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Landscape architecture

Landscape architecture is an art form that has been practiced for what seems like forever. However, it has become exceedingly popular in this modern time. Often times taking over from where nature left off, as we become more creative in the way we design with landscape architecture. But, what exactly is landscape architecture? What makes it different from your average landscape design?

Landscape design is considered to be one of the most modern of the “landscaping” or environmental professions that are available to work in. It is a profession in which those who seek to study within it, that you are able to care for the earth and it’s landscape. This is a means of broadening your spectrum of landscape design. Rather than your simple backyard landscaping, you will find that you are involved in a much bigger picture with landscape architecture.

When you enter the landscape architecture profession you can expect a few things. First and foremost you can anticipate on participating in master planning. Not to mention the site planning, environmental restoration, urban planning, or even park and recreational planning. However, these are only a few different options in the field of landscape architecture. There are countless thousands of different methods of being a practitioner in this field.

Regardless of the many different fields available in landscape architecture, they will differ from state to state and country to country. Making it one of the most versatile and vast career choices around today.

However before you make the decision on whether or not you should look for a career in landscape architecture. There are many things that you will need to learn about. Especially the different jobs available in the landscape architecture field. Whether or not any one sub-field is available in your area, and how landscape architecture is practiced in your overall geographical area. All of which will be answered in this article series, to help you learn a little more about landscape architecture.

Tip one: Always know and understand the history of the field of work you are looking into. This also includes landscape architecture! Simply because you can learn from the past, as well as from the future.

The history of landscape architecture is long standing. Much like gardening, these arts have been practiced for decades. Landscape architecture has been traced all the way back to the Romans, who undertook landscape architecture on an enormous scale. However, it wasn’t until the Renaissance that these garden designs once more fame into fruition. Sadly, it was a lost art for years until the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Where landscape architecture then took off in the gardens throughout the world.

However, landscape architecture didn’t resemble the career path that we know and love today until the eighteenth century. When Humphry Repton and Lancelot Brown, were known to have remodeled the estate parks as a more tidied up version of mother nature. Thus coming to sculpt the land itself, along with the plant life to resemble that of buildings, and nature’s woods and other natural designs. Which brings us to the new-age landscape architecture that we all know and love today.

It wasn’t until the nineteenth century that urban planning has become one of the biggest staples in landscape architecture. While it is a combination of both new and old, it was needed to help bring in a little bit of nature into our overly crowded living space. Things such as parks, zoos and other places that would see large quantities of people, were all looked at in the eyes of a landscape architect. Bringing in their own creative instincts, and ability to bring those ideas into reality for us all to enjoy.

Some of these modern projects can vary greatly from one job to the next, however some examples of the jobs you can expect to face in this field are:

1. Planning and scaling new developments.
2. Designing public infrastructures.
3. Storm water management.
4. Parks, botanical gardens, green ways, as well as nature preserves.
5. Highways (bridges and other transport structures).

These are just a few of the many tasks in which a landscape architect will work. In the next article in the series we will focus a little bit more closely on each of these particular jobs.

Tip two: Know the field! Knowing what the possibilities are as important as your schooling and certifications in this field of work.

Landscape architecture, the ancient art of creating a landscape through architecture in the new world. Often times ranging from the preservation of nature all the way to highway and urban design. While you might find yourself interested in one form or another of landscape architecture, you will find that you will need to practice them all at one point or another. This will simply allow you to broaden your resume, and allow you to obtain a more lucrative position in the landscape architecture field.

Civil design and public infrastructures are only a couple of the work sites that you will see in your career as a landscape architect. While they are some of the more common landscape architecture jobs that you will find, you will even run into positions such as storm water management.

When you work on jobs that include storm water management. You can expect to be working on a number of different things. A couple of these items are rain gardens in your local parks or businesses, green roofs (living roof systems) , as well as the treatment and preservation of your local wetlands.

