What is Landscape Architecture?

Landscape Architects design the places that we love. LA's use careful site inventory and analysis to design places for people and nature to meet in an ecologically balanced way. Often history and religion have played an important part in the designs direction providing context to the practioner. There have been specialists in this field working since the beginning of time whether designing China's terraced rice paddies, Stonehenge, or in much loved Italian Renassaince gardens.
One of the most well-known parks in the world was designed by the father of modern day Landscape Architecture Frederick Law Olmsted who had a vision of a people's park for the masses of New York City. Central Park is a symbol of the United States all over the world and was designed as a representation of democracy to the world. Until that point most access to nature in large metropolitan areas was limited to the very wealthy who owned private parks and estates for escaping the bustle of city life. Public parks now play important parts in a communities health.
Landscape Architects also help to manage stormwater through wetland, creek, and wild life habitat restorations. Some Landscape Architects specialize in residential design, golf course design, zoo exhibits, or brownfield restoration. Landscape Archictects also work in cities creating safe places for bikers and pedestrians, thus encouraging alternative transportation methods. A large proportion of Landscape Architects are self-employed due to low overhead costs.
Someone interested in Landscape Architecture should have the ability to communicate in multiple ways through writing, graphics, and speech. Landscape Architecture is a diverse and growing field due to a renewed interest in environmental and community planning.