What is Landscape Architecture?
The importance of Landscape in our lives
A country’s natural environment and habitat define its beauty and attraction. The character of the landscape helps represent the self-image of the people who inhabit it and a sense of place that differentiates one region from others. It is the dynamic backdrop to people’s lives. In this article, we will discuss more about how landscape architecture affects the users of outdoor spaces.
Jordan is known for its various landscapes and natural sceneries. It’s in fact, one of the main touristic and local attractions. From Umm Qais up north, going through the magical dunes of Wadi Rum, and ending the journey at the beaches of Aqaba.
But to be more specific, let’s scale it down to a single house. The landscape works this house withholds reflects the character and the individuality of the space and its dwellers. Which in this case, focuses the spotlight on the importance of landscape architecture and its benefits.
Landscape Architecture and its Involvement
Landscape architecture involves the planning, design, management, and nurturing of the built and natural environments. With their unique skill set, landscape architects work to improve human and environmental health in all communities. They plan and design parks, campuses, streetscapes, trails, plazas, residences, and other projects that strengthen communities.
It involves the systematic design and general engineering of various structures for construction and human use, investigation of existing social, ecological, and soil conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of other interventions that will produce desired outcomes.
Landscape architecture is a multidisciplinary field, incorporating aspects of urban design, architecture, geography, ecology, civil engineering, structural engineering, horticulture, environmental psychology, industrial design, soil sciences, botany, and fine arts. The activities of a landscape architect can range from the creation of public parks and parkways to site planning for campuses and corporate office parks; from the design of residential estates to the design of civil infrastructure; and from the management of large wilderness areas to reclamation of degraded landscapes such as mines or landfills.
Fields of Activity
The variety of the professional tasks that landscape architects collaborate on is very broad, but some examples of project types include parks of general design and public infrastructure, sustainable development, storm water management including rain gardens, green roofs, groundwater recharge, green infrastructure, and constructed wetlands. Landscape design for educational function and site design for public institutions and government facilities. Parks, botanical gardens, arboretums, greenways, and nature preserves. Recreation facilities, such as playgrounds, golf courses, theme parks and sports facilities. Housing areas, industrial parks and commercial developments. Estate and residence landscape planning and design. Landscaping and accents on highways, transportation structures, bridges, and transit corridors. Contributions to urban design, town and city squares, waterfronts, pedestrian schemes.
Natural parks, tourist destination, and recreating historical landscapes, and historic garden appraisal and conservation studies. Reservoirs, dams, power stations, reclamation of extractive industry applications or major industrial projects and mitigation. Environmental assessment and landscape assessment, planning advice and land management proposals. Coastal and offshore developments and mitigation. And finally, ecological design (any aspect of design that minimizes environmentally destructive impacts by integrating itself with natural processes and sustainability).
Nature is one the most powerful and exciting resources that we humans need to appreciate and keep. Recreational spaces are as important as any other designed space in the architectural field. Phi Contracting Co identifies with the significance and importance of landscape design and architecture, and we can help you understand its relevance. Contact us for further clarifications or inquiries about this field of design.