They work in order to provide aesthetically pleasing and innovative environments for the people to take pleasure in, and at the same time ensuring that the changes in the natural surroundings are sensitive, sustainable and appropriate.
Description of the job
The work of a landscape architect covers diverse projects. Both rural and urban. Ranging from planning the design of gardens, housing estates and parks to city center layout to enhancing the land influenced by motorway construction or mining.
Landscape architects team up closely with the landscape contractors and other professionals like planners, environmentalists, architects and people who perform the functions of engineering and surveying.
Requirements
A number of landscape architects planning to do a specialization in the design begin their line of business by receiving an acknowledged undergraduate course and subsequently a post graduate diploma, certified by the LI or “The Landscape Institute”, which is a must qualification. The certified subjects include:
• Garden design
• Landscape architecture
• Landscape planning
• Landscape ecology and design
• Landscape management
If a person owns a degree in not an accredited but a related subject like horticulture, architecture or botany, there is a need for the person to undergo a recognized landscape architecture post graduate course.
To access entry into a course of undergraduate level, one needs to have either minimum 2 A-levels or something similar to it. Subjects like art, geography, environmental design, graphic design, biology and botany are particularly a good basis for landscape design. Some of the course providers also ask for the verification of drawing abilities while applying and usually look for practical skills, creative outlook and enthusiasm. Universities also consider any qualifications obtained by any applicant or the pertinent work experience, especially if a person is submitting an application as an established student.
Career development
The experienced practitioners are usually interested in private practice, where their main aim is to establish their personal business or to turn into partners. For a successful private practice, one needs a good contact and client base and excellent knowledge, experience and skills.
The progression of career of a landscape architect involves acquiring more responsibility, taking charge and handling the projects, as well as administering a team. The progress rate normally depends on an individual: the more skills, knowledge and ambition, more promptly a person can make progress. Landscape architects who have strong business awareness may advance to top consultancy roles.
Salary
• The usual initial salaries of an assistant landscape architect range from $24,000 - $36,000.
• The usual salaries for the contractual landscape architects range from $41,087 - $73,957+.
• The salaries may be dissimilar according to the sector, experience level and the company.
• The economic rewards may be more for the qualified landscape architects in private sector.
• In the initial years, the salary may be soaring in public sector along with an official pay structure.
Thus, the demand for landscape architects is increasing gradually. The scope for career growth is also very wide in this field as an environmental or land planner, construction supervisor, landscape consultants and project managers.
