Post by Emma McNicholas

Really enjoyed being part of this discussion. One idea that stayed with me is that if culture is infrastructure, then landscape architecture is one of the disciplines that makes that infrastructure tangible. Culture isn't only expressed through institutions or events. It's embedded in the parks, streets, waterfronts and public spaces where everyday life unfolds. These landscapes shape identity, create opportunities for connection, celebrate heritage and provide the setting for communities to evolve over time. Too often, landscape is still treated as something to enhance a development once the key decisions have been made. Yet if we're serious about putting culture at the heart of placemaking, landscape thinking needs to be there from the outset—creating places that are meaningful as well as functional. A fascinating conversation, and I'm looking forward to seeing how these ideas develop through the Progressive Places report.