Landscape boundaries are often non-static, blurred, and shift over time. Landscape architects are uniquely equipped with the design skills and knowledge to emulate natural ecological processes that are crucial in adapting to today’s unprecedented global challenges.

 

The dynamic thresholds of air, water, and land formulate the core theme of the IFLA World Congress 2026, which will take place in Hong Kong, China in October 2026. Geological and geographical processes shape the surfaces of the Earth that in turn guide the movement of fluids and other living matters that make up our ecosphere. In our current context of accelerated climate change and biodiversity loss, the integrated and sustainable planning, design, and management of watersheds and coastlines as contiguous landscape units demand collaborative strategies that transcend administrative boundaries.

 

Situated at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong has historically occupied a liminal position that connects land and water. This interfacing not only shapes the physical landscapes and unique urbanism as part of a network of maritime port cities, but also fosters rich cultural interactions that continue to redefine its cultural landscapes.

 

As the host of the 2026 IFLA World Congress, we sincerely invite landscape architects and professional partners from around the world to join us in exploring the transformative potential and opportunities foregrounded by the idea of liminality in landscape architecture.