Editing Landscape architect (section)

{{Short description|Designer of public spaces}}

[[File:Thomas Medland01.jpg|thumb|Business card for eighteenth century landscape architect [[Humphry Repton]], by [[Thomas Medland]]]]
[[File:Team that Created NY Central Park.jpg|thumb|Landscape architects [[Frederick Law Olmsted]] and [[Calvert Vaux]] and the team they gathered to execute the [[Greensward Plan]], their 1858 design for Central Park in [[Manhattan]], photographed in 1862 at the park standing on the pathway atop the span of the Willowdell Arch (''from the left'': [[Andrew Haswell Green]], [[George E. Waring Jr.|George Waring]], Vaux, [[Ignaz Anton Pilat]], [[Jacob Wrey Mould]], and Olmsted)]]
A '''landscape architect''' is a person who is educated in the field of [[landscape architecture]]. The practice of landscape architecture includes: site analysis, site inventory, [[site plan]]ning, land planning, planting design, grading, storm water management, [[sustainable design]], construction specification, and ensuring that all plans meet the current building codes and local and federal ordinances.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What Is Landscape Architecture? {{!}} asla.org|url=https://www.asla.org/aboutlandscapearchitecture.aspx|access-date=2020-07-27|website=www.asla.org|archive-date=2021-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111010151/https://www.asla.org/aboutlandscapearchitecture.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

The practice of landscape architecture dates to some of the earliest of human cultures and just as much as the practice of medicine has been inimical to the species and ubiquitous worldwide for several millennia. However, this article examines the modern profession and educational discipline of those practicing the design of landscape architecture.

In the 1700s, [[Humphry Repton]] described his occupation as "landscape gardener" on business cards he had prepared to represent him in work that now would be described as that of a landscape architect.

The title, "landscape architect", was first used by [[Frederick Law Olmsted]], the designer of New York City's [[Central Park]] in [[Manhattan]] and numerous projects of large scale both public and private. He was the founder of a firm of landscape architects who employed highly skilled professionals to design and execute aspects of projects designed under his auspices.

Depending on the jurisdiction, landscape architects who pass state requirements to become registered, licensed, or certified may be entitled to use the postnominal letters corresponding to their seal, typically RLA (Registered Landscape Architect) or more recently, PLA (Professional Landscape Architect) n.<ref>{{Cite web |website=The Field |url=https://thefield.asla.org/2012/08/27/licensed-to-design-pla/ |title=Licensed to Design: PLA |date=27 August 2012 |publisher=American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) |access-date=14 September 2021 |archive-date=14 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914020542/https://thefield.asla.org/2012/08/27/licensed-to-design-pla/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the US, all 50 states have adopted licensure.<ref>"LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS ARE LICENSED IN ALL 50 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA", {{Cite web|last=American Society of Landscape Architects|title=Become a Landscape Architect|url=https://www.asla.org/stategovtaffairslicensure.aspx|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-14|website=www.asla.org|archive-date=2021-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914021928/https://www.asla.org/stategovtaffairslicensure.aspx}}</ref> The [[American Society of Landscape Architects]] endorses the postnominal letters PLA, for Professional Landscape Architect, even though there is no legal or professional distinction between the use of RLA or PLA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asla.org/uploadedFiles/CMS/Government_Affairs/Public_Policies/Licensure%20Universal%20Designation.pdf|title=Professional Licensure: Universal Designation|publisher=[[American Society of Landscape Architects]] (ASLA)|location=Washington, DC|access-date=2021-09-14|archive-date=2021-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914020541/https://www.asla.org/uploadedFiles/CMS/Government_Affairs/Public_Policies/Licensure%20Universal%20Designation.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>