Peter E. Walker, FASLA, has been selected as the first-ever recipient of the International Federation of Landscape Architects’ (IFLA) Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Gold Medal. The Medal is awarded under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and will be presented today at IFLA’s 42nd World Congress in Edinburgh, Scotland. The international judges were Thorbjorn Anderson of Sweden, Brigitte Colin of France (representing UNESCO), and Michael Spens of the UK.
The Jellicoe Medal will only be presented once every four years to the landscape architect whose lifetime achievements have had a lasting impact on the welfare of society and the environment. The recipient must be a practitioner whose merit, talent and actions are respected internationally. The Medal is presented in recognition of projects of outstanding quality and originality.
Current IFLA president, landscape architect Martha Fajardo of Colombia, says it is appropriate the Medal pays homage to IFLA’s first president, Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe. "The Jellicoe Medal will bring to the public notice the wide-ranging contribution which landscape architecture brings to the well-being of populations worldwide," she said. "As the importance of landscape architecture becomes increasingly recognized, the profession recognizes public achievements of influential colleagues; the gold medal achieves this."
Now approaching the half-century mark, Walker’s career encompasses learning from and working with such legends of the profession as Lawrence Halprin, FASLA, Stanley White, Dan Kiley, and Hideo Sasaki, FASLA. In addition to winning international acclaim for his designs, he has been a teacher and author. In 2004, Walker took centre stage in the design world by partnering with architect Michael Arad to win the commission for the World Trade Center Memorial, arguably the most publicly scrutinized and emotionally charged design competition ever held. Also in 2004, Walker was awarded the ASLA Medal, the highest honor the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) may bestow upon a landscape architect. His firm, Peter Walker and Partners, is located in Berkeley, California, and employs approximately 27 landscape architects who design projects across the US and around the world.
Founded in 1899, ASLA is the national professional association for landscape architects, representing more than 15,000 members nationwide. Landscape architecture is a comprehensive discipline of land analysis, planning, design, management, preservation, and rehabilitation. ASLA promotes the landscape architecture profession and advances the practice through advocacy, education, communication, and fellowship. Learn more about landscape architecture at www.asla.org.