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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: HOW YOU CAN CREATE A SUSTAINABLE CAREER PATH Maria Achtida, Architect, Environmental Resource Manager, and Senior Lecturer at Blackrock Further Education Institute (BFEI), sets the record straight about the profession and explains how BFEI can provide you with the skills, knowledge and experience to pursue a success career
2016
represented a challenging year on several fronts: the refugee crisis in Europe, Brexit, the US elections and rising perceptions of insecurity all contributed to a less than positive feel. While the geopolitical landscape remains insecure, increased economic activity in Ireland has provided a sense of optimism. Things are being built, investments are being made and jobs are being created. 2017 presents new opportunities for those willing to exploit them, but we must be cautious and considered in our activities or we will simply repeat the problems of the past. If we desire to create a sustainable island nation we must think carefully about the long term in every decision we make. Although not fully appreciated or recognised in Ireland, the discipline of Landscape Architecture is potentially the most important in ensuring the sustainability of our way of life, particularly when employed at early stage planning. The Landscape Architect draws together all disciplines and manages the complex interface of the human habitat and the natural world.
MISPERCEPTIONS AND UNDERSTATEMENTS Unfortunately the profession of landscape architecture is often misunderstood. I find it frustrating to hear “Oh great, you’ll have to have a look at my garden” when I tell people what I do. Or “Yeah, I want to learn about growing dahlias” from prospective course applicants. As a society, Ireland has a long way to travel before it comprehends, acknowledges and appreciates the true importance of the Landscape Architect. We are getting there, but it’s frustratingly slow.
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Confusion about the profession is not isolated to the general public. Many professionals in the wider horticulture sector also have trouble understanding what Landscape Architects do. Most frequently, professionals will confuse garden or landscape designers and even landscapers with Landscape Architects. While these professions share a related history, and many Landscape Architects undertake smaller, private work, I’ve not heard of a domestic designer or landscaper undertaking the work of a Landscape Architect. A garden designer is a professional focused on the creation of private spaces often domestic in nature. He or she will typically work independently or have strong relationships to contracting companies. A landscape designer also tends to focus on private space but typically on a larger scale. landscapers, or more correctly, landscape contractors are the builders of gardens, landscapes and just about any external space. Such is the confusion regarding the titles, that we had to change the title of our course from Landscape Design to Landscape Architecture. This better reflect the focus and will aid applicants making the right choices.
SO WHO AND WHAT ARE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS? Landscape Architects are focused on and responsible for the enhancement of outdoor space through good design, the management of the built and natural environment to safeguard the public’s physical, mental health and welfare. In broad terms it is - in collaboration with other design/construction disciplines - creating, managing and sustaining values of outdoor spaces (from small to large scale) in urban or rural settings. As an emergent domain, Landscape Architecture continues to grow in complexity, drawing and feeding into fields
HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / Spring 2017
