Alandscape architect is a person who is educated and trained in the field oflandscape architecture.
According to theInternational Federation of Landscape Architects, which draws onInternational Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO/08, 2162), the profession is defined as:[1][2]:
Landscape Architects plan, design and manage natural and built environments, applying aesthetic and scientific principles to address ecological sustainability, quality and health of landscapes, collective memory, heritage and culture, and territorial justice.
Other definitions emphasise the technical and regulatory aspects of practice. For example, landscape architecture may include site analysis and inventory, land andsite planning, planting design, grading and earthworks,nature based solutions, stormwater management,sustainable design, engagement, construction specification, and ensuring compliance with building codes, planning policy, and environmental regulation[3][4][5].
The origins and practice of landscape architecture dates to some of the earliest of human cultures and just as much as the practice of medicine has been inimical to the species and ubiquitous worldwide for several millennia. The wordlandscape itself entered English in the late 16th century, derived from the Dutchlandschap[6] meaning the area of land that a person can look at all at the same time[7] and the wordarchitect from the Latinarchitectus, which derives from the Greek (arkhi-, chief +tekton, builder), i.e., chief builder.
However, this article examines the modern profession and educational discipline of those practicing the design of landscape architecture.
In the 1700s,Humphry Repton described his occupation as "landscape gardener" on business cards he had prepared to represent him in work that now would be described as that of a landscape architect.
The title, "landscape architect", was first used byFrederick Law Olmsted, the designer of New York City'sCentral Park inManhattan and numerous projects of large scale both public and private. He was the founder of a firm of landscape architects who employed highly skilled professionals to design and execute aspects of projects designed under his auspices.
Depending on the jurisdiction, landscape architects may be required to obtain professional registration, licensure, or certification to practice. The titles, post-nominal letters, and requirements vary internationally. For example, practitioners may become Chartered Members of the Landscape Institute (CMLI)[8] in the United Kingdom, Registered Landscape Architects (RLA) or Professional Landscape Architects (PLA) in the United States[9], or hold equivalent status through professional associations and statutory boards in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland. In most cases, registration requires completion of an accredited degree, supervised professional experience, and passing an examination, granting the right to practice independently and use the protected professional title.
TheInternational Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) is an organisation which represents thelandscape architectural profession globally. It aims to provide leadership and networks to support the development of the profession and its effective participation in the realisation of attractive, equitable and sustainable environments. IFLA currently represents 80 member associations from Africa, the Americas, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Europe. The Federation's mission is to create globally sustainable and balanced living environments for the benefit of humanity worldwide[10].
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TheAustralian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) states that "Landscape Architects research, plan, design, and advise on the stewardship, conservation, and sustainability of development of the environment and spaces, both within and beyond the built environment".[11] This definition of the profession of landscape architect is based on the International Standard Classification of Occupations, International Labour Office,[12]Geneva.
Some notable Australian landscape architects includeCatherin Bull,[13][14]Kevin Taylor,[15]Richard Weller,Peter Spooner,[16] Sydney based writer and designer(Doris) Jocelyn Brown,[17]Grace Fraser,[18]Bruce Mackenzie,[19][20] Mary Jeavons,[21] Janet Conrad,[22] Dr Jim Sinatra,[23]William Guilfoyle,Ina Higgins,Edna Walling, andEllis Stones.
To become a recognised professional landscape architect in Australia, the first requirement is to obtain a degree in landscape architecture accredited by theAustralian Institute of Landscape Architects. After at least two years of recognised professional practice, graduates may submit for further assessment to obtain full professional recognition by AILA.
TheCanadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) is the country's professional association of landscape architects.[24] Some notable Canadian landscape architects includeCornelia Oberlander,[25]Claude Cormier,[26]Peter Jacobs,Janet Rosenberg,[27] Marc Ryan, and Michael Hough.[28]
TheIrish Landscape Institute (ILI),Irish: Institiúid Tírdhreacha na hÉireann, is the professional body for landscape architects and related disciplines in Ireland. Established in 1992[29]. It represents over 300 members across public and private sectors. It is affiliated with international organisations including theEuropean Foundation for Landscape Architecture and theInternational Federation of Landscape Architects. Notable Landscape Architects areMary Reynolds (landscape designer) and Robert Carson[30].
The New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (NZILA), also known by itsMāori name Tuia Pito Ora, is the professional body for landscape architects in New Zealand, established in 1972[31]. As of 2021, it has 1,130 members including students[32]. Notable Landscape ArchitectsJacky Bowring,James Beard (architect),Rachel de Lambert,Di Lucas,Anna Plischke,Diane Menzies,Harry Turbott,Mary Watt, andMegan Wraight.
TheLandscape Institute, founded in 1929[33], is the recognised body relating to the field of Landscape Architecture throughout the United Kingdom. To become a recognised landscape architect in the UK takes approximately seven years. To begin the process, one has to study an accredited course by the Landscape Institute to obtain a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture or a similar field. Following this one must progress onto a postgraduate diploma in the field of landscape architecture covering the subject in far greater detail such as mass urban planning, construction, and planting. Following this, the trainee must complete the Pathway to Chartership,[34] a challenging program set out by the Landscape Institute. Following this, one is awarded a full landscape architect title and membership among the Chartered Members of the Landscape Institute (CMLI). Other membership also includes Fellow of the Landscape Institute (FLI) is the highest form of membership awarded to its innovators, leaders and ambassadors[35]. Notable British Landscape Architects includeHumphry Reptons,Capability Brown,Geoffrey Jellicoe,Sylvia Crowe,Gertrude Jekyll,Brenda Colvin,Thomas Hayton Mawson,Hal Moggridge,Ian McHarg,Arabella Lennox-Boyd,Tom Stuart-Smith,Johanna Gibbons,Kathryn Moore,Andrew Grant andJames Corner.
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The United States is the founding country of the formal profession entitled landscape architecture. Those in this field work both to create an aesthetically pleasing setting and also to protect and preserve the environment in an area. In the U.S., a need to formalize the practice and a name for the profession was resolved in 1899 with the formation of theAmerican Society of Landscape Architects. A few of the many talented and influential landscape architects who have been based in the United States are:Frederick Law Olmsted,Beatrix Farrand,Jens Jensen,Ian McHarg,Thomas Church,Arthur Shurtleff,Ellen Biddle ShipmanJohn Nolen,Lawrence Halprin,Charles Edgar Dickinson,Iris Miller,Robert Royston,Martha Schwartz andKate Orff.
Landscape architects who pass state requirements to become registered, licensed, or certified may be entitled to use the postnominal letters corresponding to their seal, typically RLA (Registered Landscape Architect) or more recently, PLA (Professional Landscape Architect) n.[36] In the US, all 50 states have adopted licensure.[9] TheAmerican Society of Landscape Architects endorses the postnominal letters PLA, for Professional Landscape Architect, even though there is no legal or professional distinction between the use of RLA or PLA.[37]
Royston summed up one American theme:
Landscape architecture practices the fine art of relating the structure of culture to the nature of landscape, to the end that people can use it, enjoy it, and preserve it.
Landscape architects work internationally across scales, from small gardens to regional and global landscapes. Their practice combines design, planning, management, and research, addressing issues such as conservation, heritage, urbanisation, infrastructure, health, and climate resilience[38].
The profession operates in diverse contexts, from protected area management and heritage restoration to urban regeneration, renewable energy integration, and nature-based solutions in rapidly growing cities[39][1][40][41][42].
Scope of practice includes:
Media related toLandscape architects at Wikimedia Commons
