[Rick Kingsbury]

It’s creative all right, for the architect.  As one student put it “The lack of color puts a damper on my creative spirit. I appreciate the fact that I go to a different school, but sometimes these large blocks of gray concrete suffocate my artistic ability”

[Rick Kingsbury]

Ha!  Still a lot of chairs, but they do have Ben Katchor.

[Rick Kingsbury]

Yes, and support the profession in the process.

[Rick Kingsbury]

Urban farming is a rapidly growing area, the WSJ just had a very interesting article on the phenomenom in NYC, where entire rooftops have been converted to urban farms, selling produce to local restaurants, organic and whole foods stores, etc.

Seems the verdict is still out on whether this is commercially viable or not.  Design per se seems to be more about doing a lot with little soil and the conservation of water, as well as efficient layout.

You might find the article interesting.

[Rick Kingsbury]

Haiku!

 

Ahem:  “Thanks for reading this   

             you cant do better than me

             work hard! almost free!

 

apologies to everyone!

 

 

 

[Rick Kingsbury]

We should buy a golf course?

[Rick Kingsbury]

Or a MINI.  I firmly believe that landscape architects have a better feel for how people perceive outdoor space, how to  enrich the experience of being out of doors, have a better understanding of the negative space between buildings than any other profession. We are also more in touch with the nuances of space and how space is perceived, and used. we are generally more interested in the environment and have been sustainable long before  the other design professions took up the cry. (and unfortunatly the leadership in this)

We are however less prone to bring attention to our own work than say architects are, we need to be more visible as a profession, and dare I say it?  Proud of  what we do! Without our work, there would be a lot of sterile, “looks good in plan” outdoor spaces devoid of interest and out of scale with how people actually use and perceive space.

Let’s be more visible, more published, more letters to editors of design magazines (not just LAM, but other design magazines)

Nobody is going to support us but us.

 

 

[Rick Kingsbury]

I think the tone of this thread is indicative of the frustration many of us have with the profession at this time.  However it has gotten a bit out of hand.  Let us strive to remain constructive and  civil with each other.

[Rick Kingsbury]

Absolutely include CD’s. You will likely be doing CD’s when you start out.

[Rick Kingsbury]

The ASLA intends to do nothing. The ASLA response will be somewhere along the lines of “It is up to every landscape architect to promote the profession, not the job of ASLA” or “ASLA is all of us, we can’t rely on the leadership to do the work of promoting the profession” or “get involved in your local chapter, that is the way to promote the profession” There is some truth of course to all of this, but we have leadership for a reason! (to lead) .

[Rick Kingsbury]

An MLA is required if you want to teach. Government will pay more for an MLA. (but not a lot more) That’s about it from a pay perspective. Many MLA programs are for those with an undergraduate degree outside of the design fields who wish to pursue landscape architecture, and would rather not have a second bachelor’s degree, or wish to do more independent research that a BLA allows. It is a poor choice if you are simply wanting to make more money!

[Rick Kingsbury]

I was not thinking about what might be the most employable post graduate degree, rather one that compliments landscape architecture. I have also found that having some background in architecture, in my case by work experience has been very helpful in my career and in my business. Do not expect any pay increase from an MLA unless you work for the government.

[Rick Kingsbury]

In my opinion, you dont really need an MLA if you have a BLA, unless you plan to teach. I would suggest architecture.

[Rick Kingsbury]

I have been suggesting the ASLA needs to do more to educate the public on what we do and our value to society for 28 years, and they still have not stepped up to take any leadership here. The AIA does a great job and perhaps the ASLA could take a couple of hints from them. In the meanwhile we need to be actively involved in professional organizations other than ASLA to increase our visibility. My partner and I started our firm in January of this year and I have found that networking with other organizations is a better use of my limited financial resources and time than with ASLA.

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