What it’s Not
A landscape architect is not a gardener or a regular landscape designer. Therefore, their job isn't going to be taking care of the plants or planting trees. As a landscape architect, you are in charge of actually creating these outdoor events. In the way that an architect designs and plans a building, you will be doing the same thing for the outdoor areas. This could include deciding where the pool goes in relation to the gardens, or deciding the various statutes, trees, and ornaments that will adorn an outdoor area. You might be creating hills, valleys, and trenches within the landscape. You might be in charge of planning where fountains go; basically, you are responsible for designing an entire outdoor space.
The landscape architect job is one that is often mistaken for other jobs. The people who are involved in landscape architecture try very hard to make sure that their profession is one that people know about. However, sometimes firms and individual alike hire building architects to complete landscape architecture assignments. Therefore, advertising your skill and your business are both very important parts of being a landscape architect.
In order to be successful as a landscape architect, there are other things that you want to remember. First of all, you will need to get certified and have the right license in order to be one. You will need to have the right type of landscape architect registration for the area in which you are practicing.
Job Duties
There are several main job duties that you are going to have to do if you are employed at a landscape architect firm. First of all, you will be in charge of developing theories, policies, and methods for landscape planning. This is often part of the job that gets overlooked, because people are so wrapped up in the actual designing aspects. However, as a landscape architect, you still need to think about the various methods and planning aspects of the job as this is part of what you are going to be doing.
Secondly, you will be involved in proposals. This might include the design and development of proposals when it comes to an actual project. You will need to design the policies that go along with each of the proposals, and make sure that they are meeting regulations when it comes to the building and the landscaping. A big part of this work might include working with environmental concerns to make sure that you are not going to be harming the environment in any way through your landscaping work.
As a landscape architect, you will be responsible for planning and designing the aesthetic environments in both urban and rural areas, as well as in suburban areas. You might be in charge of planning and designing spaces that are public or those that are private. You might be working on projects that deal with streetscapes, landscapes, gardens, parks, or private or public open spaces. This might include the landscape around housing developments, plazas, cemeteries, or memorials. You might also be looking at designing educational complexes and office buildings.
You will contribute towards the planning of these places, as well as towards deciding on the designs that you are going to use. Also, you must include aspects that might already be on the area and those that you will have to include in order to make sure your design works. These might include things like dams and water functions, as well as other things that you might need to include in your plans to make sure that the project works the way that you want it to.
Another major part of the job is going to be the inspections. Before and during a project, you need to worry about the way that the landscape currently is, and the environment that is currently there. These are all factors that you will need to focus on as you do your design, and they are factors that should contribute to the way that you do your work.
Conclusion
There are many great things to being a landscape architect. The job pays well in most situations and will be a job that allows you to advance through the career ladder. With the right type of education you will be able to enjoy your career for many years.
