Architects venturing further into landscape design…

So the options are we can let architects forget about the exterior landscape until the hour before permitting, at which time they call and ask to get it “shrubbed up” or they can start thinking about it earlier.

I think we should pay them the $30 and let them see its more than just a 2 hr. skill.

“Its Only Four Walls and a Roof” — An architectural design seminar by landscape architects.

If they can beat us at our game for a particular project, they are either good, or there is not much of “our skills” that are needed for the project. Either way, I don’t think there is any good reason to feel like a victim over it.

So many are always complaining that the landscape is under appreciated, but whenever it gets appreciated by other design professionals they cry foul. If architects are venturing further into the landscape, let’s hope that they get educated in it and learn from their experiences so that they can do it well. At least they are taking the initiative to learn … isn’t that what most of us did?

Most of us came out of nowhere to learn about landscape architecture and moved forward gaining through our experiences doing it. Why do we think that it is inherently bad if someone came from somewhere else professionally, developed an interest, studied, and pursued the same interests that we do? Is there a laboratory somewhere that sucks out a persons ability to design landscapes effectively that architects are sent to upon licensure? … is it the same lab that sucks out our ability to know anything about plants that so many contractors and gardeners think we get sent to?

Why does this make so many feel impotent? I’ve seen this reaction for years and years and it really makes no sense. If they suck and take work from you, what does that say about you? If the type of work that they do is below your dignity, why fret because you did not get a chance to do what you don’t want to do? If they do a better job than me or you, we better step it up. If their jobs can be done with minimal skill, they don’t need me or you so lets find some other projects that do need us.

I don’t think it’s a matter of architects venturing into landscape design as it is architects venturing into the ability to stamp and sidestep the landscape architect.  For example, until the recent municipal code change in our local city, architects were doing it all.  They thought what they did looked nice and the clients and public thought what was designed is what gets designed.  After the new code that required a landscape architect stamp I was asked to “landscape” a small office and received the drawings from the architect with his landscape (and hardscape) design.  Needless to say, it looked like cr$p but the sad thing is, maybe, it was only I who recognized it as such.  Fact: 50% of the human race is below average intelligence and the other 50% is too busy to learn to recognize cr$p when they see it.  All you have to do is look at our elected politicians.

LIKE

I agree to a point. If you are good at design, then you can stand a pretty good shot at designing almost anything. However, that doesn’t meant you have an apitiude for a particular type of design.

As always, it comes down to the details. I have found that when architects try to design landscapes or even hardscapes, they really can’t do the detailing properly. They are even taught incorrectly in architecture schools (I’ve seen it first hand) Often using the worst materials available and poor install techniques, or just poor design theory. It may look nice, but it is uncomfortable for users or does not function properly. Just like I can theoretically design a building, I would not want to be responsible for steel load calutations or designing a roof system so it doesn’t leak. All disciplines have gotten so complicated that it really does take a specialist to design and execute the project properly.

I don’t think anyone is saying that all architects can design all landscapes. Nick said “if you work hard and know your $hit” as a qualifier. It looks like this seminar is to try to help them know a little more $hit.

This is a tough time for people building as well. They are making decisions based on expense. They may see the value in a better landscape, but they may simply not have the budget. It seems logical that they would turn to their architect or engineer to whip off a landscape plan. In fact I have experienced this directly several times in the last couple of years working in a local engineering office.

I have also drawn up floor plans and elevations for commercial buildings for developers to get plans through early permitting in order to show prospective buyers or lessees that a project is approved through much of the process. When it goes further, an architect is hired and a real building is drawn up.

The point is that I believe that a lot of this is client driven and the architects are having to respond rather than them going around “taking our work”. If that is the case, wouldn’t you want them to have a little more knowledge?

The assumption is that if they don’t do it, we will get it and be able to do it right. That is not necessarilly true.