West. Another essay by Landezine chief editor, Zaš Brezar, examines the aesthetics of greenwashing and how concepts like Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and similar narratives are often used to sweep ecological and societal issues Under the Rug.

The project selection spans across Europe, encompassing works of various scales—small to large, realised and speculative, ephemeral and historic. The book offers a cross-section of best practices and approaches. Far from exhausting the potential of landscape architecture over the past three years, it instead opens up ways to rethink design and continue the search for more. What is crucial, it engages critically, politically and in aspiration.

Selection of featured Projects

You can view the book launch event accompanied by lectures.