Cover Story

1848 was a momentous year in the Americas and Europe. Abolitionist movements gained traction in North America while revolutions swept across Germany, France, and other European states, and women agitated for the right to vote in the U.S. 1848 was a pivotal year for Frederick Law Olmstead, too.   A recent Land8x8 Lightning Talk by Dr. Austin Allen, Associate Professor of Practice in the School of Architecture, University of Texas at Arlington, highlights a lesser-known chapter of the legendary landscape architect’s story—one shaped by global upheaval and a life-changing journey through Europe and the American South. Allen shows how for Olmsted, landscape architecture didn’t emerge from aesthetics alone. It grew out of conflict, movement, and larger societal questions about who shapes the la...Read More

Residential Design Trends 2026: Your Feedback Counts! From native planting and sustainable materials to outdoor kitchens, AI-assisted workflows, and climate-resilient landscapes, the practice of residential landscape architecture is always in flux. Landscape designers know what’s coming next. Your experience drafting site plans, selecting materials, and talking to clients can show current challenges and future opportunities in the industry. Take our short Residential Design Trends survey and help us create a snapshot of residential landscape design today.   Loading…  

LABash 2026 recently convened at The Ohio State University (TOSU). This year’s theme, “Cross-Pollinate,” reflected what materialized in real life—landscape architects exchanging ideas, listening as much as they talked, and experiencing the city of Columbus and The Ohio State University as living classrooms for their craft. Here are 8 highlights from the event: 1. Celebrating creativity: 1,000 Trees Gallery + The Ramp Up Awards  Leading up to the conference, event organizers invited participants, students, artists, and other landscape architecture enthusiasts to build a “forest unlike any other.” The 1,000 Trees Gallery consisted of crafted model trees, each made by a different artist, which all came together as a shared installation. The exhibit reminded us that our field is built from ind...Read More

The transition from studio culture to professional practice is one of the most exhilarating—and occasionally overwhelming—chapters of a landscape architect’s career. As an emerging professional, you’re learning how to detail a bioswale or navigate an RFP—while developing your vision as a design professional. This spring, the calendar is blooming with opportunities to help you bridge that gap. Whether you are looking to ground your practice in historical precedent, master the “soft skills” of the office, or dive into the research shaping our future, these upcoming events are the perfect fuel for your professional fire. Below is your guide to some standout gatherings to help you grow your skills, expand your network, and connect your work to larger conversations in the field. CEL...Read More

The LABash Conference, a landscape architecture conference led by students, for students, is being held March 11-13, 2026 at The Ohio State University. Here are eight reason on why you should attend! 1. 1000 Trees Gallery – Nick Antonelli LABash invites you to experience a forest unlike any other you’ve seen before. Come to the LABash’s gallery space to see your tree standing among 1,000 others, each one a unique 96expression shaped by hands from across the continent. Guided by this year’s theme of cross-pollination, the installation brings together crafted model trees to form a whimsical, expressive, and evocative landscape that grows through shared creativity. These trees are much more than a collection of found material, they are subjective symbols of place, memory, and landscape....Read More