Landscape architecture is the comprehensive discipline of land analysis, planning, design, management, preservation, and rehabilitation. The profession of landscape architecture has been built on the principles of dedication to the public safety, health and welfare recognition and protection of the land and its resources.
An overview of Landscape architecture;
Landscape architecture can be traced to the origins of man and early agricultural development, although it did not evolve into a profession until the mid-19th Century, as society sought to meet many of the new challenges of industrialization and urban growth. With that concern came the realization that cities, in particular, had to be more functional, welcoming, and aesthetically pleasing to their inhabitants. Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903), best known for his design of Central Park in New York City, was an early proponent of the more formalised consideration of man’s interaction with the land, and has long been acknowledged as the founder of American landscape architecture.
Today, projects that involve the work of landscape architects include: residential, parks and recreation, monuments, urban design, streetscapes and public spaces, transportation corridors and facilities, waterway restoration and reuse, gardens and arboreta, security design, hospitality and resorts, institutional, academic campuses, therapeutic gardens, historic preservation and restoration, conservation, corporate and commercial, landscape art and earth sculpture, interior landscapes, and more.
The inclusion of landscape architecture can have a profound impact on the “whole building design” process. Optimally, a building is not an invasion of the landscape but a vital extension of it. It is inescapable that a building must rest in a space, and that before it can be entered, it must be approached. Where a building rests on the land, and how it rests on the land, sets the context for its evolving construction, development, and use. This initial phase of the ‘whole building design’ process is the domain of the landscape architect. So too are the end phases of construction, when measures are taken to complete the areas around a building—the look and feel of the surfaces, hardscaped and landscaped spaces, structure itself, and the approaches to the site on which located. A well designed property, when developed within ‘whole building’ design principles, is properly integrated with its’ surroundings; must be a good neighbor within the community where it rests to other structures and its natural setting; and should be accessible, secure, and aesthetically pleasing from the outside.
A landscape architect is the arbiter of a building’s interaction with its physical location. As a part of a “whole building”, collaborative approach, a landscape architect can help to answer these questions:
- Where in a community should a building be placed?
- Where does it best fit on a particular site? How can a building’s interaction with the land be maximized?
- How can a building’s environmental impact be efficiently managed?
- How can the goals of the owners and users be accommodated?
Because of the wide range of work that encompasses the profession, landscape architects have a great appreciation for a multidisciplinary approach to design challenges. The premium landscape architecture places on the relationship between society and the natural world also means that its’ practitioners often urge the employment of sustainable design practices that balance stewardship of land—which minimizes environmental degradation and consumption—with the need to provide a healthy, productive, and meaningful life for all members of society, so that the needs of future generations are not compromised.
Good practice of landscape architecture maintains that sustainability should be an integral part of the design process. The goals associated with creating a sustainable built environment include: avoiding or otherwise minimizing the impacts on resources; conserving ecosystems; using renewable resources; avoiding waste where possible by reuse, recycling, and recovery; supporting the general realization of human potential and happiness; and creating healthy built environments and landscapes for present and future generations.
In the realm of sustainable landscape architecture, leveraging advanced technology is paramount to achieving efficiency and creativity in design. Integrating DynaScape’s landscape design software into these processes can significantly enhance the planning and execution of complex projects, offering tools that streamline tasks from conceptual drawings to detailed plans for construction adherence.
Sustainable landscape architecture accounts for the following principles:
- Ecological: the natural forces that shape a landscape, including climate, geology, hydrology, soils, elevation/landform, vegetation, wildlife, and other living organisms
- Social/Cultural: the human forces that shape a landscape including history, communities and customs, development patterns, agriculture, and social behavior and uses
- Economic: the budget realities and cost-saving considerations that shape the built environment and the fiscal requirements necessary to support livable places and communities.
Landscape architects frequently work to:
- Both enhance the understanding and strengthen the integral relationship between natural processes and human activity, and how sustainable design fits into everyday life.
- Improve practices, processes, procedures, products, and services that take into account long-tem sustainable considerations and stewardship.
- Examine policies, regulations, and standards in industry and government to identify barriers to the implementation of the principles of sustainable design.
- Encourage community and business leaders to bring the existing built environment up to sustainable design standards and to reflect the philosophy of sustainability in the design and management of their communities.
EMERGING ISSUES
Security Design
The security design in landscape architecture integrates both aesthetic and functional elements to create safe and secure outdoor spaces. By strategically incorporating elements such as lighting, natural barriers, surveillance systems, and controlled access points, landscape architects ensure that public areas, parks, and private spaces are well-protected against potential threats.
The principles for combining security and good landscape design include:
- Provide an adequate balance between threats and the beauty of the public realm.
- Recognize that good design and good security are not incompatible.
- Expand the palette of elements that can gracefully provide perimeter security, producing a coherent security and urban design strategy that embraces whole streets and districts.
- Provide perimeter security without dampening the pedestrian activity and the vitality of public streets.
Landscape architects are uniquely qualified to develop and showcase design principles that achieve an appropriate balance between security measures and an open society that values its democratic principles, freedom of movement, and accessible public spaces.
Designing Healthy Communities
Every national assessment of healthier living has identified the importance of exercise and recreational opportunities—yet it has become clear that Americans are not active enough, in part because we have increasingly designed daily physical activity out of our lives. Site planning must encourage creating or improving access to places for physical activity.
