MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AND A NOTE ON FAMOUS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS.

2. What are the various organisations of Landscape architecture?

ANSWER:
INTERNATIONAL
IFLA - The International Federation of Landscape Architects
AMERICA NORTH AND SOUTH
ASLA - American Society of Landscape Architects
ABAP - Brazilian Association of Landscape Architects
CSLA - Canadian Society of Landscape Architects
CLARB - Council of Landscape Architecture Registration Boards (US/Canada)
EUROPE
ILI - The Irish Landscape Institute
NVTL - Netherlands Association for Landscape Architecture
APAP - Portuguese Association of Landscape Architects
ASOP - Romanian Landscape Architects Association
LI - The Landscape Institute (UK)
PMO - Turkish Chamber of Landscape Architects
AEP - Spanish Association of Landscape Architects
ELASA - European Landscape Architecture Students Association
EFLA - The European Foundation of Landscape Architecture

CLASS NOTES: LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

th
5 Semester A Section

(c) Smitha Navda,BMSCE,2012

1. Define Landscape Architecture and How is it related to Architecture?

ANSWER:
Landscape architecture is commonly defined as the art of arranging land portions
and the objects upon it for human use and enjoyment.
It is concerned with the relationship between external spaces of buildings and
engineering structures with natural surroundings and ways to design transition
between them
In other words it is the design of outdoor public areas, landmarks, and structures to
achieve environmental, social-behavioural, or aesthetic outcomes.
The scope of the profession includes:
a) urban design & master level planning;
b) site planning;
c) storm water management;
d) town or urban planning;
e) environmental restoration;
f) parks and recreation planning;
g) visual resource management;
h) green infrastructure planning and provision;
i) Private estate and residence landscape master planning and design.
Although Landscape design is a specialized area, it is inter-connected with the core
field of Architecture in many ways.
The foundational principles of Architecture such as scale, form, hierarchy, axis, focus
and datum are applicable to landscape design as well.
In addition, landscape design also adheres to the functional aspects such as
circulation and aesthetics.

ASIA PACIFIC
AILA - Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
ISALA - Israeli Association of Landscape Architects
ISOLA - Indian Society of Landscape Architects
KILA - Korea Institute of Landscape Architecture
NZILA - New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects
SILA - Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects
TALA - Thai Association of Landscape Architects
PALA - Philippine Association of Landscape Architects
HKILA - Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects
CHSLA - Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture
AFRICA
ILASA - Institute of Landscape Architects in South Africa
AAK - Architectural Association of Kenya.

3. Write a note on ISOLA and the profession of Landscape architecture in India.

ANSWER:
A professional body of Landscape Architects was established in May 2003, named
Indian Society of Landscape Architects (ISOLA).
ISOLA was founded at the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT)
Ahmedabad by Prof. Prabhakar Bhagwat along with nine other founder members
MISSION-The society is at the forefront in creating a global awareness about the
fast emerging profession of Landscape Architecture and promoting and enhancing
the professional excellence among its members in India.
ISOLA is a member of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA).
ISOLA has hosted two Asia Pacific Region Conferences at Mumbai and Pune involving
IFLA participation.
ROLE OF ISOLA IN INDIA ISOLA is an active advocate for the profession at the state and national levels on all
issues pertaining to the profession, and environment in particular. ISOLA also aims at
propagating awareness and appreciation of the profession of landscape architecture
among the general public.
Profession in India:
The profession of Landscape Architecture is not very old in India and is dated around
60years. The initial momentum started with the establishment if the school of planning and
architecture, at New Delhi. Follwed by SPA at New Delhi was the Centre for Environmental
Planning and Technology popularly known as CEPT at Ahmedabad, under the guidance of
Prof. Prabhakar B Bhagwat. The earliest breed of architects, who started the profession at
Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad etc were persons like Ar. Ravindra Bhan,Ar. Kishore
Pradhan, Ar.Satish Khanna, Ar.Md.Shahir,Prof.P.B Bhagwat and many others who have
contributed towards many refreshing landscapes. Although No special entrance exam or
licence is required for practicing Landscape architecture in India a degree in architecture or
Landscape Studies is a must. The COA, New Delhi has issued special guidelines for the
professional practicing landscape architects regarding the code of conduct, scope of work,
and the fees to be charged for various projects.
4. What is the Role of a Landscape architect (According to IFLA) in any given
project?(20 marks)
CLASS NOTES: LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
th
5 Semester A Section

(c) Smitha Navda,BMSCE,2012

5. Write a note on a famous Landscape architect.(20 marks)

ANSWER:
Martha Schwartz, born 1950, is an American landscape architect.
Her background is in the fine arts as well as landscape architecture, and her projects
range from private to urban scale.
She studied at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and graduated from the
University of Michigan.
CLASS NOTES: LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
th
5 Semester A Section

