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Landscape architecture role in mitigating negative ... - UNU-WIDER

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management or policy plans. Some may also apply an additional specialism such as landscape<br />

archaeology or law to the process of landscape plann<strong>in</strong>g. 6<br />

4.3. <strong>Landscape</strong> <strong>architecture</strong> is a multi‐discipl<strong>in</strong>ary field<br />

<strong>Landscape</strong> <strong>architecture</strong> is a multi‐discipl<strong>in</strong>ary field, <strong>in</strong>corporat<strong>in</strong>g aspects of:<br />

Geography, & ecology environmental psychology, horticulture,<br />

<strong>in</strong>dustrial design, geology & the earth sciences, the f<strong>in</strong>e arts,<br />

botany,<br />

<strong>architecture</strong>,<br />

The activities of a landscape architect can range from the creation of public parks and parkways<br />

to site plann<strong>in</strong>g for campuses and corporate office parks, from the design of residential estates<br />

to the design of civil <strong>in</strong>frastructure and the management of large wilderness areas or reclamation<br />

of degraded landscapes such as m<strong>in</strong>es or landfills.<br />

<strong>Landscape</strong> architects work on all types of structures and external space ‐ large or small, urban,<br />

suburban and rural, and with "hard" (built) and "soft" (planted) materials, while <strong>in</strong>tegrat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

ecological susta<strong>in</strong>ability. The most valuable contribution can be made at the first stage of a<br />

project to generate ideas with technical understand<strong>in</strong>g and creative flair for the design,<br />

organization, and use of spaces. The landscape architect can conceive the overall concept and<br />

prepare the master plan, from which detailed design draw<strong>in</strong>gs and technical specifications are<br />

prepared.<br />

They can also review proposals to authorize and supervise contracts for the construction work.<br />

Other skills <strong>in</strong>clude prepar<strong>in</strong>g design impact assessments, conduct<strong>in</strong>g environmental<br />

assessments and audits, and serv<strong>in</strong>g as an expert witness at <strong>in</strong>quiries on land use issues. They can<br />

also support and prepare applications for capital and revenue fund<strong>in</strong>g grants. 7<br />

Figure 6. <strong>Landscape</strong> <strong>architecture</strong> is a multi‐discipl<strong>in</strong>ary field<br />

4.4. Major landscape <strong>architecture</strong> Fields of activity<br />

The variety of the professional tasks that landscape architects collaborate on is very broad, but<br />

some examples of project types <strong>in</strong>clude:<br />

a. The plann<strong>in</strong>g, form, scale and sitt<strong>in</strong>g of new developments<br />

b. Civil design and public <strong>in</strong>frastructure<br />

c. Susta<strong>in</strong>able development<br />

d. Storm water management <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g ra<strong>in</strong> gardens, green roofs, groundwater recharge, and<br />

treatment wetlands<br />

e. Campus and site design for public <strong>in</strong>stitutions and government facilities<br />

f. Parks, botanical gardens, arboretums, greenways, and nature preserves<br />

g. Recreation facilities; i.e.: playgrounds, golf courses, theme parks and sports facilities<br />

h. Hous<strong>in</strong>g areas, <strong>in</strong>dustrial parks and commercial developments<br />

i. Estate and residence landscape master plann<strong>in</strong>g and design<br />

j. Highways, transportation structures, bridges, and transit corridors<br />

k. Urban design, town and city squares, waterfronts, pedestrian schemes, and park<strong>in</strong>g lots<br />

l. Large to small urban renewal plann<strong>in</strong>g and design

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