Garden art has been an important field at NMBU for many years. In fact, NMBU can claim to have the second oldest garden art history education in the world.
Professor Karsten Jørgensen could tell that Norway was early in recognizing the importance of gardens in various contexts. An education in horticulture was established in 1887 at the Higher Agricultural School in Ås. Already before the turn of the century, Norway had several horticulture candidates who specialized in landscaping and garden architecture. These worked as city gardeners. City gardeners became a group that left their mark. An example is Harald Hald’s city plan for Oslo from around 1930. It included a green section initiated by city gardener Marius Røhne. The plan clearly outlined green corridors from the city center all the way to the fields and forest outside the town. Today, only remnants of these green corridors can be seen.
Research-Based Teaching
In 1919, when the school became a scientific university and teaching was to be based on research, garden art history was introduced as a subject. The education period was extended by a year, admission requirements were tightened, and garden architecture was separated from fruit and vegetable cultivation. The Higher Agricultural School in Ås was now the only study program in garden art and garden architecture at this level in Europe. In Germany, a study program in garden art was established in Berlin-Dahlem in 1929. In Sweden, such an education was established only in the 1960s.
Professional Development
A teacher was hired to run the subject in the autumn of 1919. When no one with professorial competence applied, Olav Leif Moen received a scholarship and a position as a docent in 1921. In 1938, he received the title of professor. He was a prominent figure who, in his 40-year career at the Norwegian Agricultural College (NLH), now NMBU, had extensive activity in most fields of landscape architecture studies. His efforts were important for the development of the educational program and for the subject itself. More about this can be read in the book “Landskapet vi lever i” by Mette Eggen, Anne Kathrine Geelmuyden, and Karsten Jørgensen.
Harvard University – The First
The goal was to improve people’s health. Movements to establish public parks and natural areas arose around 1800 in both Europe and the USA. The USA was early in recognizing the societal benefits of gardens and parks and quickly created high-level education. At Harvard University, the landscape architecture program was established in 1900 as the world’s first. Other programs at the bachelor’s level can be found from before 1919 in the USA, but in this comparison, it has been broadly considered that the education should be at a higher level. (A claim and comparison that certainly can be discussed).
East and West – Can They Be Compared?
What about the East and their seemingly long traditions with parks and gardens? It is difficult to compare the educational systems in the East and the West. Therefore, it is difficult to date whether the East was before or after the Western world in establishing landscape architecture studies at the university level. The final conclusion is that NMBU has the second oldest garden architecture and landscape architecture education in the Western world.
Early Collaboration
Early investment in garden architecture education in Norway has led to landscape architects being a recognized group. There is a strong tradition of close and good collaboration between architects and landscape architects. This collaboration started in earnest in the 1950s and 1960s during the period when functionalism took hold in architecture.
The world-renowned Norwegian architectural firm “Snøhetta” started as a pure landscape architecture firm. Today, they have architects, landscape architects, and interior architects on their payroll. Elsewhere in Europe, there is no tradition of such collaboration. In the USA, where landscape architects and architects are educated at the same universities, one finds this good collaboration.
Why Was Garden Art Important in Norway
In the 1900s, it was important for Norway to assert itself as an independent cultural nation. From other countries, it was known that architecture, urban planning, and garden art were important arenas, a means for “nation-building,” the bourgeoisie’s self-assertion, and as a kind of “democratization project.” Additionally, it is believed that in Norway, there was a thought that garden architecture could highlight a value that both city and countryside could agree on.
LANDSAM (Institute for Landscape Planning (ILP) continuously develops the fields within landscape architecture. The idea that gardens, parks, and nature are important for public health is still alive. Additionally, the aesthetic and artistic aspects are included as stimulating and motivating in educational contexts. Issues and demand for knowledge on how to restore and preserve historical landscapes are increasing. Statsbygg is particularly interested in this and seeks expertise in the field.
LANDSAM (ILP) has close cooperation with the Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, the Directorate of Public Roads, the Institute of Transport Economics, and the Norwegian State Housing Bank. This contributes to a healthy development in education and produces candidates who are accustomed to working in teams with architects and civil engineers. In this way, LANDSAM (ILP) continues the tradition of good interdisciplinary collaboration.