What Is Landscape Architecture?

Are you interested in a career in landscape architecture?

My name is Eric Gilbey and I‘m a landscape architect and product marketing manager for the landscape industries at Vectorworks and a member of professional associations like the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD).

In this post, I’ll answer an important question: what is landscape architecture?

You’ll also read about my experience as a landscape architect and why, now more than ever, landscape architecture serves a vital role in the welfare of Planet Earth.

Landscape architecture is a STEM profession. It combines science and design to create functional, safe, and environmentally friendly outdoor spaces.

According to ASLA, the landscape architecture profession requires education, experience, and passing a national exam. Landscape architects “are licensed — just like doctors and engineers — to keep people safe and secure,” the website reads.

Landscape architects design outdoor spaces, focusing on creating publicly used environments that harmonize with nature while meeting human needs. Their work involves careful planning, site analysis, and selection of plants and materials that suit the local climate and ecology. Additionally, landscape architects consider sustainability, aiming to reduce negative environmental impact by incorporating features like rain gardens, green roofs, and native plantings.

Some day-to-day responsibilities of a landscape architect include collaborating with project team members, producing project deliverables, and working with public agencies to identify and meet their goals.

Landscape architecture plays a critical role in shaping the spaces where we live, work, and play, making it an essential discipline for the well-being of our communities. This field goes beyond mere aesthetics; it’s intertwined with public health, safety, and welfare (HSW).

Thoughtfully designed landscapes contribute to healthier environments by providing green spaces that promote physical activity, reduce stress, and enhance mental well-being. Moreover, they ensure public safety through the strategic planning of walkways, lighting, and other elements that guide movement and prevent accidents. The welfare of the public is also safeguarded by creating accessible, inclusive spaces that cater to diverse populations.

In addition to public health and safety, landscape architecture is crucial for environmental stewardship. As the world grapples with climate change, the need for sustainable, climate-positive sites and communities becomes increasingly urgent. Landscape architects are at the forefront of designing resilient spaces that mitigate the impacts of climate change, such as urban heat islands, flooding, and biodiversity loss.

Our work helps to create ecosystems that support native species, manage water responsibly, and reduce carbon footprints. To address these challenges effectively, it’s imperative that landscape architects are active participants in policy-making processes. Our expertise is invaluable in advocating for and implementing policies that prioritize sustainable practices, ensuring that our built environments are beautiful, resilient, and supportive of a healthy planet.

Graduation with a degree in landscape architecture isn’t the only requirement to become a landscape architect. In the U.S. where I live, state title laws require you to be actively licensed in the state where you want to practice to call yourself a landscape architect.

There are three major things that are required in most U.S. states to practice landscape architecture:

1. An accredited degree in landscape architecture, either bachelor’s or master’s
2. Two to three years of experience under a licensed landscape architect or licensed professional in a related field
3. Successful passage of the Landscape Architect Registration Exam (LARE)

If you’re interested in practicing landscape architecture, make sure to research the requirements in place, as they can vary from state to state, and especially from country to country.

My journey to becoming a landscape architect was a gradual realization that unfolded over several years. It began during my high school years, when I spent countless hours visiting public gardens. These visits sparked an appreciation for horticulture, especially artful displays of plants. At the time, I could only articulate my interest as a passion for horticulture, as landscape architecture was not a recognized option in the career preparation exercises available to me during high school. The beauty and intricacy of these public gardens captivated me, and I knew I wanted to pursue a career that allowed me to work closely with nature and design.

With this passion in mind, I decided to enroll in the Associate of Applied Science degree program in horticulture, with a focus on landscape contracting and construction, at Ohio State University. My goal was to gain practical skills and knowledge that would enable me to work in the field of horticulture, perhaps in roles that involved the design and maintenance of gardens and landscapes.

However, my career aspirations took a significant turn when a landscape architect visited our school. This professional, who worked in a design/build firm in Washington, D.C., gave a compelling presentation on the scope of their work. They discussed design and construction and highlighted the broader impact landscape architecture can have in the public realm.

This encounter was a turning point for me. I realized that to truly engage in the kind of work that excited me — designing public spaces like the gardens I had always admired — I would need to pursue landscape architecture. It became clear that landscape architecture was about much more than just planting; it was about creating spaces that shape communities, influence behavior, and contribute to the public good.

Motivated by this new understanding, I decided to further my education by pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture at Ohio State University. This decision marked the beginning of my journey into a field that perfectly blends my love for nature with my desire to create meaningful, lasting contributions to the built environment.

Nowadays, I’d say I’m in a non-traditional landscape architecture role. As the Product Marketing Manager for the landscape industries at Vectorworks, I use my expertise to help guide our development and marketing teams, as well as help users of our software implement best-practice workflows.

So, as you can see, a career in landscape architecture can take a variety of paths beyond working with a design firm. Depending on your interests and desired career path, you can use a degree and experience in landscape architecture for positions like the following, in addition to positions outside of landscape architecture and design:

• Academia
• Non-profit and research
• Government work
• Sales
• Product design and marketing

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