News & Events

2025 World Landscape Architecture (WLA) Shanghai International Forum & Outstanding Works Exhibition, November 8th, Shanghai

2025 WLA Shanghai International Forum will be hosted by the School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. This marks the first time that World Landscape Architecture (WLA) is partnering with a university to organize an international in-person forum, an outstanding Works Exhibition, and a student competition awards ceremony. The theme of this forum is "Future Fusion", which comprises three parallel sessions: the WLA Jury Forum, the Pioneer Design Forum, and the Academic Symposium (including discussions on climate change and health technology). It aims to promote the deep integration and cross-disciplinary innovation of forward-looking theories and practices in habitat design. The event will also feature the WLA Outstanding Works Exhibition and the 2025 WLA Student Competition Awards Ceremony.

01  Background

"Human Habitat Design" encompasses the entirety of our man-made world. It emphasizes the creation of a physical environment (cities, architecture, ecological landscapes, transportation systems, and product design), the construction of virtual spaces (AI, programming, information, and networks), and the infusion of humanistic spirit (art, literature, history, and sense of place) to form an organic vessel for human life. More importantly, it focuses on establishing a harmonious and symbiotic relationship among "people - habitats - lifestyles" through a fluid, cross-disciplinary framework, thereby achieving a comprehensive enhancement of quality in people's pursuit of a better life. As a systemic discipline concerned with optimizing human existence and living conditions, its inclusiveness and expansiveness—together with its methodological capacity to provide soft support and elevate the value of strategic goals—align deeply with core strategies of "Ocean", "Health", and "Information" under the vision of "Grand Design".

Since its founding, the School of Design at Shanghai Jiao Tong University has consistently advanced interdisciplinary integration within the design field, emphasizing the synergy between the humanities, arts, and technological sciences. The school was also among the first in China to establish a dedicated Habitat Design program, demonstrating its forward-thinking leadership in this emerging field.

World Landscape Architecture (WLA) is a globally recognized platform for high-quality content and international competitions in landscape design, boasting significant industry influence. By jointly launching the WLA Shanghai International Forum under the theme "Future Fusion", the two institutions aim to establish a prestigious platform for dialogue and collaboration among scholars, practitioners, and industry leaders. The forum will foster the integration of theory and practice as well as resource sharing.

Through a series of events - including the WLA Outstanding Works Exhibition, the Student Competition Awards Ceremony, thematic exhibitions, and in-depth workshops—the forum will showcase the latest ideas, innovations, and practical achievements in global habitat design, promoting the field's continuous evolution and innovation.

02 Time and Location

Date

Saturday, November 8, 2025

Location

Shanghai / Shanghai Jiao Tong University

03 Forum & Exhibition Highlights

Co-Chairs

Xing Ruan | Dean and Guangqi Chair Professor of Architecture at School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Member of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Academic Committee

Damian Holmes | Founder and Editor of World Landscape Architecture (WLA)

Xiangming Zhu | President, Shanghai Landscape Architecture Society; National Engineering Survey and Design Master

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Keynote Speeches / WLA Master Lectures

Xing Ruan | Dean and Guangqi Chair Professor of Architecture at School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Member of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Academic Committee

Kongjian Yu | Founding Dean, College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Peking University; Member of the American Academy of Arts and Science

Michel Hössler | Founder of Agence TER

​Tom Leader | Founder of TLS Landscape Architecture

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Parallel Forums

WLA Jury Forum, Pioneering Design Forum, Academic Symposium

WLA Outstanding Works Exhibition

Master Practice Zone, Pioneering Practice Zone, Emerging Talent Zone, Academic Support Zone

WLA Student Awards Ceremony

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04 Credit List

Organizers

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

World Landscape Architecture (WLA)

Commissioner

School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Deputy Commissioner

ArchiDogs

Supporting Partner

Shanghai Landscape Architecture Society

05 Stay tuned!

A detailed schedule of the forum will be released in subsequent announcements. Please kindly stay tuned for forum registration and exhibition sign-up.

We sincerely invite experts, scholars, designers, and students from around the world to actively participate in this forum and contribute their insights and energy to the future of habitat design.