kruh autumn 2024 - Signe Nielsen and Thomas Balsley

The October lecture on architecture titled "New York Inspirations" will present a progressive duo of renowned landscape architects Signe Nielsen from the MNLA studio and Thomas Balsley from SWA, who are behind the long-term transformation of urban areas. They have been engaged in landscape architecture for over 50 years, focusing their designs on the transformation of public spaces, the role of waterways for cities, including the accessibility of a vast section of New York's waterfront, and strengthening the relationship to the place.

Signe Nielsen has been dedicated to the field of landscape architecture since 1978. Her work focuses on restoring environmental integrity and improving the quality of the environment for the residents and communities that live and spend time in those areas. In her lecture, she will focus on the history of Manhattan and specific projects of the MNLA studio that have reshaped the surroundings of the rivers surrounding New York. Among her most significant achievements are the modifications of public spaces along the Hudson River Park in New York, including projects such as Aerial (waterfront revitalization), Pier 25 (recreational pier), Basketball Courts (sports fields), and the Tribeca Section. As the project director at MNLA, she has led several key projects. She is a member of ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects) and has received over 100 awards for design and public space projects. She is involved in professional publishing and serves as a professor of landscape architecture at Pratt Institute.

Thomas Balsley works in New York and worldwide and has received international recognition for his work from organizations such as ASLA, American Institute of Architects, Environmental Design Research Association, and Institute for Urban Design. He also has extensive teaching experience – he has lectured at Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, National Building Museum, and Seoul National University. In his lecture, he will focus on the area of urban public spaces, including small urban areas and parks, as well as his gradual transition to revitalizing urban waterfronts in New York, Asia, and Europe. With his projects on these waterfronts, he has contributed to bringing people closer to the rivers and to each other while having to deal with challenges such as climate change and issues of social and environmental justice.