1. Home
  2. Home & Garden
  3. Landscaping

Landscape Architecture

By David Beaulieu, About.com Guide

Definition: Landscape architecture is the profession that practices the art of arranging or modifying the features of a landscape, an urban area, etc., for aesthetic or practical purposes.

Landscape architecture must be distinguished from landscape design. The American Society of Landscape Architects asserts that someone who makes a career of "landscape architecture," properly speaking, possesses a higher level of skill, usually reinforced by a degree, than is possessed by a "landscape designer." Degrees and professional status notwithstanding, it is still accurate to say that members of the landscape architecture profession do practice landscape design.

In short, more training goes into entering the landscape architecture field than the landscape design field. Landscape architecture calls for a broader skill base and sometimes carries greater responsibility. For instance, a city or town may ask a landscape architect to design a park. A landscape designer, by contrast, is more likely to work on residential landscaping than on landscaping for a park.

Speaking of parks, Frederick Law Olmsted is recognized as the driving force behind the development of the landscape architecture profession in the U.S. Olmsted masterminded Central Park in New York.
Common Misspellings: landscape arcitecture, landscape architexture, landscape arcitexture, landscape arkitecture

Explore Landscaping

About.com Special Features

Home Allergy Center

Banish mess, reduce allergens, and maintain a clean, healthy home. More >

Home Improvements Made Easy

Inspirational ideas and expert tips to help you pull off your next DIY project. More >

  1. Home
  2. Home & Garden
  3. Landscaping

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.