Landscape Architecture (3982)

Memorize the words:

1) outcome – результат, исход, выход

2) restoration – восстановление

3) sustainability – устойчивость, баланс

4) creativeflair – креативные способности

5) assessment – оценка, суждение

6) impact – удар, воздействие, влияние

7) site – помещаться, располагаться; выбиратьместо

Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor public areas, landmarks, and structures to achieve environmental, social-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and soil conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions that will produce the desired outcome. The scope of the profession includes landscape design; site planning; storm water management; environmental restoration; parks and recreation planning; visual resource management; green infrastructure planning and provision; and private estate and residence landscape master planning and design; all at varying scales of design, planning and management. A practitioner in the profession of landscape architecture is called a landscape architect.

Definition

Landscape architecture is a multi-disciplinary field, incorporating aspects of botany, horticulture, the fine arts, architecture, industrial design, soil sciences, environmental psychology, geography, and ecology. The activities of a landscape architect can range from the creation of public parks and parkways to site planning for campuses and corporate office parks, from the design of residential estates to the design of civil infrastructure and the management of large wilderness areas or reclamation of degraded landscapes such as mines or landfills. Landscape architects work on structures and external spaces with limitations toward the landscape or park aspect of the design – large or small, urban, suburban and rural, and with “hard” (built) and “soft” (planted) materials, while integrating ecological sustainability. The most valuable contribution can be made at the first stage of a project to generate ideas with technical understanding and creative flair for the design, organization, and use of spaces. The landscape architect can conceive the overall concept and prepare the master plan, from which detailed design drawings and technical specifications are prepared. They can also review proposals to authorize and supervise contracts for the construction work. Other skills include preparing design impact assessments, conducting environmental assessments and audits, and serving as an expert witness at inquiries on land use issues.

Fields of activity

The variety of the professional tasks that landscape architects collaborate on is very broad, but some examples of project types include:

The planning, form, scale and siting of new developments;

Parks of general design and public infrastructure;

Sustainable development;

Storm water management including rain gardens, green roofs, groundwater recharge, green infrastructure, and treatment

wetlands;

Parks, botanical gardens, arboretums, greenways, and nature preserves;

Recreation facilities: playgrounds, golf courses, theme parks and sports facilities;

Housing areas, industrial parks and commercial developments;

Estate and residence landscape master planning and design;

Highways, transportation structures, bridges, and transit

corridors;

Urban design, town and city squares, waterfronts, pedestrian schemes, and parking lots;

Natural parks, tourist destination, and recreating historical landscapes, and historic garden appraisal and conservation studies;

Coastal and offshore developments and mitigation, etc.

Landscape managers use their knowledge of landscape processes to advise on the long-term care and development of the landscape. They often work in forestry, nature conservation and agriculture.

Landscape scientists have specialist skills such as soil science, hydrology, geomorphology or botany that they relate to the practical problems of landscape work. Their projects can range from site surveys to the ecological assessment of broad areas for planning or management purposes. They may also report on the impact of development or the importance of particular species in a given area.

Landscape planners are concerned with landscape planning for the location, scenic, ecological and recreational aspects of urban, rural and coastal land use. Their work is embodied in written statements of policy and strategy, and their remit includes master planning for new developments, landscape evaluations and assessments, and preparing countryside management or policy plans. Some may also apply an additional specialism such as landscape archaeology or law to the process of landscape planning.

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