Activity

They wear those shirts and still are likely to take issue with the current thread where someone suggests that landscape architecture is devoid of garden designers. Then they hang it in the closet next to the “celebrate diversity” tee shirt.
 
 
 
 

The world seems to be all about packaging and naming. The field of landscape design is rediculously diverse on countless facets. Landscape architects are a subset of landscape designers who jumped through all of the hoops to get licensed. They are as diverse from one another as any other landscape desiigner is from any other.
 
Garden designers…[Read more]

Wow, dumb.

Find someone who does what you want to do and talk to them.  Are they an engineer, landscape architect, or planner?  Or something else?  Do the people you think do what you think you want to do actually do it, or do they just manage it?  Is there enough of that kind of work to have a reasonable chance of getting into it, or unless you’re ‘per…[Read more]

Sounds very similar to a shirt I was given that was created by the student ASLA chapter of a particular school for the 2011-12 year.  The front reads “Yes, I am a Landscape Architect.” while the back says “No, I will not do your back yard.”  I’m not sure which thought came first – wondering if they had any concept of the current job climate in ou…[Read more]

Get your BLA and a minor in GIS, if possible.

I am always baffled by this distinction.  I am an American with and MLA (currently taking LARE) and just spent the last 3 1/2 years living in the UK and have met and seen Tim Richardson speak once or twice.  I love garden design as much as I do public space design, urban planning and community design and consider myself qualified in all of these a…[Read more]

Plus engineers have unions, LA’s don’t. Makes a big difference for salary. Just try to be a sensitive engineer, not like the guys I have worked with who say things like, “trees don’t belong close to roads.” or “Asphalt is good for vegetation! It’s like fertilizer!”
( 9 _ 9 )
It makes me tired. 

Jamie, I’ve been doing garden design as a part of my LA practice over 25 years and as an employee of others for another 15 years…I find these are not mutually exclusive…why do others? Is it because we’re no longer teaching hort. courses in the LA curriculum? When I was in school, we took several hort. courses that have served me well,…[Read more]

I agree with nca777.  Take a few classes or minor in LA if the itch persists.
Where I work, LAs don’t do grading, drainage/stormwater, ADA, pedestrian or bicycle facilities, or any of the other things that allow the creative side to flourish.
Nope.  
Just planting and irrigation. And occasionally, aesthetics.
Such a waste.

I suppose it would depend on finances (can you afford the 5th year/are you more likely to get financial aid in one or the other) and what type of work in transportation you want to do.  Also, the curriculum for engineering is very different from LA (any accredited program will require coursework in all areas of engineering as their gen-ed…[Read more]

We’re using RationalPlan here and it does the job well (http://www.rationalplan.com)

I’d say, if you’re seriously considering engineering as a suitable alternative, go for it. LA is a very difficult career to make a solid living and requires serious dedication and passion for the craft. I dont mean to sound judgemental, but if you’re on the fence I say go for the engineering degree.

I am also looking for some study material for Florida Section F. Would anyone be able to provide this. Please send any information to scotlautz@gmail.com. Thanks so much!

The assumption is that one has to be highly skilled in hand and/or computer assisted graphics as an individual in order to be a successful landscape architect. Is that truly the case?
 
Should students be taught to work in a landscape architect’s office or to be licensed landscape architects?
 
This profession almost universally requires i…[Read more]

While I enjoy the job security of there being more “talkers” in the work force I am alarmed at the number of instructors teaching in accredited schools coming straight out of grad school without one ounce of real world or practical knowledge under them.  With most of today’s university presidents forcing assistant professors and even lecturers t…[Read more]

Blending theory with practical knowledge should be a given in any institution that is worth a darn.   There is no reason why you can’t absorb knowledge from Foucault and Baudrillard one moment and then understand the basics of 2 point perspective the next.  Both will serve you well in your professional pursuits…I can attest they have served me w…[Read more]

I think Norman’s ears are ringing…he has definitely made a large impact on many of his students…I just think those are great things to hear…be sure to let him as well as others know how they have affected your life as a professional.   Those truly committed to being great instructors need to be commended.  I can only imagine what it would ha…[Read more]

You are right Jason.  If students are able to build an agenda or approach on how to communicate ideas they can apply more energy to process and design. Though, I am not so concerned with impractical ideas as school is meant to be an opportunity to think without boundaries and students will have the rest of their lives to deal with the burden of pr…[Read more]

Great to hear Toby …I am sure both James and Norman would be incredibly proud to hear of the impact they had on you as a student.  Thanks for sharing.