SCD – Studying Landscape Architecture

By Land8: Landscape Architects Network on March 25, 2013 No Comments / 4019 views

SCD – Studying Landscape Architecture – Landscape architecture is slowly gathering the status that the profession of architecture has achieved around the world. And with more and more universities and colleges offering landscape architecture courses, we want to see what landscape architecture offers that is so special. What is its context? What is the educational perspective on it?

An aerial shot of the meadow labyrinth created for Bloom 2009. The students wanted to create a landscape intervention with no money. The labyrinth concept was intended to provide people with time to reflect as individuals and then to share these experiences with friends and family in the mown pod spaces. We were all initially freaked when kids started trampling all over it, but soon realized that this interaction created its own beautiful pattern.

Senior College Dun Laoghaire – College of Further Education in Dublin, Ireland, offers a great and complex course on Landscape Design. Landscape Tutor Barry Lupton was kind enough to give us some very important insights.

Barry Lupton

So why should someone study and become a landscape architect? “Landscape architects articulate the interface between the human species and the rest of the planet. From displaying a mastery over nature, landscape architecture has grown to work with and even for nature. Landscape architects form places of congregation, communication, activism, leisure and nature, where people can interact and socialize, where communities are made, where individual and collective identity is formed and expressed, and where civic and environmental responsibility are born.” Lupton says.

Learning to collaborate is a vital and often underrepresented skill in design. This shot shows a group of students working collaboratively to create a landform representation of a project site.

Landscape architecture’s status is different around the world, with as many statuses as there are countries. Ireland is no exception. So what is Lupton’s opinion on the matter? “Our difficult relationship with the land has had significant impact upon landscape architecture. It still sits well down the hierarchy of building professions. And unlike many other European countries, the title of landscape architect is not protected in Ireland. Anyone can call themselves a landscape architect, and anyone does. This is a point of much frustration for fully qualified and accredited landscape architects, and the Irish Landscape Institute has worked tirelessly to rectify the situation.”

A good design education is built upon collaboration, sharing, interaction, friendship, socializing, and mutual support. The students that achieve the most are those that understand this early on.

All around the world, landscape architecture is becoming more popular as people want to get their hands dirty and get their creative juices flowing. So what kind of experience can one hope to get from pursuing such a passion? Lupton says: “Studying to become a landscape architect is like no other educational experience. I know of no other profession that challenges the opposing rational and emotive parts of the mind as landscape architecture. I often explain the experience to being akin to straddling the midpoint of a tug-o-war between an artist and an engineer. It is perhaps cliché, but landscape architecture is less of a job and more of a way of life.”

A student presenting ideas for community gardens in and around the border town of Monaghan. Funding for the project was provided as part of a peace process initiative, and they are currently being constructed.

“Through the educational experience you learn so much of yourself, you learn to see and engage with the world in new ways, you build the confidence and skills and the knowledge to know you can actually enact real, meaningful change. Studying landscape architecture is inspirational.”

A student shares The Garden That Nobody Saw experience with a bloom attendee. The garden was a sensory experience that explored the experience of Irish landscape and seasons in the absence of sight. Such sensory work helps students to develop a greater understanding of landscape perception.

With so many architects these days taking on the role of the landscape architect, why not just study architecture? What’s the big difference? We asked Lupton to explain: ”Landscape architecture is differentiated by one significant factor: The principle forms of expression are dynamic living organisms. This factor has a profound impact upon those studying in this area. If you’re a student reading this and this doesn’t resonate, you’ve been focusing on the wrong bits (probably computers!).”

Dealing with real sites and clients are critical design skills. Here students present ideas for a courtyard space to a corporate board.

“Studying design which incorporates living things affords students of LA a more holistic, connected vision of the world and the work they undertake. In my experience, this tends to permeate all aspects of an LA’s life.”

Learning to communicate in all media is fundamental to design and to the courses at SCD. LAN founder Scott Renwick is shown here presenting his ideas for a temporary urban art space.

Studying landscape architecture at Senior College Dun Laoghaire may be a greater feat than you may think, as Lupton explains: “Course content at SCDis under constant review and is continually adapting and responding to industry demands. Our focus on real experience permeates all aspects of the course and is particularly evident in studio projects, which revolve around actual developments. The courses at SCD are two-year Higher National Diplomas. They are accredited through BTEC in the UK and formally linked to a number of England’s most renowned design schools.”

Good designers understand how things are made. Our reintroduction of practical instruction in building technology has been a huge success.

“Graduates can progress directly to year three of several BA courses. Another aspect of our courses which stands as a real credit to the college and the student body is involvement with landscape, garden and community events. Those that completed their studies have all found work in the industry at home and abroad. Those who decided to change careers were able to utilize the skills and knowledge they built to either find or create jobs.”

The ability to find and create work is hugely important for students. This image shows SCD graduate Ronan Byrne in Father Collins Park. Ronan was a graduate landscape architect who played a pivotal role in the parks installation for the internationally acclaimed urban park.

When contemplating a career one can’t help but think of the future; after all, that’s what we’re all studying for, so what does the future hold for landscape architecture? Is it worth your time and effort? “The profession needs to address this complexity by clearly defining its role. The scope of its remit has grown exponentially, and a whole host of factors have contributed to the creation of a highly complex domain. I do fear that the profession is becoming somewhat subservient to computing power. The future of landscape architecture? I’m not sure, but it might be in trouble if the power goes out.” So the piece of advice here is to go green in LA!

A shot of the award winning Bloom garden, Ar Ghairdin Cuil. The garden explored themes of Irish skills, craft, and plantsmanship and how great spaces require close collaboration.

Does it sound like an enticing domain to study? One thing is for certain: Landscape architecture has become an important influence in the way we live, how we live, and in what conditions. And it surely should get the worldwide recognition it deserves!

Experiencing real landscapes is a wonderful way to learn. Each year, SCD undertakes a study tour. The learning and craic are always mighty.

Find out more here: SCD Landscape Design We would like to give a special thanks to Barry Lupton for taking the time to talk to us. Article written by Oana Anghelache