Landscape architect

Landscape architects create innovative, visually appealing and environmentally sensitive outdoor spaces for people to enjoy

Collaborating closely with other professionals, you'll work on a range of projects in both urban and rural settings - from parks, gardens and housing estates to city centre design, sporting sites and motorway construction.

During the design and planning phase of your work, you’ll consider the needs of clients and potential users and will explore and address factors such as environmental impact and sustainability.

Types of landscape architecture

You may focus on one or more areas of landscape architecture, such as:

• environmental protection and ecological and sustainable design
• historic preservation and restoration
• landscape management in areas such as hospitals and travel corridors
• parks, public gardens and other sports and recreational facilities
• rural landscape design
• urban design.

Responsibilities

As a landscape architect, you'll need to:

• oversee the design of a variety of projects, including urban regeneration schemes, pedestrian schemes, road or retail schemes and maintain the character of sites of natural beauty
• establish general landscape requirements with clients
• conduct preliminary studies of the site (including contours, soil, ecology, buildings, roads, heritage)
• assess a site's potential to meet the client's specifications
• carry out environmental impact assessments
• seek and take into account the views of local residents, potential users, and parties with a vested interest in the project
• accurately prepare and present detailed plans and working drawings of the re-design of the new site, including applications, construction details and specifications for the project using computer-aided design (CAD) packages or similar design software
• present proposals to clients, deal with enquiries and negotiate any amendments to the final design
• match the client's wishes with your knowledge of what will work best
• contact and coordinate manufacturers and suppliers
• put work out to tender, select a contractor and manager (mainly for larger projects), and lead cross-functional teams
• carry out site visits
• ensure deadlines are met
• liaise with other professionals on the project
• monitor and check work on site (on large projects, landscape managers may do this type of supervisory work)
• authorise payment once work has been satisfactorily completed
• attend public inquiries to give evidence if necessary
• generate new business opportunities.

Salary

• As a graduate landscape architect, you'll earn between £24,000 and £30,000, depending on employer and location.
• Once chartered, you'll earn between £30,000 and £45,000.
• As a senior landscape architect, it’s possible to earn up to £68,000.

For experienced landscape architects, financial rewards may be higher in the private sector, especially if partner status is obtained.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Your working hours may fluctuate. There is a standard 37-hour, five-day week, but evening and weekend work is not unusual. Hours are likely to be particularly irregular when working to a tight deadline. Shift work is rare.

What to expect

• Your time will be split between the office and site visits. Site visits involve working in all weather conditions, so protective clothing may be required on some occasions.
• Many landscape architecture jobs are in private practices, with a smaller percentage of professionals working for local authorities.
• Landscape architecture is one of the few built environment professions made up of an equal number of men and women.
• There are opportunities to work overseas, often in Europe and the Middle East.
• With excellent design and business skills, plenty of experience and an established list of clients and contacts, self-employment could be an option.

Qualifications

Landscape architecture is a chartered profession and the first step towards getting chartered status is to ensure that you have reached Masters level on a higher education course accredited by the LI.

Courses are available in areas such as:

• conservation management
• garden design
• landscape architecture
• landscape design and ecology
• landscape management
• urban planning or design.

Search for postgraduate courses in landscape architecture.

Undergraduate degrees typically last three or four years and usually include an option for work experience placements in industry.

If you already have an undergraduate degree that isn't accredited by the LI, you can still enter the profession by completing an LI-accredited postgraduate conversion course. These courses generally last between 18 months and two years full time, or longer if part time.

For a place on the conversion course, you do not need to have studied a related undergraduate degree but should have a keen interest in design and the environment.

All students on LI-accredited courses are encouraged to sign up to be a student member of the LI. Membership gives you access to events and professional networks and the chance to enter the Student Travel Awards competition. You'll also receive a Student News quarterly email and industry update. Student members on accredited courses receive an automatic upgrade to licentiate membership when they graduate.

Find a full list of LI-accredited courses at Chooselandscape.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• good design/drawing skills, including computer-aided design (CAD)
• excellent communication and negotiating skills
• creative ability, imagination and enthusiasm
• a concern for the environment and an understanding of conservation issues
• a practical outlook
• good observation skills and an eye for detail.

Work experience

Relevant pre-entry experience is desirable as it shows your interest and commitment to the landscape profession. Most courses include industrial placements, but if yours doesn't, consider finding vacation or part-time work.

Anything in a landscape-based area will be useful, as will any work that involves design or creative skills. Volunteering projects linked to the environment can also help.

To organise a work placement or visit to an organisation, use the LI Practice Directory to locate practices in your area and get in touch about available opportunities. See the LI website for information about volunteering.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Typical employers of landscape architects include:

• the construction industry
• local authorities
• private practices
• public bodies
• water companies.

In the public sector, landscape architects tend to work for environmental agencies, local authorities and government agencies. There are also opportunities within voluntary organisations.

In the private sector, landscape architects are largely employed by architect and landscape architect companies, or by companies specialising in landscape engineering.

Look for job vacancies at:

• AJ Jobs
• bd4jobs
• Career Structure
• HorticultureJobs
• Landscape Institute Jobs

Recruitment agencies such as Acre and Hunter Dunning specialise in architecture, environment and construction.

Professional development

Successful completion of an accredited undergraduate or postgraduate course will make you eligible for Licentiate Membership of the LI.

This is followed by a period of mentored experience, which is carried out while you work, as part of the Pathway to Chartership (P2C). Completion of the P2C leads to chartered status and full membership of the LI. The process of becoming chartered usually takes three years.

As a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute, you can use the letters CMLI after your name.

When you become chartered, you're required to carry out a minimum of 25 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) a year. This can be gained in a variety of ways and the LI has details of CPD days and other useful events on its website. For those at the top of the profession, there is the opportunity to apply for Fellowship-level membership with the LI.

You should keep abreast of developments within the field of landscape architecture and foster an inquisitive and innovative approach to your profession.

For example, recent developments within the profession include:

• a new focus on urban resilience and nature-based solutions
• an increase in the recognition of the healing and well-being power of therapeutic spaces
• an increasing use of technology for creating ‘smart’ landscapes, e.g. using sensors and responsive systems, and for the use of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) in landscape design
• a greater opportunity for landscape architects to help shape urban policy.

Career prospects

The most important step in your career is obtaining chartered membership, as this demonstrates that you're a fully qualified landscape architect.

Beyond this, there are a variety of ways you can progress your career, including taking on greater responsibility, taking on a project, managing a team and specialising in a certain area.

With substantial experience and strong commercial awareness, you may progress to leading consultancy roles, become a partner in private practice, or set up your own business. To be successful in private practice, you'll need a good client and contact base as well as excellent experience, knowledge and skills.

Lecturing at higher education institutions is an alternative career option, or possibly something you could pursue part time to complement other work.