Landscape Architecture represents the management, planning, and design of the built and natural environments. Anywhere from construction detail development, native planting, green infrastructure, and recreation/trail design to teaching, research, master planning, and ordinance preparation, every Landscape Architect is different.

 

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

wildlife habitat corridors | cities | constructed wetlands | green streets | green roofs & walls

Defined as anything and everything green, green infrastructure promotes streetscapes, parks, green roofs, and anything that will help absorb or treat stormwater and pollution in specifically urban environments. Oxygen is created through these plantings along with capturing carbon dioxide.
Strategies for more green infrastructure have already been underway in bigger cities like New York and Philadelphia costing 1.2-1.5 billion over the next couple of years. The city of Philadelphia is expecting to avoid roughly 1.5 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions all through the use of simple green infrastructure. Landscape Architects are the masterminds behind these urban forests implementing practices based on durability, resilience, character, growth habit, and aesthetic value. Diversity in species to limit monocultures will help with environmental factors involving pests and diseases.

MASTER PLANNING

parks | trails | plazas | waterfronts | gardens | streetscapes | commercial & residential developments

Precedent studies and detailed site analysis of current conditions, master planning is common in Landscape Architecture. Programming areas based on functionality, durability, and visual appearance all while blending together sidewalks, trails, and streets, work as a system that flows with it’s surrounding environment. Well-known Landscape Architects such as Fredrick Law Olmsted, Calvert Vaux, James Corner, and Michael Van Valkenburgh can be identified through their master plan designs in cities like Chicago and New York. Olmsted was famous for designing urban parks such as Central Park in NYC and the U.S. Capitol Grounds in Washington D.C. James Corner created The High Line in NYC and Navy Pier in Chicago. The list goes on with incredible projects that have set a standard for designers.

The next time you have a site design project or capital improvement plan that could benefit from landscape architecture, reach out to me to discuss your options!

Clay Silver, L.A.I. | Landscape Architect Intern

csilver@cgaconsultants.com

Text Source: https://www.asla.org/

Photo credit:

http://www.pamelaburtonco.com/projects/rincon-place/

https://www.archdaily.com/24362/the-new-york-high-line-officially-open

https://www.conteches.com/knowledge-center/case-studies/details/slug/gathering-place