What is Landscape Architecture?
Ashleigh Clarke Architects

What is Landscape Architecture?


Posted: September, 2020

Author: AC Architects

Share:

Landscape Architecture is all about creating and conserving memorable places for people to live and work in. It embraces both sides of the scale from towns to country, and from individual streets to national parks. Landscape Architecture requires a flair of creativity, and a passion for improving environmental quality to peoples lives.

Landscape architecture is a formal process of study, design, and construction by which new landscapes are created to meet the aspirations of the people concerned, creating new opportunities for clients and the environment. Landscape architecture involves framing proper planning projects, more particularly those affected by changes and the badly damaged areas, like for example suburbs, peri-urban, industrial and coastal areas.  The purpose of such planning projects to radically re-shape the damaged landscapes. Helping bring environments back to life.

Landscape Architecture has a meaning to life, it can contribute well to our health and well-being and bring nature and our environment alive. It can add rich amounts of foliage and helps to improve the air quality around your home. Plants absorb harmful pollutants and chemicals, purifying the air without the use of electricity or machinery. Landscape designs can be as feature-rich as you wish, but the more plants you have, the more pollutants they’ll absorb.

How a Landscape Architect designs.

Landscape architects tackle complex projects on different scales, the projects include planning, planting and construction. Which enables the architect to think outside the box, creating unique designs each time.

Landscape architects are part of a team working with architects, engineers, planners and surveyors. They could be involved in much smaller projects, perhaps working with the local community in order to help improve school grounds, local parks or a private client to design their garden. Landscape Architecture brings a whole diversity of work, connecting with nature and the environment, making the profession so interesting and stimulating.

A landscape architect’s work will often begin with analysing the existing site, then followed by the design of schematic plans for the property. After this construction drawings will be produced which then the contractors will follow to build/install the architects design. A landscape architects construction drawings will always typically include a minimum layout with certain specifications to feature on the site such as; walkways, parking areas and structures. Storm drainage design will also be a feature along with a planting plan and construction detailing.

Some landscape architects work on a variety of project types, others specialise in a particular area such as street and highway beautification, waterfront improvement projects, parks and so on. Others work in regional and resource management, feasibility, environmental impact and cost studies or site construction. Increasingly, landscape architects work in environmental remediation such as preservation and restoration of wetlands or abatement of stormwater runoff in new developments. Historic landscape preservation and restoration is another area where landscape architects increasingly play a role.

Author: AC Architects

Share: