The Science and profession of Landscape Architecture
Landscape "means an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors” (Florence Convention, 2000).
Landscape architecture is an environmental design profession and discipline, which encompasses the analysis, planning, design, management, and stewardship of the natural and built environments, at every scale and typology, combining aesthetics with functionality, for the better use by humans, following the principles of sustainability.
The scope of Landscape Architecture is broad and includes the ecological design of abiotic, biotic, and cultural features in conservation, development and restoration projects. Types of projects are: residential site design; parks and recreation; low impact development, monuments; urban design; streetscapes and public spaces; transportation corridors and facilities; gardens and arboreta; security design; hospitality and resorts; institutional; academic campuses; therapeutic gardens; historic preservation; habitat restoration; green infrastructure, reclamation; conservation planning; landscape art and earth sculpture; interior landscapes; and more.
LARGE - REGIONAL SCALE PROJECTS
Landscapes of urban and peri-urban agriculture
Urban and peri-urban wetlands - river delta
Sites of particular importance, such as cultural landscapes or historical landscapes, archaeological sites
Derelict or spaces in-between, "drosscapes"
Post-industrial retrieved sites, fields or city areas.
Landscapes of built structures and technical works such as roads (Egnatia Odos SA), dams (PPC), etc.
Metropolitan parks
MEDIUM SCALE PROJECTS
Former military bases
Urban woodlands, ravines, torrents and other natural elements
Urban outdoor spaces
public gardens and neighborhood parks
School yards
community gardens
The surrounding space of urban and suburban conurbations, public services, organizations, shopping centers, industrial parks, etc.
SMALL SCALE PROJECTS
Botanical gardens
The surrounding space and gardens of private residences
Urban islands and tree avenues
Planting design of the interior and facades of buildings (roof gardens and vertical gardens)
A Landscape Architect is involved in the design of outdoor spaces of any scale and typology of the natural or man-made landscape. Called upon to combine the softscape with the hardscape and to participate with innovative interventions at all stages of a project, from the original idea to the final designs, analyzing and evaluating all the social-economic, historical, cultural, ecological, climatic and perceptual parameters. It may also undertake the supervision and construction of landscape architectural works.
There is an increasing, interest in the education of Landscape Architecture. Worldwide, landscape architecture is taught either at undergraduate levels or postgraduate levels. Most courses are accredited or comply with the educational standards as specified by the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA).
Within Greece, two IFLA accredited postgraduate studies are offered: the Postgraduate Program of the Laboratory of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture of the Department of Crop Science of the Agricultural University of Athens and the Interdisciplinary Program of Postgraduate Studies of Landscape Architecture of the Departments of Architectural Engineering and Agriculture of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The landscape architect can work as a designer or builder. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the landscape architect's status, as a researcher they can be active both as members of a landscape architecture office and as members of a multidisciplinary team of designers.
On a larger scale, they can be a member of study groups dealing with urban and spatial planning. On a smaller scale they can collaborate with architects and decorators for the design of smaller spaces as well as the inclusion of greenery in interior spaces.
As a builder, they have the opportunity to offer landscape work supervision services or set up their own construction company for landscape projects. They can also work in the management of green projects and/or landscape architecture (parks, public spaces, etc.). The object may also be the supervision and organization of maintenance work in large landscape projects.
Of course, they can also be active in research or education following an academic course.
Panhellenic Association of Landscape Architects has members all around Greece. Besides proximity and in order to choose a Landscape Architect for a project, the expertise and experience of the Landscape Architect as a designer or contractor is also important according to each project’s special requirements.
The registration process is easy and simple. In the Statutes of the Association you can find the membership categories and the required qualifications for each category.
Fill in the application form and email it to info@phala.gr with the required documents (diplomas, certificates etc.) as mentioned in the Statutes of the Association.
The application will be examined in the next meeting of the board of directors and you will be informed by email for the acceptance or not of your registration.
The registration is completed with the submission of the required documents in hard copy and the successful payment of the registration fees as requested in the confirmation email.
For further information please contact the General Secreteriat at info@phala.gr