Landscape architects and designers play different roles in helping to solve specific problems, set priorities and create ideal landscapes.
Landscape architects and designers are landscape professionals who play different roles in helping to create ideal landscapes. They can help to solve specific problems and set priorities. How do their functions differ?
Landscape architects use technical and artistic talents and education to plan and design built environments (landscapes.) Molders or architects of the land is one way to describe their jobs. Training and studies are rigorous. A landscape architect studies to do engineering analyses as well as design-and-build specifications for both large commercial projects and smaller residential landscapes. Landscape architects undergo apprenticeships and lengthy examination before licensure.
Landscape architects may study and exploit additional training in social sciences – such as behavioral psychology, sociology, anthropology, and economics - to bring a human dimension to their designs. Breaking and Entering, a film about a London landscape architect with Jude Law in the starring role, is an example of this approach.
Many times, people, especially home owners, think they need to use a landscape architect for projects. However, unless there are significant or unusual environmental problems, hiring a qualified landscape designer, at a significantly lower price, might be the best bet.
Landscape designers analyze exterior spaces to plan, design, and create livable landscape designs. Their building blocks are plants and hardscape components. Organizations like The Association of Professional Landscape Designers®promote standards of excellence and a certification process within the profession. However, be aware that almost anyone can use the title "landscape designer." Some individuals possess good artistic talent, academic credentials, and on-the-job experience, while others know only a little, leaving customers frustrated and dissatisfied.
Garden centers and landscape firms often employ landscape designers as a complementary customer service or as an add-on fee-for-service option. Finding a landscape designer in this manner can be a good deal for a customer. However, this approach may lead to designers using only what their employers want to emphasize and sell, resulting in neighborhood or regional look-alike designs.
Green Industry Professionals, the second article in this series, describes services of landscape contractors (landscapers) and landscape contractors. The thrid article in this series describes specialized services of landscape professionals who provide a multitude of services. The 4th and 5th articles look at how to choose the correct professional for a project, and how to find and hire a professional.
The copyright of the article Landscape Professionals in Landscaping is owned by Georgene A. Bramlage. Permission to republish Landscape Professionals in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
I loved this book about the man who designed many of today's urban green
spaces, including New York's Central Park.
He was a jack of all
trades and led a fascinating life.
Everyone who enjoys green
space owes a debt of gratitude to the early landscape architects and the
people who employed them, and the ones who agreed to set aside the land. I
wish all of today's leaders would see the value of parks and quiet spaces.
Jan 19, 2007 9:11 PM
Georgene A. Bramlage
:
01/19/2007
Jill,
Thank you very much for mention
Olmsted and that book...the people of the U.S. have much more than Central
Park in NY City for which to thank him.
He is somewhat of a
local person for me...<a
href="www.nps.gov/frla/appa.htm">his "home site" is
in Brookline, MA</a> just a good walk or a short trolley ride from
historic Boston; he is buried in Hartford, CT.
Thanls,
again...
Georgene (AKA Cercis)
Jan 21, 2007 6:08 AM
pondwriter
:
The landscape contractor often carries out the design of the landscape
architect. Often the landscape contractor can work independently because
her experience and passion can make her a designer. Landscape contractors,
by virtue of license restrictions cannot do any hardscape, like driveways
or swimming pools.
Jan 22, 2007 5:28 AM
Georgene A. Bramlage
:
01/22 Jan, Thanks for your input :) The 2nd and 3rd articles
in this series - <a
href="http://landscaping.suite101.com/article.cfm/why_hire_landscape_p
rofessionals_">Landscape Professionals</a> - describe those
who provide a multitude of services. The 4th and 5th articles look at how
to choose the correct professional for a project, and how to find and hire
a professional. These will be posted this week and next week.
In many parts of the U.S. and elsewhere, licensing is not necessary to
do hardscaping work. This, of course, often leads to disappointment,
frustration, and waste of money. Georgene