The Landscape Architect & Architecture
On the other pages of this site we have talked extensively about landscaping and gardening, but we have not talked about the people who made those beautiful designs and give that special look to our yards and gardens, the landscape architect. These people combine art and science in landscape architecture, to come up with great concepts that are later brought to life thanks to the very special skills they have learned through studies and experience. A fifth of all the landscape architects are free lance or have their own companies, they require a special license. In order to obtain this license they have to comply with several requirements that include a degree in architecture (landscape), and passing a registration exam. For larger firms, only the best landscape architects are recruited and the competition is actually tough.
A landscape architect will work in a variety of landscape architecture projects that include designing gardens, residential areas, parkways, golf courses and college campuses. They take care of the planning in terms of arranging trees, flowers and shrubs. More challenging projects include the restoration of wetlands, forests and areas affected by mining activities. The landscape architect works in close contact with engineers, other architects and surveyors for certain projects as well as foresters, environmental scientists and conservationists in order to preserve and restore damaged natural resources.
A very important part of the job of a landscape architect involves planning, they need to take into account several factors to guarantee the success of their projects. Once they have defined thew purpose of the project, they should analyze all the natural elements of the place to be landscaped. Vegetation, soil, and even climate are things to be taken into account before actually starting any project. The possible impact to the natural environment of the site is one of the factors that are more seriously taken into consideration at every stage of the project. The use of technology has become now essential to the landscape architect&;s job, through a series of software that includes video simulation. These programs allow both the customers and the architects to see their projects &;done&; even before they actually start.
In order to achieve the best results possible, the landscape architect does not work in isolation, but in close collaboration with hydrologists, building architects and other professionals involved in each project. Once the planning stage is over, and plans and models and budgets and permits are all done, the field work begins with great possibilities of being successful if the well designed plan is followed. The average landscape architect works from 40 to 50 hours a week in order to comply with the projects&; deadlines they have been given.
In terms of studies, at least 67 colleges and universities offer landscape architecture programs, and in order to become a landscape architecture a bachelor&;s degree in this area is required. Landscape architecture is a popular career that is gaining even more popularity in these days.