Landscape architecture vs. landscape design

Often we are asked to clarify the difference between these two terms or businesses.

The quick response is that landscape architecture is a licensed profession administered by the State or Province and regulated by a central registration body in Washington DC. (CLARB, the Council for Landscape Architectural Registration Board) Anybody overnight can call themselves a landscape designer.

The word (Landscape) Architect in most States and Provinces including WA falls under an Act or WAC where those licensed are required to abide by the following laws (typically):

• To uphold public health, safety and welfare as it relates to the professional practice of landscape architecture in your region.
• To nurture and further the professional application of landscape architectural knowledge and technique as it relates to the planning, design,development, preservation, protection, restoration, reclamation, enhancement and management of the environment.
• To further and maintain proper standards of professional landscape architectural practice.
• To complete annual continuing education requirements_ a number of education and training credits taken in Landscape Architecture or in related fields.
• Landscape Architecture is a broad based profession requiring many skills and diverse knowledge.

To become a landscape architect you are required to accomplish the following:

• Pass an accredited B.L.A. program (typically 5 years)
• Or have a related degree (earth sciences for instance), make up some undergrad BLA courses and pass the M.L.A. _ masters program.
• Complete a three year (min.) professional practice log having fulfilled a minimum period of certain tasks.
• Pass the L.A.R.E. registration exams _ a series of five or six exams you sit for at certain times in the year (typically). These take a minimum of a year and a half.
• Pass the (national/ state) review boards and in some States a licensing exam

The time it takes to meet all the requirements from A to Z varies but typically it takes about nine to ten years. However the national and state/provincial requirements and/or laws are constantly changing hence to become a practicing professional may be shorter than expected. At least the current trends are to simplify and reduce the requirements.

Many landscape designers are self-taught after having read and worked in the landscape business. Knowledge is picked up in nurseries, community colleges, workshops, master-gardener programs and so forth. Typically the landscape designer is focused on residential garden design and therefore often have an expertise in horticulture and local plant materials_ native and/or ornamental. Most landscape architects (but limited to) have a wider repertoire and consequently offer a wider range of skills and expertise from planning, project management, and design at various scales/size. That is not to say that some L.A.’s choose to have a career solely in residential design.

Markthor MacFarlane

Arch-Eco Design

Cascadia Design Build

Cascadia Landscaping
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Professional design fees and why you pay these rates

“I would rather pay for a pallet of pavers than pay for apiece of paper with landscape or house plans. I feel totally ripped off, but I need them for my building permit”.

I have heard this enough times in my career as a consultant and builder. This is not unusual. People’s natural interpretation or deduction is that there is nothing to show for it but they could not be further from the truth. What is lacking is information and experience.

The reason why there are 250,000 architects and 175,000 landscape architects in this country is not to make money. If that is your modus operandae then you’re better off to be a lawyer and bill out at a 10 minute rate. No, designers are in the business because they love the work and they truly believe they are providing a service that directly improves the quality of life for communities, families and individuals even to the sacrifice of monetary gain. And most importantly today, many are interested in participating in the clean up of our country.

Designers do not typically bank a steady income. Income is generated sporadically or in stages that often depend on construction seasons, schedules and markets. Fees are determined by regional commerce trends (market oriented) and not set by any institute or government agency. Typically the investment on education does not correspond to the salaries in these professions. They are far below what any other professional earns unless you are based in a large metropolis. This is at least what I have observed while working in the various six capitals/cities of the western world these past thirty years.

Let’s get down to particulars for the analytical crowd. You are not paying for the final sheet of plain drafting that lies before you. You are paying for the following laundry list that was necessary to generate that sheet of paper. You need to understand that there is a lot more to it than sitting at a drafting table or CAD work station and cranking out six hours of line drawing.

