OALA - Ontario Association of Landscape Architects

OALA - Ontario Association of Landscape Architects: Landscape architecture is the profession concerned with the design, planning, management and stewardship of the land. Applying both art and science to their work, OALA provides consulting services, prepare plans and facilitate projects that create a balance between the needs and wants of people and the limitations of the environment.The work of landscape architects is all around us. The attractiveness and usefulness of our parks, highways, neighborhoods, urban plazas, gardens, zoos and institutions reflects the skill of landscape architects in both design and planning in order to achieve the best use of land resources. Guided by their Mission to serve and protect the public interest, the expertise of landscape architects has contributed to the creation of many well-known Ontario landmarks including:The Niagara Parkway,Parliament Hill in Ottawa,Ontario Place,Canada's Wonderland,Toronto's Metro Zoo, Royal Botanical Gardens, many university and college campuses Landscape architecture is the profession which applies artistic and scientific principles to the research, planning, design and management of both natural and built environments. Landscape architecture may, for the purpose of landscape preservation, development and enhancement, include: investigation, selection and allocation of land and water resources for appropriate uses; feasibility studies; formulation of graphic and written criteria to govern the planning and design of land construction programs; preparation, review and analysis of master plans for land use and development; production of overall site plans, landscape grading and drainage plans, irrigation plans, planting plans and construction details; specifications; cost estimates and reports for land development; collaboration in the design of roads, bridges and structures with respect to the functional and aesthetic requirements of the areas on which they are to be placed; negotiation and arrangement for execution of land area projects; field observation and inspection of land area construction, restoration and maintenance. (Approved by the OALA Council, January 17, 1984).Landscape design, the historical core of the profession, is concerned with detailed space design for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and public areas.It involves site analysis, development of design concepts, the shaping of spaces, the balance of hard and soft surfaces in indoor and outdoor spaces, the selection of construction and plant materials, and the preparation of detailed construction plans and contract documents. It may also involve maintenance planning, supervision of construction, and post-construction analysis. Site planning focuses on the physical design and arrangement of the built and natural elements of a land parcel. It deals with a wide range of technical aspects such as circulation patterns, utility layout, siting of buildings and creating areas for human use. A site planning project can involve designing the land for a single house, an office complex or shopping centre, or an entire community. Sensitive site design produces developments that minimize both environmental impacts and project costs, while adding value to a site. Urban design deals with the design of cities and towns. This field also involves the development of open public spaces, such as plazas and streetscapes. As urban designers, landscape architects set standards, development guidelines and create designs. Regional landscape planning has emerged as a major area of practice for many landscape architects since the rise of environmentalism in the 1970s. In this field, landscape architects deal with the full range of planning and management of land and water, including natural resource surveys, creation and protection of habitats, wetlands, and other natural environments. <H1>Landscape Architects</H1><H1>OALA</H1><H1>Landscape design </H1><H1>Site planning </H1><H1>Parks and recreation </H1>

Introduction

Overview

Areas of Expertise

History

The OALA Act

OALA Organization Structure

Current Council

Hiring a Landscape Architect

OALA MEMBERS' AREA

Meet the OALA > Overview

Landscape architecture is the profession concerned with the design, planning, management and stewardship of the land. Applying both art and science to their work, landscape architects provide consulting services, prepare plans and facilitate projects that create a balance between the needs and wants of people and the limitations of the environment.

The work of landscape architects is all around us. The attractiveness and usefulness of our parks, highways, neighborhoods, urban plazas, gardens, zoos and institutions reflects the skill of landscape architects in both design and planning in order to achieve the best use of land resources. Guided by their Mission to serve and protect the public interest, the expertise of landscape architects has contributed to the creation of many well-known Ontario landmarks including:

The Niagara Parkway
Parliament Hill in Ottawa
Ontario Place
Canada's Wonderland
Toronto's Metro Zoo
Royal Botanical Gardens
many university and college campuses

Within the profession of landscape architecture, a variety of practicing specializations exist. Some of the well-known areas include:

Landscape design
Site planning
Urban design
Regional landscape planning
Parks and recreation
Land development planning
Ecological planning and design including bio-engineering

Our Mission:
To promote, improve and advance the profession of Landscape Architecture and maintain standards of professional practice and conduct consistent with the need to serve and to protect the public interest.

Professionalism:

The common attributes of a profession are:

a unique body of knowledge
standards of entry
a code of ethics
a service orientation to both the profession and the public
a sanctioning organization

Landscape architecture is the profession which applies artistic and scientific principles to the research, planning, design and management of both natural and built environments. Practitioners of this profession apply creative and technical skills, and scientific, cultural and political knowledge in the planned arrangement of natural and constructed elements on the land with a concern for the stewardship and conservation of natural, constructed and human resources. The resulting environments shall serve useful, aesthetic, safe and enjoyable purposes.

Landscape architecture may, for the purpose of landscape preservation, development and enhancement, include: investigation, selection and allocation of land and water resources for appropriate uses; feasibility studies; formulation of graphic and written criteria to govern the planning and design of land construction programs; preparation, review and analysis of master plans for land use and development; production of overall site plans, landscape grading and drainage plans, irrigation plans, planting plans and construction details; specifications; cost estimates and reports for land development; collaboration in the design of roads, bridges and structures with respect to the functional and aesthetic requirements of the areas on which they are to be placed; negotiation and arrangement for execution of land area projects; field observation and inspection of land area construction, restoration and maintenance. (Approved by the OALA Council, January 17, 1984).

Ontario Association of Landscape Architects, 3 Church Street, Suite 407 , Toronto, Ontario M5E 1M2
tel: 416-231-4181 | fax: 416-231-2679 | email: oala@oala.ca
Copyright © 2007 OALA. All rights reserved.