About Landscape Architecture

(see also A History of the Profession in Australia)

Landscape architecture is the profession committed to the creation of meaningful and enjoyable outdoor places and to the sustainable management of our environment.

Landscape architects combine art and science to provide creative designs and land management solutions specific to individual sites, meeting the particular requirements of their clients and the environment.

A professional landscape architect has the skills and training to combine art and design and to consider physical, social, economic, political and cultural factors to generate creative solutions for our outdoor environments.

Through their understanding of natural landscapes and built environments, landscape architects seek to improve our quality of life by providing balanced, innovative planning and design solutions for the outdoor environments of our:

• day-to-day living within the home and workplace
• commerce and transportation activities
• outdoor rest and recreation activities and
• efficient use of land and conservation of natural resources in local and regional area.

Landscape architects work across a spectrum of design disciplines including landscape design and construction, landscape planning, landscape management and urban design.

Landscape architects have played a major role in the design of outdoor spaces in projects such as:

• Coastal Towns Design Frameworks (Major Masterplanning along the south eastern coast of Victoria)
• Parliament House, Canberra
• Craigieburn Bypass, Hume Highway, Craigieburn, Victoria
• The Sydney Olympic Site at Homebush Bay
• Darling Harbour, Sydney
• North Terrace Adelaide Redevelopment
• The Australian Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne (Melbourne)
• Cairns Esplanade Skatepark
• Beijing 2008 Olympic Athletes Village
• Melbourne CBD Pedestrian and Traffic Study
• Darwin Entertainment Centre & Holiday Inn Forecourt
• University of Canberra Innovations Centre
• Brisbane Foreshores Parkland Project
• Glebe Foreshore Walk (Sydney)
• Melaleuca Wetlands, Ferntree Gully, Victoria
• Windsor Street Linear Trail (Adelaide)
• Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) Costal Walk (WA)
• Housing developments at Noosa (Qld)
• Murrays Beach, Wallarah Peninsula (NSW)
• Airport Masterplanning in both Perth and
• Pocket Parks: Barcom Park (Sydney), Raglan Street Park (Melbourne)
• City of Salisbury - a major city Landscape Plan

Defining the Australian Landscape Architect

Landscape Architects research, plan, design and advise on the stewardship, conservation and sustainability of development of the environment and spaces, both within and beyond the built environment.

To become a recognised professional landscape architect in Australia, the first requirement is to obtain a degree in landscape architecture accredited by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA). After at least two years of recognised professional practice, graduates may submit for further assessment to obtain full professional recognition by the AILA.

Scope of work includes:

1. Developing new or improved theories, policy and methods for landscape planning, design and management at local, regional, national and multinational levels.
2. Developing policies and plans and implementing and monitoring proposals for conservation and recreation areas such as national parks.
3. Developing new or improved theories and methods to promote environmental awareness and undertaking planning, design, restoration, management and maintenance of cultural and/or historic landscapes, parks, sites and gardens.
4. Planning, design, management, maintenance and monitoring functional and aesthetic layouts of built environment in urban, suburban, and rural areas including private and public open spaces, parks, gardens, streetscapes, plazas, housing developments, burial grounds, memorials; tourist, commercial, industrial and educational complexes; sports grounds, zoos, botanic gardens, recreation areas and farms.
5. Contributing to the planning, aesthetic and functional design, location, management and maintenance of infrastructure such as roads, dams, wind farms and other energy and major development projects.
6. Undertaking landscape assessments including environmental and visual impact assessments to prepare policies or inform new developments.
7. Inspecting sites, analysing factors such as climate, soil, flora, fauna, surface and subsurface water and drainage; and consulting with clients and making recommendations regarding methods of work and sequences of operations for projects related to the landscape and built environment.
8. Identifying and developing appropriate solutions regarding the quality and use of the built environment in urban, suburban and rural areas and making designs, plans and working drawings, specifications of work, cost estimates and time schedules.
9. Monitoring the realisation and inspecting the construction of proposals to ensure compliance with plans, specifications of work, cost estimates and time schedules.
10. Conducting research, preparing scientific papers and technical reports, developing policy, teaching, and advising on aspects regarding landscape architecture such as the application of geographic information systems, remote sensing, law, landscape communication, interpretation and landscape ecology.
11. Project management of large scale landscape planning and design projects including management of other consultants such as engineers, architects and planners.
12. Acting as an expert witness in Development and Environment Courts.

youTUBE | Projects directories | A career in landscape architecture?