The cost is derived by the even breakdown of all these tasks and additional fees you do not see directly on your invoice:

• Travel time to and from the project site
• Meetings with the clients
• Walking the site and taking inventory (recording all the natural resource data and human impacts eg. Soil types, geology, erosion issues, pollution, environmental .impacts, orientation, aspects, shading, hazards, circulation types, parking issues, site context and what is happening along the property boundaries, relationships or factors that influence change on the site or building, and on and on)
• Collecting all the base information the client was not able to gather or in many cases is just not available (base maps, surveys, elevations, utility locations, etc)
• Revisiting the site to discuss new details or observe construction (… just drop by and see if things are being done right? What do you think?) , or supervise the subs/trades in the field.
• Photo inventory
• Site inventory and gather or seek out base information from other agencies at the County or State agencies.
• Review local codes in that construction area
• Hire specific consultants necessary for this particular task on the project
• Pay your annual license installment. Do you have any idea what that is. For one license in one State or Province is $1000 annually. Many professionals have multiple licenses.
• Pay your annual insurance installment
• Pay your annual software and hardware installment
• Pay your monthly rent and utilities fee
• Pay for your required professional continuing education fees (x credits per year)
• Pay your employees
• Pay your health & benefits
• Pay your employee salaries and benefits
• Pay for your transportation and vehicle maintenance.
• Pay into company profit deductions
• Phone calls and emails with the client. Have any idea how much time you spend talking or emailing with your consultant? That is costing a lot of time and production of a different kind.
• And more…

It is not the fee derived from one person alone. It is not the take home earnings by any means. Many are confused by that.

I know you wish you did not have to pay for it. Somehow there is more satisfaction for some people to be able to visualize their expense(s). Think of it as a loaf of bread only it is nutrition for your brain and not your stomach… and a gain in the following:

The intangibles_ difficult to measure such as quality of life, health benefits, peace of mind, sense of place, sense of belonging, the home feeling, the my personal office feeling, the
feeling that this is very comfortable but I cannot describe why it is so, the sensation that everything in this newly designed environment flows well into each other, the unification, the spirit and emotion these new spaces produce. Put a dollar value on that for me please!

What is it worth to you?

• Increase in productivity
• Increase in relaxation
• Increase in a healthy state of mind
• Increase in property values and resale
• Increase in spending time efficiently
• Better or improved natural environment
• Better programming
• Efficient use of your immediate resources (natural and others)
• Less waste, less pollution, less toxicity (lower VOCs), less maintenance = right attitude
• Education source for others
• A little pride and ego build up
• Energy and spatially efficient
• And it is more comfortable

If you still disagree you need to talk to us some more because this is just the tip of the iceberg. I hope you gain something from this.

Markthor MacFarlane
Landscape Architect and F.Architect
Arch-Eco Design

Cascadia Design Build
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Landscaping in the South Sound

FACTORS IN BUILDING QUALITY and SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES


DIVERSE BIO-SYSTEM & GEOLOGICAL REGION

• We live in a temperate rain forest with fairly dry summers and very wet winters
• Summer snow melt adds a lot water to the underground systems that flow to the ocean
• There is clay in areas and rocks in others; plus plateaus and valleys with high water tables and hills with low water tables
• This region was once covered by glaciers consequently; the ground is always changing due to the geology, underground water systems and the rain & snow in the mountains
• All this combined with the impact of an ever increasing population and construction impacts the already complex environmental system

EARLY BREAKDOWN

I look at many projects for both remodeling and landscaping in the Olympia area. The one thing that stands out almost everywhere is most of the homes or properties have what I call, early break down. Many buildings are experiencing water damage issues, the landscape features are deteriorating and the yards are overgrown and dying.

MOST LANDSCAPES ARE BUILT TO FAIL

This occurs because of improper design and construction practices or poor maintenance. One of the primary causes starts with a lack of designing for the geology, weather conditions, plant growth and maintenance programs.

EXAMPLES: Walls, walkways and patios have moved and lost their original shape and effectiveness. Drainage systems are clogged non-existent or totally failed. The plants and trees are overgrown and usually planted in the wrong place. (i.e. To close together or up against the house or yard structures like decks) Most yards look exactly like their neighbors. And, with the price of water on the rise, many homes owners have let their yards die off.