Campus and site design is another common job that you will find yourself placing bids on. Whether you are a self employed landscape architect or working for a landscape design firm. These jobs will often times have you designing and implicating your creativity on local institution’s grounds. While they might not be your ideal job, they tend to be a wonderful addition to your resume. Particularly because they are a high-profile client in your local area.

Along these same lines of green design (the use of plants in your landscape architecture) you will find yourself designing local parks, botanical gardens, and nature preserves. However, in this same category you may find yourself involved in the intricate planning of arboretums and green ways as well. All of which will help your local community to beautify itself, all while fluffing up your resume in the process.

Tip three: Don’t limit yourself to the greenery! There are jobs that involve state highway planning that can be just as well paying! They can help you to obtain a high class client in the government, to ensure that you stay busy throughout the year.

While you might have become a landscape architect for the greenery, there are other facets to this broad career. The flip side of the coin if you will of landscape architecture. While many people don’t stop to think about the possibilities of this less-seen side of the coin; you may find that it will suit your personality and want for the job far better.

Some of these man inspired landscape architecture and design jobs can and will include recreation facilities. Some of which can and will include golf courses, theme parks, and even sometimes sports facilities such as stadiums. Intriguing ? Yes! To many this is a part of the landscape architecture world that is the initial pull for them.

Some of the non-green landscape architecture projects you can expect to be apart of are: the planning and design of highways and other transportation structures such as bridges, and transit corridors. Housing, industrial parks, as well as on a larger scale our parking lots, urban regeneration, and even cities and commercial projects such as malls. All of which can bring in incredible pay and experience to the table. Making it some of the top-paying and more lucrative positions in the landscape design fields.

While you might find yourself wrist-deep in mud and muck for your landscape architecture. You may very well learn one of the biggest lessons early on. That the planning and design of all of these major projects is the key to any of them becoming successful. Making it important to have a knowledge of the field, as well as your own personal creativity that isn’t barred by convention. Instead, you should be able to go out on a limb with your landscape architecture, you never know what design will be approved.

Remember, when you are entering the landscape architecture field, that you will more than likely start out with employment within a construction or service company. While this might not be the job you are looking for in the field, it can and will open up revenues that would otherwise be un-attainable later on.

Tip four: Honing your skills into a specialization will help you to obtain jobs that you want. While being a jack of all trades is a wonderful skill, if you specialize in one or two different areas: you will find that people will call you for that expertise.

While there are many skills to learn when becoming a landscape architect, you may find that honing into one or two skills is the way to go. From garden design, landscape engineering, management, horticulture, forestry, conservation, and even agriculture. There are many options to choose from. While it is possible to understand each skill quite well, it can and will take years to completely and thoroughly understand each enough to be considered a specialist. For this reason you may opt to pick and choose one or two of the sub-fields to specialize in, along with your landscape architecture schooling and certifications.

Whether you are in the United States, Canada, Italy, or Russia there are certain certifications and schooling processes in which you will need to pass before becoming a landscape architect. While in the United States all landscaping is regulated by each state individually. While in one state you may be required to be licensed in landscape architecture, another you may not. For this reason it is important to research your state’s laws. However, if you are schooling in your state: they will have the local regulations on hand.

Though if you were to live in Canada, the laws and regulations vary as well. Typically the landscape architecture field as a whole is regulated by the provincial or territorial components throughout Canada. Of which are governed by a national organization known as the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (L`Association Des Architectes, Paysagistes du Canada). Depending on which part of Canada you reside in.

However, these aren’t the only countries with their very own landscape architecture programs and certification. Australia has a firm grasp of these fine fields, as well as Italy, Ireland, and the United Kingdom all have their own laws on the regulation on landscape architecture.

Now that you can better understand the depth of landscape architecture, it is now time to further your knowledge on the over-all scene of landscape design and architecture. All of which can be found in a number of articles throughout this site. Which will give you tips and tricks on becoming a landscape architect or landscape designer. Good luck!