(c) Smitha Navda,BMSCE,2012

ANSWER:
Landscape Architects conduct research and advice on planning, design and
stewardship of the outdoor environment and spaces, both within and beyond the
built environment, and its conservation and sustainability of development. For the
profession of landscape architect, a degree in landscape architecture is required.
Tasks include developing new or improved theories, policy and methods for landscape planning,
design and management at local, regional, national and multinational levels;
developing policy, plans, and implementing and monitoring proposals as well as
developing new or improved theories and methods for national parks and other
conservation and recreation areas;
developing new or improved theories and methods to promote environmental
awareness, and undertaking planning, design, restoration, management and
maintenance of cultural and/or historic landscapes, parks, sites and gardens;
planning, design, management, maintenance and monitoring functional and
aesthetic layouts of built environment in urban, suburban, and rural areas including
private and public open spaces, parks, gardens, streetscapes, plazas, housing
developments, burial grounds, memorials; tourist, commercial, industrial and
educational complexes; sports grounds, zoos, botanic gardens, recreation areas and
farms; contributing to the planning, aesthetic and functional design, location,
management and maintenance of infrastructure such as roads, dams, energy and
major development projects;
undertaking landscape assessments including environmental and visual impact
assessments with view to developing policy or undertaking projects;
inspecting sites, analysing factors such as climate, soil, flora, fauna, surface and
subsurface water and drainage; and consulting with clients and making
recommendations regarding methods of work and sequences of operations for
projects related to the landscape and built environment;
identifying and developing appropriate solutions regarding the quality and use of the
built environment in urban, suburban and rural areas and making designs, plans and
working drawings, specifications of work, cost estimates and time schedules;
monitoring the realisation and supervising the construction of proposals to ensure
compliance with plans, specifications of work, cost estimates and time schedules;
conducting research, preparing scientific papers and technical reports, developing
policy, teaching, and advising on aspects regarding landscape architecture such as
the application of geographic information systems, remote sensing, law, landscape
communication, interpretation and landscape ecology;
managing landscape planning and design projects;
Performing related tasks & supervising other workers.

Schwartz currently has firms in Cambridge, Massachusetts and London.

She was married to landscape architect Peter Walker (architect).
Having had over 30 years of experience as a landscape architect and artist, she has
received a number of highly regarded awards.
Projects:
The Bagel garden-Cambridge,Massachusetts-1979
The Stella garden-Pennsylvania-1980
Whitehead Institute splice garden-Cambridge,Massachusetts-1986
Turf parterre garden-New York City-1988
Becton Dickinson-San Jose,California-1990
Snoopys garden-Ito Japan-1991
World Cup-Various locations in USA-1994
Baltimore Inner harbor( competition)-baltimore-1995
Power Lines-Gremany-1999
Exchange Square-Manchester UK-2000
Crawford museum-Ohio-2001
Wakefield-London UK-2002
Doha Corniche-Qatar,2003
Schwartz style includes
Bright colours.
Mocking humour or visual sarcasm.
Unbridled imagination.
Unusual materials.
A limited range of plants.
Surreal scaling of objects.
Design Philosophy:
Introduction of a conceptual or psychic element as a core of her design philosophy.
i.e A single idea based either on the sites history, its context and its intended use was
extrapolated to inform every aspect of the design.
Most of her works are seeking an honest response to what she perceives in the
outdoor environment.
Schwartz has devised a design vocabulary which was literal, visual and symbolic. i.e
based on what she sees as the need and aspiration of human being rather than a
vague concept of nature.
Setting apart from this, as a practicing landscape architect her works have
represented places of utilitarian value and are known to be delightful to people.
According to her the visual component will always dominate first impressions of a
landscape design. She created dramatic impact through the use of unexpected
unusual and sometimes in congruous element which is held in a rigorous formal
design.
Period: Her early solo works could be described as Modernist. Later works such as
Red Bull hanger-Austria-2002 are more exuberant, personal, witty and colorful.
Project:
Whitehead Institute splice garden-Cambridge, Massachusetts-1986
Description:

CLASS NOTES: LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

th
5 Semester A Section

(c) Smitha Navda,BMSCE,2012

25 x35 (7.6mx10.7m) Light-weight roof garden capturing the spirit of

experimentation for the biomedical research institute which specializes in genetic
research and gene splicing.
The site was a lifeless rooftop courtyard atop a nine-story office building designed by
Boston architects Goody Clancy Associates.
Its dreary, tiled roof surface and high surrounding walls conspired to create a dark,
inhospitable space, overlooked by both a classroom and a faculty lounge.
The lounge offered access to the courtyard, making it a potential place to eat lunch.
Constrains faced by the landscape architect:
Structure was not strong enough for soil, so there was no opportunity for plant
growth.
There was no water supply; no money was allocated to maintain a garden or its
structure.
Architects interpretation of the space:
It was about the idea of a garden and about what one expects from a garden- quick
cheap and green.
The Response:
The garden was an angry response to the idea of green without wanting to spend
money.
Artificial material and her concept methodology are intended to reveal some hidden
truths of the place rather than it being a pretty picture: All the plants were plastic.
Conceptual realization: If garden was representation of nature. This garden was a re
representation of nature: It didnt weigh anything; it makes no demands and did not
involve having to keep things alive.
The garden is also a cautionary tale related to the work carried out by the institute
and specifically the dangers inherent in gene splicing: the possibility if creating a
monster. So in a sense the garden is a monster.
The resulting garden juxtaposes a French topiary garden and an austere Japanese
Zen garden along a "splice" line. It is a joining together, like Siamese twins, of
gardens from different cultures.
Mutated versions of familiar landscape and garden elements are often used in her
works. Ex: Topiary of French garden was represented as a rock in the Zen garden.
The colour green was seen as emotionally evocative, yet capable of playing a
valuable role in the creation of a strong sense of imposed order on site.
Sense of humour or visual sarcasm-this project will inspire at least a smile if not a
hearty laugh.
Material realization: The intention was to create an environment that can be
enjoyed with no awareness whatsoever of the symbolic scheme that underlines it.
A balance co existence between these twin readings of a single design is difficult but
is achieved in this project.
Learning's from the style:
To question where the teachings and the things happening around us are fundamentally
right?
To value traditions and ecology and not to ape.

To develop an original style that is dramatic, evocative and is intended to reveal some
hidden truths of a place rather than simply existing as an imitation of nature.
*Images of this project are in the pdf attached.
CLASS NOTES: LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
th
5 Semester A Section

(c) Smitha Navda,BMSCE,2012