Landscape Architect

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Artistic, Investigative, Realistic
A landscape architect creates, maintains and manages land for its beautification, its human use or both. This usually involves planning, designing and building a landscape, including buildings, roads and other structures.

Landscape architects or technologists design outdoor spaces to make them functional and attractive. These spaces can vary in size, from small privately owned gardens to city squares and parks.

Landscape architects are artists whose living canvas is the environment.

Landscape architects study the site, studying the geography of the project site, examining the slope of the land, the trees present and the distribution of shade and sun. Requirements are discussed with clients. Preliminary plans and budgets are then prepared after consulting with engineers, project architects, horticulturists and municipal officials.

Once the plans are approved, final drawings are prepared showing both existing and proposed features. Lists of all materials needed are prepared. Finally, contractors are invited to submit bids for carrying out the works. Depending on the scale of the project, earthmoving equipment may be used for landscaping. Some typical tasks include writing reports, using computer-aided design, preparing contracts and estimated costs, submitting proposals to clients, supervising projects as they progress and liaising with other professionals such as civil engineers.

Landscape architects may specialize in certain types of projects, such as parks and playgrounds, or in services such as regional planning or site construction.

Landscape contractors typically carry out the actual construction work, and landscape architects or designers retain responsibility for supervising the construction work and monitoring progress. Landscape architects typically work in an office and travel to sites as needed. They may also work on projects abroad.

Landscape architects need to know the soil, climate and weather conditions and be able to choose vegetation that, if not endemic to a specific area, can thrive in it.

Today sustainable gardens are popular and landscapers use native plants that save water, for example, instead of thirsty exotics.

They work indoors, in their own offices, as well as outdoors, at project sites.

Key knowledge includes good verbal and written communication and negotiation, excellent technical skills, knowledge of drawing and information technology, including the ability to use computer-aided design, creativity and imagination.

Landscape Architect: what do they do?
Confer with clients, engineering staff and architects about the overall program. 92%
Prepare site plans, specifications and cost estimates for land development, coordinating the arrangement of existing and proposed land features and structures. 92%
Seek new job opportunities through marketing, writing proposals or making presentations. 86%
Inspect landscaping work to ensure compliance with specifications, approve the quality of materials and work, and advise the client and construction staff. 84%
Prepare graphic representations or drawings of proposed plans or designs. 79%
Collect and analyze data on conditions such as location, drainage and location of structures for environmental reports and landscaping plans. 79%