Martin Barry – New York-based landscape architect, founder of reSITE festival

In this weeks Arts my guest is New York-based landscape architect Martin Barry who last year launched a new festival and conference in Prague called reSITE, focussing on urbanism and rethinking the public space. To this aim, he and organisers involved everyone from internationally recognised designers and urban planners, to students of arts and architecture, and last, but not least, politicians.

Martin Barry, photo: archive of reSITE festival Speaking to Martin Barry on a line to New York, I asked him what first brought him to Prague.

I came to Prague in August of 2011 on a Fulbright scholarship. My field is landscape architecture and I am a practising designer in New York. I took a year off from my job there and the intention of the Fulbright was to teach in Prague and expand the understanding of contemporary landscape architecture and urban design in the Czech Republic. As it stands, in practice and education landscape architecture is really a garden profession in the Czech Republic, whereas the things I have been involved in around the world have really been improving waterfronts, improving urban plans - more of an urban profession.

But you also founded reSITE...

Thats right. We were talking about contemporary practice and expanding on that and as part of the mission, rather than just teaching at the Faculty of Architecture, I began talking to people about the issues of public space and realised that it wasnt be discussed that much. There was a budding interest but it was a matter of re-phrasing the questions. The initial idea was only to have a small symposium to address the issues in the region but the interest was so great that within five months we went from holding a half-day symposium to a six day festival and three conferences looking at public space, complete with all kinds of events, a free pavilion and screenings and so on.

Do you take, as sort of a launching point, the fact that are always elements of living in cities that can be improved or should be changed?

Yes. I think that the city is an organism that is always evolving and as designers, politicians, financiers, community members... we always need to be re-thinking the cityscape and making sure that it is keeping up with contemporary demands, be they ecological, economic or development demands. Cities always need to be changed and I think that all those groups that I mentioned have a stake in it.

reSITE festival, photo: archive of reSITE festival Many problems probably overlap some are unique to certain areas... but before we get to that, what kind of city is Prague positives first?

Well there is no question that Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Being in the centre of Europe it benefits from an amazing amount of energy and architecturally it is exquisite. Prague sees itself as an architectural gem, with centuries of different styles preserved as it was minimally bombed during the World War. It has intact its medieval core and I think that people really enjoy this. It is easy to walk through this medieval centre and this is definitely very attractive. Its not surprising visitors fall in love with it and come from all over the world to experience it. There is an amazing amount of intellect in the city, always has. So I see the city very positively in this respect.

Of course, it has also gone through many trials, being occupied, 40 years of communism... which was a disaster. It has taken almost 20 years how to get out of it in terms of forming a modern city. The good thing is that the new generation which has no experience with communism that is determined to introduce change and have a positive impact on the city.

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Martin Barry – New York-based landscape architect, founder of reSITE festival