Landscape architects work with developers, homeowners, and public officials to:
- Transform existing facilities such as streets, parks, plazas, and public open spaces into safe, attractive, functional amenities for the benefit of the community.
- Enhance and complement other park and recreation programs, leading to a more integrated community wide system.
- Encourage communities to promote buildings that are mixed with other land uses affording individuals the ability to live, learn, work, shop, and play in a healthy, walkable setting.
- Protect and enhance natural, cultural, and scenic resources and avoid environmental land degradation by respecting ecological systems and landscape character.
- Design facilities that are well connected to communities by sidewalks, bike trails, and transit service, as well as roadways.
- Ensure that individuals of all levels of mobility have full access to transportation networks.
Water Resource Planning and Management
Water is a finite and valuable resource that is widely shared for human activities and natural processes. Over time, water quality in the United States has been greatly reduced due to numerous factors, but through proper planning and management of waterways, wetlands, aquifers, and coastal zones this trend can be reversed. The nation depends on ample, clean water supplies to sustain a high standard of living and maintain the quality of ecosystems.
Landscape architects have designed numerous innovative approaches to provide for the efficient use of water and the protection of water quality. This includes the design, planning, and management of coastal zones, waterways, enhancement and revitalization of wetlands, wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and irrigation.
Storm Water
Impervious surfaces caused by sprawling urban development increase volumes and rates of storm flows, which carry pollutants into streams, prevent groundwater recharge, and reduce stream base flows. Often the channels, dams, and reservoirs built to mitigate these effects have further disrupted ecosystems and human communities. To begin to address this problem, runoff and effluents can be reclaimed to reduce the need for imported fresh water; reservoirs of all kinds can be adapted to integrate with multi-functional natural ecosystems and human communities; and new development can be arranged and constructed to minimize impervious surfaces. In addition, excess storm water runoff can be directed through soil and vegetation to recharge ground water.
Coastal Zones
Freshwater and saltwater coastal zones may be described as those areas along the land/water interface affected by waves and currents, storms and spray, and characterized by a variety of landforms, including coral reefs, rocky headlands, sandy beaches, sand dunes, vegetated sand flats, maritime forests, inlets, bays and estuaries. Landscape architects work on management and development strategies that reflect and acknowledge that many of the landforms within the coastal zone, such as barrier islands, undergo constant natural change, and are not stable or fixed in a place.
Waterways
Waterways should be managed from a multi-use approach, including scenic and cultural values, wildlife resources, and recreational potential, as well as appropriate commercial development potential. Planning for an entire watershed, designation of appropriate land uses near waterways, and implementation of riparian buffer to protect stream-bank erosion and filter adjacent agricultural runoff is necessary to protect water resources.
Wetlands
With an understanding that the development pressures on wetlands continue to increase, landscape architects work toward site-specific development and management efforts that allow for compatible land uses while preserving the ongoing function of wetland resources.
Landscape Preservation
During the past two decades the definition of historic preservation has gone beyond the singular historic building or urban district to include the historic landscape that provides the setting and context for a property. Historic landscapes are special places. They are important representations of national, regional, and local identity and culture. They foster a sense of community and place. Historic landscapes are also fragile places, affected by the forces of nature, by commercial and residential development, and by vandalism and neglect.
Landscape preservation also encompasses the stewardship of public lands, rural landscapes, forests, and parks by careful assessment to determine uses that are consistent with long-term sustainability. Appropriate land use decisions sustain natural systems, utilize the best management practices for the development of extractive resources, and where possible, consolidate private lands with public lands to better protect habitats and increase aesthetic and recreational opportunities.
The consideration of vegetation and wildlife habitats, both major influences on health and quality of life in the built environment, are also and important component of landscape preservation efforts. Trees, shrubs, grasses, and herbaceous plant material filter pollutants in the air and water, mitigate wind and solar heat gain, stabilize soil to prevent or reduce erosion, and provide an aesthetic counterpoint to the built environment. These attributes are essential to balancing human effects of the land, and provide some of the strongest cues to the unique identity of a place.
Conclusion
Landscape architecture stands as a vital nexus between human creativity and the natural world, orchestrating harmonious interactions between built environments and the organic tapestry of Earth. Through meticulous design, thoughtful integration of green spaces, and a commitment to sustainable practices, landscape architects weave together aesthetics, functionality, and ecological stewardship. This dynamic discipline not only enhances the visual appeal of our surroundings but also fosters healthier communities, restores fragile ecosystems, and champions the preservation of cultural heritage. As we navigate an ever-evolving urban landscape, the profound influence of landscape architecture continues to shape spaces that inspire, nurture, and endure, underscoring its pivotal role in forging a more balanced and resilient future.
About the author;
The author has more than three decades of experience in multi-disciplinary transactions ranging from industrial projects to real estate development projects. Expertise in planning, undertaking demand assessment studies, transaction services, project execution, business development, etc. including marketing strategies based on technical market analysis, feasibility studies, program requirement derivation and fund and investor sourcing.
Almost 7 years experienced senior professional with project & construction management expertise in large projects for IT, Commercial, Industrial, residential sectors, etc. and more than 18 years of heavy engineering industrial projects like Fertilizers, Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals, etc.