DESIGN IS EVERYTHING

With proper planning and design work and quality building practices, you can have a property that is enjoyable to use, easy to maintain and is the envy of your neighborhood. As a contractor, I know my limitations. That is why I use a Landscape Architect on my projects. Quality landscape projects start with design work done by someone who understands the geology, the climate and how it impacts the ground and how the foliage and hardscapes tie into the building, lot and neighborhood.

PROPER DESIGN and CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES ARE VITAL TO A SUCCESSFUL RESULTS. (It is all in the ground preparation)

Have you ever seen an expensive retaining wall, paver patio, walkway or fence after a couple of years of rain and changing ground conditions? Most of what we see around Olympia has failed. This means the contractor didn't build a proper base under the structure or drainage systems. To build on top of the ground, you need to understand what's going on under the surface of the ground and design to nature’s forces.

• In some areas, 70% of the soil is river rocks with very little top soil in it. In this scenario, there is seasonal or constant water flowing and changing the underground structure. These conditions all play havoc on the surface of the land. The surface on this property literally changes shape as underground water erodes away. Landscape features must be designed to accommodate these changing conditions.
• In other areas, much of the ground is clay mixed with rocks. With clay, there are water flow issues that must be dealt with by installing proper drainage systems. We design and build to accommodate these naturally occurring conditions. Our walls, walkways and patios are built on proper foundations to minimize the effects of nature's forces. The same goes for our fences and decks, we build them to last.

SMALL SPACE SOLUTIONS (Newer small lot subdivisions)

You don't have to give up a beautiful yard just because you live on a small lot. Landscaping solutions can be designed and built for any sized property, including the new micro lots. In fact, small gardens can be very unique and attractive. The key is to first make sure the ground water issues and surface coverage CODE requirement are taken care of. Then it's a matter of designing and building to the space and tying it into the rest of the property's landscaping.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN DESIGNING YOUR PROJECT

THE VISUAL AND EMOTIONAL

• How do you want to feel when you drive up to your property?
• Are you tired of your yard looking like every other property in your neighborhood?
• Would you like to have a yard that transforms the seasons of the year?
• Is there a theme or character you'd love to see, but don't have the time or expertise to do it?
• Would you like to walk out your back door and enjoy your yard instead of dreading it?
• Do you need someone to help you create a unique property that you are proud to entertain in?
• Do you have a commercial property you would like to transform into something spectacular?
• Are you interested in increasing the value and curb appeal of the property?

THE PRACTICAL (Sustainability, maintenance and expense)

• Are you tired of doing constant maintenance to keep your property looking good?
• Do you desire a yard that you can use without stressing over all the unfinished projects?
• Are your watering bills outrageous, but you don't want to give up a beautiful yard?
• Would you like a landscape that looks good even in the winter?
• Do you want an incredible but are skeptical about all the maintenance time and expense it will take to keep it looking good?
• Do you desire a property that doesn't take all spring to clean up from the winter?
• Are you interested in making your property a sustainable eco-friendly environment?

INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES AND SELL-ABILITY

Two things happen when you have quality design and landscaping done to your property. First, it impacts how you feel and use the property. Second, it increases the value and the curb appeal. Like a kitchen or bathroom remodel, quality landscaping is an investment in your property.

HARDSCAPES: A good design-build team focuses on bringing out the best in what nature has to offer. First, you design and build the hardscape features. These consists of the structures, such as patios, walls, decks, walkways or water features.

SOFTSCAPES: Then you install the horticultural and finishing elements of the landscaping (i.e. plants, trees, shrubs, artwork) The goal in all our projects is to transform your property into an enjoyable, functional and sustainable environment.

LANDSCAPING FOR DISABILITIES

Designing for a disability starts at the driveway and works it's way into the home. Disabilities or limited mobility should not stop you from enjoying your yard and garden.

You can transform your property into a beautiful crafted natural scene that that looks good through the changing conditions of the seasons. Absolute attention to all the important details produces exceptional lasting results.

Chris

Cascadia Landscaping
Arch-Eco Design

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