What is Landscape Architecture
The main reason for this blog is for people to understand what Landscape Architecture is, in layman's terms. I am confident that if you were to read the Landscape Architecture Magazine (which is the trade publication for Landscape Architects), you would not find a clear answer. Frankly, it's tough to define. Landscape Architects turn up in most planning and development projects in one way or another. I like to think we ultimately bridge the gap between the Architects and the Civil Engineers on the design team. One is focused on the building and the other is focused on the site from a utilitarian perspective (drainage, grading, circulation, utilities, big site walls).
To make it further confusing, enter planners and landscape designers. Most planners(urban designers) are either Architects or Landscape Architects by trade and tend to be focused on broad brush,very large scale items, i.e. the Beltline in Atlanta.
(Planners looking at a city map)
Landscape designers vary greatly from horticulturists focused on residential gardens to people who are trained as Landscape Architects and haven't attained their license yet or do not care to and want to focus on small scale residential design. You'll find (usually) every lawn service offers some sort of "landscape design". I am not belittling landscape designers in any way. I know of some very talented landscape designers that run design build operations. This is a generic rundown of these trades to give you a feel for who's who's in the design world and not an exhaustive list of who does what.
I still haven't answered my initial question, what is Landscape Architecture? We fill the gap from on the design team between the Architects and the Civil Engineers. Architects have a whole host of consultants that they manage to produce the drawings for the building. Civil engineers (mostly) spend their time on the drainage and the site hydrology report-its a huge document filled with graphics and maps that show how the site will ultimately handle the stormwater. Landscape Architects are focused on the site's aesthetics from how the buildings sit in the landscape to the overall design of the site elements (pools, terraces, outdoor kitchens, landscape, accent lighting, and the pedestrian walks). So simply put Landscape Architects are responsible for the aesthetics of the site and all that entails.
(image from:https://www.123rf.com/clipart-vector/landscape_architect.html)
Which is why my wife can't take me anywhere as I'll analyse how it feels as we walk along the shops in new developments. You'll find Landscape Architects working on outdoor spaces from residential gardens to rooftop gardens for high rises, apartment complexes, neighborhoods (you know those ones with the cool entry features,the tennis courts, the nice pool, and the high HOA fees to pay for it all), trail systems and finally parks and civic plazas.
I could go on but I've probably crossed into boring jargon and have lost you at this point. That's what makes this profession so hard to define but hopefully you'll come away with a better understanding of what Landscape Architecture is. I'm also hoping that some of my old classmates and friends will chime in in the comments below to help fill in any gaps that I may have left out.
To make it further confusing, enter planners and landscape designers. Most planners(urban designers) are either Architects or Landscape Architects by trade and tend to be focused on broad brush,very large scale items, i.e. the Beltline in Atlanta.
(Planners looking at a city map)
Landscape designers vary greatly from horticulturists focused on residential gardens to people who are trained as Landscape Architects and haven't attained their license yet or do not care to and want to focus on small scale residential design. You'll find (usually) every lawn service offers some sort of "landscape design". I am not belittling landscape designers in any way. I know of some very talented landscape designers that run design build operations. This is a generic rundown of these trades to give you a feel for who's who's in the design world and not an exhaustive list of who does what.
I still haven't answered my initial question, what is Landscape Architecture? We fill the gap from on the design team between the Architects and the Civil Engineers. Architects have a whole host of consultants that they manage to produce the drawings for the building. Civil engineers (mostly) spend their time on the drainage and the site hydrology report-its a huge document filled with graphics and maps that show how the site will ultimately handle the stormwater. Landscape Architects are focused on the site's aesthetics from how the buildings sit in the landscape to the overall design of the site elements (pools, terraces, outdoor kitchens, landscape, accent lighting, and the pedestrian walks). So simply put Landscape Architects are responsible for the aesthetics of the site and all that entails.
(image from:https://www.123rf.com/clipart-vector/landscape_architect.html)
Which is why my wife can't take me anywhere as I'll analyse how it feels as we walk along the shops in new developments. You'll find Landscape Architects working on outdoor spaces from residential gardens to rooftop gardens for high rises, apartment complexes, neighborhoods (you know those ones with the cool entry features,the tennis courts, the nice pool, and the high HOA fees to pay for it all), trail systems and finally parks and civic plazas.
I could go on but I've probably crossed into boring jargon and have lost you at this point. That's what makes this profession so hard to define but hopefully you'll come away with a better understanding of what Landscape Architecture is. I'm also hoping that some of my old classmates and friends will chime in in the comments below to help fill in any gaps that I may have left out.
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