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It should be the number one priority of a professional organization to educate the public about the profession. But there is a huge problem with that in this case. The profession is not identifiable and has nothing that is uniquely its own. It is extremely broad while at the same time those within it do not truly have a common thread that runs…[Read more]

So the ASLA admits to printing incompetent journalism, and that magazine was their strongpoint? That was all they did? What have they done to educate the public about our profession in the last 20-30 years? No wonder nobody has ever heard of a landscape architect! Yes, everybody has the responsibility to speak up and increase awareness, but would…[Read more]

Oh come on. The guy wants to design landscapes at a higher level than he can ever hope to living in the small town that he currently lives in. Yes, it is possible that he could have a wonderful life landscaping within that context. Clearly, this is not what he wants to do. He wants to work in a market where there is a lot more opportunity to…[Read more]

Thanks Franklin.

I didn’t intend to scold you for using the discussion forum, but to point out that there have been several discussions started on the topic of working in Asia, so I thought it may be an opportune time for someone on the inside to demystify the scenario.

Thanks for the candid responses. One question I would like to ask at this…[Read more]

More or less in Engish:

Listen Mr. Lopez,

Your teachers lie. Things are not getting better, thing are worse, without a doubt, things are very bad. My teachers lied to me when I was a student. Our profession is like that. Nevertheless, of course I wish you the best of luck. People with tons of experience work without pay these days. I am just…[Read more]

Nick,
Thanks for the response. I will certainly put into the Job Board Tierra’s request for employment opportunities. And also not use the discussion forum except to share what I may know about the status of the landscape design profession in Asia and the opportunities which can be found here.

As for my firm Tierra, we have been working in almost…[Read more]

Boilerpate,

“Only landscape architects think landscape architects are necessary.”

How VERY TRUE! Wouldn’t it be a good idea to let others understand the importance of us too? I strongly believe in our work, the general public does not. Only because it is not a tangible thing like a building or a movie, the can not hold or see what we do, that is…[Read more]

Hey Nick,

I could not have said it any better than you! Great post!

Yes, Andrew, after reading it 4 or 5 times it does make sense and I do agree. Not very readable, but a good post. Thanks.

at the risk of wading in again – i’m with john on this one. venting is great, but at some point you have to try and move towards something more productive.

a lot of the sentiments on this thread about the general powerlessness of the l.a. profession are going to be shared by the architects as well. rather than see them as ‘competition’, i’d…[Read more]

Sorry the rest of my post got cut off.

My question was with the ASLA. Who is the ASLA? What is the ASLA supposed to be doing?
In almost 25 years all I have seen them do is give out awards and print that magazine. Are they supposed to be educating the public?

Yes, engineers, architects, urban planners, landscape contractors and developers can and…[Read more]

I’m not saying that our profession is not viable. All I’m saying is that the fundamentals of what we do overlaps what others also do. It always has and always will.

Our profession does not depend on anyone’s generosity. In fact it is a testament to the value of the work done within our profession that we exist at all. I’ve tried so many times to…[Read more]

Jay, Andrew, John,

“The powers at be who ‘head’ this profession have dropped the ball by allowing engineers, architects, urban planners, landscape contractors and developers the ability to do everything we are trained to do..”

Jay,

I agree with what you say regarding the land 8 lounge, your candor is much appreciated. The urgent and pressing problems within our profession are just not even alluded to but, clever rhetoric prevail here. The more convoluted, intellectual, verbose sounding the post, the better. Instead, topics of semantics or the nuances of the quantum…[Read more]

Franklin,

I appreciate your offer to the Land8 Members, myself included. There is also a Job Board here which many of us check daily where you can list details about any opportunities you may have for employment and information about your firm and the type of candidate you’re looking for.

Personally, I am particularly interested in what is…[Read more]

So you’re saying that landscape contractors, architects and engineers can generally do a passable job at landscape architecture?

If so, I really wish I could take back the last ten years.

I was listening to AM760 on my way home from work Friday. Bernie Sanders from Vermont was on talking about the economy, unemployment and the role of…[Read more]

is that a joke? Abe Gesund?..the noted landscape designer, Abe Gesund?, sorry, if I presume!

“The powers at be who ‘head’ this profession have dropped the ball by allowing engineers, architects, urban planners, landscape contractors and developers the ability to do everything we are trained to do..”

I have to disagree. This has always been the case before “the profession” was ever carved out. It is not a wide stand alone profession that…[Read more]