bdla Economic Forum and Young Landscape Architects’ Workshop on 26 and 27 February 2026

In February 2026, the bdla Business Forum and the preceding ‘Young Landscape Architecture’ workshop will focus on economic issues. Both events will address the challenges and future issues facing planning practices – in one case from the perspective of young landscape architects, and in the other with a focus on the operating conditions for established practices.

26 February 2026: 6th Young Landscape Architecture Workshop

The 2026 Young Landscape Architecture Workshop is dedicated to the theme of ‘Growth’. Lectures and panel discussions will explore different perspectives.

Growth means becoming larger and developing structures. It means constantly weighing up options and making decisions. What questions accompany growth, what risks, what opportunities? Where are the limits to growth, what is sensible, how do we remain flexible? What will remain ‘later on’ as the core of the growing and established practice? How do we deal with periods of non-growth? How do we downsize?

The workshop invites participants to share experiences, develop joint strategies and foster open discussion amongst colleagues.

27 February 2026: 16th bdla Economic Forum

The 2026 Economic Forum will focus on current issues relating to remuneration, public procurement and new forms of work. It will examine practical approaches to ensuring adequate remuneration for planning services and dealing with business and contractual issues whilst the HOAI 2021 remains in force. Furthermore, current developments in public procurement law at federal and state level will be presented, supplemented by a presentation on the Bavarian Chamber of Architects’ Procurement Compass. Last but not least, a presentation will address approaches to new and innovative ways of organising working time.

Alongside the presentations, collegial exchange plays a key role in the event. The Business Forum is a platform for information and discussion aimed at all those with a business mindset working in planning offices and public authorities.

2026
Programme

Thursday, 26 February 2026
6th Young Landscape
Architecture Workshop Topic: Growth

1.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Grow with us.
Prof. Laura Vahl, Chair of Design/Competitions and Visualisation, Berlin University of Applied Sciences, KOKOMO Landscape and Urban Space GmbH, Berlin

Shaping development! Striking a balance between intuition and planning
Michael Wenzel, NUWELA Office for Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture, Munich

Growth – wanting, learning, trying
David Theidel, GREENBOX Landscape Architects Partnership mbB, Cologne/Stuttgart

S = Self-employed, starting on the smallest scale
Katja Erke, Landschaftsmanufaktur, Berlin

Followed by a professional discussion and Q&A session.

Venue: Bavarian Chamber of Architects, Hall B, 2nd floor
Participation: free of charge

7.30 pm
(optional): Pre-event get-together (booking required / at participants’ own expense)
Dinner
at Augustiner-Keller
, Arnulfstraße 5, 80335 Munich

Friday, 27 February 2026
16th bdla Economic Forum

From 9.30 am
Conference registration

10.00 am
Welcome and introduction
by Markus Pieper, GREENBOX Landscape Architects Partnership mbB, Cologne/Stuttgart

10.10 – 10.50 am
Expert report on HOAI 202X – Findings and recommendations
for action Part 1 – On the scope of services for outdoor spaces
Mirjam Mohrlüder, Bierbaum.Aichele.landschaftsarchitekten, Mainz, Frankfurt am Main
Part 2 – On the scope of services for landscape planning:
Dieter Pfrommer, Pfrommer + Roeder Freie Landschaftsarchitekten, Stuttgart

10.50 – 12.20 am
Practical approach to unresolved HOAI issues, whilst the HOAI 2021 remains
in force Dr Sebastian Schattenfroh, specialist solicitor for construction and architectural law, Gaßner, Groth, Siederer & Coll. Law firm partnership, Legal Adviser to the bdla, Berlin

12.20 – 12.45 Discussion
of the guidelines and procurement practice – added value, relevance, reality
Mirjam Mohrlüder, Dieter Pfrommer and Dr Sebastian Schattenfroh

12.45 – 14.00 Lunch break

2.00 – 3.00 pm
The Procurement Compass – sound procedural culture for sound building culture!
Margit Friedrich, Procurement and Competition Division, Bavarian Chamber of Architects, Munich
Doris Grabner, grabner huber lipp landscape architects and urban planners partnership mbb, Freising/Hamburg

3.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Procurement reform at federal and state level: Federal laws to speed up procurement, sub-threshold reform in North Rhine-Westphalia & Co. – and what to bear in
mind when bidding for public planning contracts in future Dr Martin Jansen, Specialist Solicitor for Public Procurement Law, Partner, Kapellmann und Partner Rechtsanwälte mbB, Berlin

4.00 – 4.30 pm Coffee break

4.30 pm – 5.30 pm
Rethinking
working hours Dr Sandra Schuster, Architect, author of ‘Shaping Timeframes: Flexible Working Time Models in Architectural Practices’, Head of the TUM.wood Research Group, Director of Research at the Chair of Architecture and Timber Construction, Technical University of Munich

approx. 5.45 pm End of the conference

Moderation and concept
: Jens Henningsen, Henningsen Landscape Architects, Berlin; bdla Treasurer
Markus Pieper, GREENBOX Landscape Architects Partnership mbB, Cologne/Stuttgart