Landscape Institute
Encyclopedia
The Landscape Institute is a British professional body
for landscape architects
. Founded in 1929 as the Institute of Landscape Architects, it was granted a Royal Charter
in 1997. The Institute aims to promote landscape architecture, and to regulate the profession with a code of conduct that members must abide by. As of June 2009, it has 6,000 members, 3,000 of whom are chartered.
It publishes the professional journal Landscape (formerly Landscape Design), and is a member of the International Federation of Landscape Architects
. Its current chief executive is Alastair McCapra.
s. From the 1950s to the 1980s, the public sector, particularly local authorities, were the largest employers of landscape architects, with a minority working in private practice. Today the private sector is the larger employer, although the largest single employer of landscape architects in the UK are the charitable Groundwork Trusts.
) to use 'landscape architect' as a professional title. Before becoming President of the ILA, Mawson had been a President of the Town Planning Institute
. His own career had developed from garden design to urban design.
Only fully qualified members of the LI are permitted to use the protected title 'Chartered Landscape Architect'. Chartered membership of the LI is accepted throughout Europe, The USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada . while many countries who lack their own chartered professional body for Landscape Architects recognised as a badge of excellence. In May 2009 there were just under 6,000 members of the institute of which 3,000 were chartered. It is therefore a small profession in the United Kingdom compared with architecture or town planning, but it is a growing profession.
launched a campaign, projected to run for five years, to increase the number of Landscape Architects in the UK. Entitled I want to be a landscape architect, it has its own website, and focuses on increasing the number of postgraduate and undergraduate students taking LI accredited courses.
Professional body
A professional association is usually a nonprofit organization seeking to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals engaged in that profession, and the public interest.The roles of these professional associations have been variously defined: "A group of people in a...
for landscape architects
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
. Founded in 1929 as the Institute of Landscape Architects, it was granted a Royal Charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
in 1997. The Institute aims to promote landscape architecture, and to regulate the profession with a code of conduct that members must abide by. As of June 2009, it has 6,000 members, 3,000 of whom are chartered.
It publishes the professional journal Landscape (formerly Landscape Design), and is a member of the International Federation of Landscape Architects
International Federation of Landscape Architects
The International Federation of Landscape Architects is an organisation which represents the landscape architectural profession globally...
. Its current chief executive is Alastair McCapra.
Development of the profession
The growth of landscape architecture has been led by government legislation since the 1940s, such as the New Towns Act (1946) which required landscape masterplans to be prepared, and the European Community Environmental Assessment Directive (1985) which has led to the increase in environmental impact assessmentEnvironmental impact assessment
An environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects....
s. From the 1950s to the 1980s, the public sector, particularly local authorities, were the largest employers of landscape architects, with a minority working in private practice. Today the private sector is the larger employer, although the largest single employer of landscape architects in the UK are the charitable Groundwork Trusts.
History of the Institute
Thomas Mawson was the first President of the Institute of Landscape Architects (ILA) in 1929, and also one of the first professionals in the UK (along with Patrick GeddesPatrick Geddes
Sir Patrick Geddes was a Scottish biologist, sociologist, philanthropist and pioneering town planner. He is known for his innovative thinking in the fields of urban planning and education....
) to use 'landscape architect' as a professional title. Before becoming President of the ILA, Mawson had been a President of the Town Planning Institute
Royal Town Planning Institute
The Royal Town Planning Institute is a body representing planning professionals in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1914.-Members:...
. His own career had developed from garden design to urban design.
Members
LI members include landscape designers, conservationists, plant scientists, urban designers, and environmental managers. These disciplines are divided between the three divisions of the Institute: Landscape Design, Landscape Science, and Landscape Management. Members have a duty under the Code of Conduct to create landscapes which are aesthetically pleasing, functional, economic to create and manage, and which embrace cultural and heritage aspects well as considerations associated with the natural environment and conservation.Qualifying for membership
Membership of the LI is by examination. Candidates must be licentiate members of the LI before sitting the exam. The written exam and interview with senior members of the profession has recently been replaced by the Pathway to Chartership overseen by a mentor and LI appointed supervisor where the candidates pathway of learning is followed by an interview with senior members of the profession, once the candidate has attained an agreed level of competency. These exams were formerly known as 'Part IV' of the Landscape Institute's own design examination. Parts I to III were replaced by the system of accredited degree courses in the mid 1980s.Only fully qualified members of the LI are permitted to use the protected title 'Chartered Landscape Architect'. Chartered membership of the LI is accepted throughout Europe, The USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada . while many countries who lack their own chartered professional body for Landscape Architects recognised as a badge of excellence. In May 2009 there were just under 6,000 members of the institute of which 3,000 were chartered. It is therefore a small profession in the United Kingdom compared with architecture or town planning, but it is a growing profession.
Activities
In 2008, the LI, supported by CABECabe
Cabe can refer to:*Cabe , a tributary of the Sil River in Spain*CABE, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment...
launched a campaign, projected to run for five years, to increase the number of Landscape Architects in the UK. Entitled I want to be a landscape architect, it has its own website, and focuses on increasing the number of postgraduate and undergraduate students taking LI accredited courses.
See also
- Landscape architectureLandscape architectureLandscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
- Landscape planningLandscape planningLandscape planning is a branch of landscape architecture. Urban park systems and greenway of the type planned by Frederick Law Olmsted are key examples of urban landscape planning. Landscape designers tend to work for clients who wish to commission construction work...
- Landscape managerLandscape managerLandscape managers are professionally trained and qualified experts in landscaping management for conservation and recreation stewardship of designed and natural landscapes.-Scope of work:...
- Schools of landscape architecture
- Environmental impact assessmentEnvironmental impact assessmentAn environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects....
- Garden designerGarden designerThe term garden designer can refer either to an amateur or a professional who designs the plan and features of gardens. Amateurs design their gardens for their own properties. Professionals, with experienced skills, design gardens that benefit clients...
- History of gardeningHistory of gardeningThe history of ornamental gardening may be considered as aesthetic expressions of beauty through art and nature, a display of taste or style in civilized life, an expression of an individual's or culture's philosophy, and sometimes as a display of private status or national pride—in private...
- Geoffrey JellicoeGeoffrey JellicoeSir Geoffrey Jellicoe was an English landscape architect, garden designer, Architect and author.Jellicoe was born in Chelsea. He studied at the Architectural Association in London in 1919 and won a Rome Scholarship in 1923 which enabled him to research his first book Italian Gardens of the...
- Construction Industry CouncilConstruction Industry CouncilThe Construction Industry Council is the representative body for the professional bodies, research organizations and specialist business associations in the construction industry in the United Kingdom...