Designer or Archtitect?
Jerice
I know an Architect charges more. Is s/he simply more credentialed?
Jerice in Vermont
Marley1372
landscape architect usually works for an architecture firm while a designer
usually works for a smaller business or nursery. Usually a designer will not
work with hard structures or install them. Architects make more and will have
more experience with larger scale jobs. Also, and you have to take this with a
grain of salt because its my opinion- usually landscape architects dont know
balls about plant material, because thier schooling didnt require it. Again,
thats from my personal experiences. Being that the designers usually will work
in a nursery type setting, they often have superior plant knowledge.
toad
MJB
Architect gets a degree -- a BLA, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture --
and generally spends four years at University to attain this degree.
Landscape Architects, for example, are generally the people who design
commercial and large residential plans. For example, when a city is
building a new subdivision, the LA will design the parks, greenspaces,
etc.
A Landscape Designer on the other hand spends time getting certified by
(in our area) an association (but does not have a university degree). I
am midway through my Landscape Design accreditation. An LD, for example,
may focus more on residential yards and some commercial (business)
properties. An LD is usually heavily knowledgeable in plant materials.
For example, when I complete my LD, I will be certified as a
horticulturalist as well.
Hope this basic overview helps.
Mike.
KrisHur
my neighbor hired a landscape designer and near every plant was wrong for
it's spot; 90% of them died w/in a year.
"Jerice" <jer...@valley.net> wrote in message
news:1103_1003453581@claudius...
MJB
can call themselves a landscape designer.
Mike.
Vox Humana
Designer and a Landscape Architect?
> I know an Architect charges more. Is s/he simply more credentialed?
I think of Landscape Architects as people who design spaces. I see them
dealing with retaining wall, drainage, irrigation, lighting, garden
structures, and hardscaping. Plants are used as part of the palate to
compliment the architecture. I see Landscape Designers as people who use
plants as the primary focus of the landscape and solve problems of function
with walls, structures, and hardscape. Both groups use the same elements,
but there is a philosophical difference.
I hired a landscape design firm that was well established and had won many
awards at local garden shows. They put in a retaining wall and a paver
walkway along with a couple small trees, a couple dozen shrubs and several
groups of perennials. After five years, many of the plants have died
because they were poor choices and/or planted in heavy clay instead of well
amended soil. The paver walk has settled in places and I have some draining
problems that were created by the retaining wall. The total job cost $20K.
In retrospect, I think that an landscape architect would have been a better
choice. I also would never have a design firm install the plants (except
larger trees) because I would take more care to amend the soil than they
did.
The bottom line is to interview several firms, get references, and insist on
seeing some projects that have been installed for several years.
MJB
is, anyone can call themselves landscape designers. Quite often you will
find landscapers (i.e. landscape construction businesses) that offer
landscape design services. On some occasions, the results of this can be
like the situation you described below, mainly because, as you noted,
some individuals/businesses do not have an extensive knowledge of plant
materials (and in many cases, a sound knowledge of proper landscape
construction).
So, checking credentials is paramount. Ask for references, preferably of
jobs they have done several years/seasons ago so that you can
inspect/speak with the homeowners to see if the plants survived over
time (albeit, we all know too well that some plants do die for reasons
other than design flaws!).
As I am halfway through my three-year landscape design and horticulture
certification I can tell you that we spend exhaustive amounts of time in
the many courses and site visits on plant materials, landscape design,
landscape construction, landscape maintenance, botany, soils and
fertilizers, pests etc. etc. It's actually an amazing program and one
that I enjoy quite a bit. This summer I began designing professionally
and -- if the homeowner is not doing the work him/herself -- work with a
contractor whom I know and trust to implement my plans correctly and
meticulously.
So in the end, whether you use a designer or an architect or a
contractor, check their credentials, experience and references. You can
spend a great deal of money on a landscape plan implementation and you
have every right to be comfortable and secure in knowing that the
individual you hire is an experienced knowledgeable professional.
Mike.
David J. Bockman
--
David J. Bockman, Fairfax, VA (USDA Hardiness Zone 7)
Bunabayashi Bonsai On The World Wide Web: http://www.bunabayashi.com
email: d...@bunabayashi.com
"Marley1372" <marle...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20011019001750...@mb-df.aol.com...
Pam
Jerice wrote:
Regarding the credentials, not necessarily but you are generally correct. To practice landscape architecture
under that title requires a degree from an accredited university, a period of apprenticeship with a
practicing LA and passing a rather rigorous testing process to receive a professional license - the LA
equivalent of an attorney's bar exam. There is no nationwide testing or licensing requirement for a
landscape designer, but that does not negate the fact that many are equally, if not superiorly skilled, as a
licensed LA. On the down side, many more landscape designers have no formal training and skill levels
ranging from woefully inadequate to extremely good.
Which professional you select depends a great deal on your requirements. Many LA's are not readily inclined
to work on smaller projects like a home garden, but many smaller firms will. Also, a number of states
require all landscape designs to be prepared by a Landscape Architect. For many homeowners, design
assistance by a landscape designer is an ideal solution. To choose which is the best route for you,
interview a number of prospects from both in your area. Check with your local chapter of the ASLA for
referrals for Landscape Architects and with the Association of Professional Landscape Designers
(www.apld.com) for well-trained and qualified designers in your area.
Pam - gardengal
(Certified Landscape Designer)
Mike Prager
wrote:
>Check their credentials, experience and references.
Of all professionals, it should be relatively easy to check on
landscape designers. Ask for the addresses of past clients
with similar property to yours. Drive by and take a look.
Maybe the owner will even be outside watering, and you can ask
about the job.
Mike Prager
Beaufort, NC (on the coast in zone 8)