Landscape Architecture as a Profession

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Landscape Architecture as a Profession

A landscape architect is an individual who arranges and modifies the

effects of natural scenery over a tract of land so as to produce the best

aesthetic effect for the land's use. Landscape architecture is the design

profession which applies artistic, cultural, and scientific knowledge to

the design, planning, and development of the land. Landscape architects

accept certain responsibilities related to the health and welfare of the

public and are concerned with resource conservation of the land. The

practice of landscape architecture requires an appreciation and

understanding of natural and social processes, a creative imagination, and

a commitment to preserve or improve the environment for human use and

enjoyment.

Landscape architects plan the most harmonious relationships between the

land and the objects on it by proper combination of open space and

planting, and by wise use of land formation (Concise 151). They may work

on parks, gardens, housing projects, school campuses, golf courses, or

airports. They begin a project by reviewing the needs and desires of the

client. They study the site, mapping such features as the slope of the

land, existing structures and the type of soil. They check local

building codes and availability of utilities, make drawings which outline

the work in detail, and draw up lists of materials to be used. They then

invite bids from construction companies and landscape nursery companies.

With the awarding of the contracts, their work may be finished, or they

may stay on to supervise the work as their client’s representative (151).

A major branch of landscape architecture, golf course architecture,

integrates the skills of a landscape architect on a larger scale. The aim

a golf course architect is to create a truly great golf course by

utilizing to the fullest extent possible the potential of a promising

piece of land (Golfplan 1). This potential is expressed in the site’s

location, slope, vegetation, water features, soil types, climate and

orientation. The role a golf course architect is the realization of this

potential under the constraints of design criteria that separate the truly

great golf course from the ordinary (1).

Landscape architecture, the science and art of modifying land areas by

organizing natural, cultivated, or constructed elements according to an

aesthetic plan (Encarta 1). The elements include topographical features

such as hills, valleys, rivers, and ponds; and growing things such as

trees, shrubbery, grass, and flowers; and constructions such as buildings,

terraces, roads, bridges, fountains, and statuary. No unalterable rules

exist in landscape architecture because each plot of ground offers unique

problems caused by variation in contour, climate, and surrounding areas

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