Why ‘Landscape Architecture’ is a Neglected Discipline?

I recently wrote an article on landarch.org, and I’d love to share the content here as well. I think this topic is definitely worth discussing with you all!

In the race to build urban jungles and iconic skylines, one discipline quietly but profoundly shapes our environment: landscape architecture. Often misunderstood or overlooked, this field does far more than beautify outdoor spaces—it provides innovative solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time, including climate change, urbanization, and ecological degradation. Yet despite its vast potential, landscape architecture remains underappreciated and underfunded.

What Is Landscape Architecture?

Landscape architecture is the art and science of designing outdoor spaces to create functional, beautiful, and sustainable environments. Unlike landscape design, which primarily focuses on aesthetic elements for gardens or small spaces, landscape architecture operates at the intersection of ecology, engineering, culture, and urban planning. It designs public parks, greenways, stormwater systems, and large-scale ecological restoration projects that integrate human and environmental needs.

For example, projects like Chicago’s Millennium Park or New York’s High Line (image below) exemplify the discipline’s ability to reimagine urban spaces for environmental and social impact. By harmonizing nature with urban life, landscape architects create spaces that are not only visually appealing but also resilient, adaptable, and inclusive.

The Relationship Between Landscape Architecture and Architecture

Although architecture and landscape architecture are often treated as separate fields, they share a profound symbiosis. Architecture focuses on the design of buildings, creating structures for human activity. In contrast, landscape architecture works with the spaces around and between these structures, designing environments that connect buildings to their broader context.

Take urban design as an example: while architects might craft an iconic skyscraper, landscape architects create the plazas, streetscapes, and green spaces that give that skyscraper meaning and accessibility within a community. A failure to integrate these disciplines often leads to soulless developments—isolated buildings surrounded by barren, hostile, or unusable spaces. Together, however, they can create environments that harmonize human needs with ecological systems, fostering community, connectivity, and sustainability.

Why Is Landscape Architecture Neglected?

Despite its critical role, landscape architecture often sits in the shadow of its architectural counterpart. Several factors contribute to this neglect:

Misconceptions and Visibility
Many people equate landscape architecture with landscaping, a misconception that diminishes the discipline’s scope and complexity. Unlike architecture, which often produces visible, iconic structures, the work of landscape architects is frequently subtler—integrated into the environment rather than standing apart from it.

Lack of Public Awareness
While star architects like Zaha Hadid or Frank Gehry dominate public imagination, landscape architects rarely achieve the same recognition. Few can name visionaries like Frederick Law Olmsted (the designer of New York’s Central Park) or Cornelia Hahn Oberlander, whose work profoundly shaped urban environments.

Policy and Investment Priorities
Urban planning policies often prioritize buildings over green infrastructure, viewing open spaces as an afterthought. Budget cuts to parks and public spaces further reflect a systemic undervaluation of the field.

Educational Oversight
The discipline is underrepresented in design education and media. While architecture schools and publications dominate, landscape architecture programs are fewer and less publicized, limiting exposure to its critical potential.

The Expansive Capabilities of Landscape Architecture

The scope of landscape architecture is broad and continually evolving, integrating principles that address modern-day challenges while enhancing human well-being.

Best practice of landscape architecture each year, refer to ASLA Awards.

Residential Design
Landscape architects create residential spaces that blend beauty with functionality. Designs incorporate native plants, sustainable water management, and outdoor living areas that improve quality of life while reducing maintenance and resource use. Award-winning projects like The Treehouse in Sydney exemplify how residential landscapes can balance urban living with natural harmony.

Community Planning and Design
Landscape architects play a pivotal role in creating livable communities. Thoughtful designs prioritize accessibility, cultural identity, and green spaces, fostering stronger social connections. For instance, the Regenerative Village concept promotes community resilience by integrating food systems, stormwater management, and green corridors.

Climate-Resilient Design
With climate change accelerating, landscape architects are designing spaces to mitigate its impacts. They incorporate green infrastructure to manage stormwater, restore wetlands to combat flooding, and create urban forests to cool cities. Projects like New York’s Big U and Living Breakwaters in Staten Island showcase how resilient designs protect both people and ecosystems.

Green Infrastructure
Landscape architects design rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable pavements to manage stormwater sustainably. These features not only reduce urban flooding but also improve water quality. Civitas’ RiverFirst, which revitalized Minneapolis’ Upper Riverfront, demonstrates how green infrastructure can transform neglected spaces into thriving ecosystems.

Universal Design
Universal design ensures that outdoor spaces are accessible to people of all abilities. Landscape architects create inclusive parks, pathways, and urban spaces that cater to diverse user needs. Projects like Dilworth Park in Philadelphia emphasize accessibility, blending historic preservation with modern functionality.

Ecological Restoration
Beyond urban areas, landscape architects work to restore degraded ecosystems. By reintroducing native species and repairing natural processes, they revitalize environments for future generations. The Shanghai Houtan Park, for example, transformed a post-industrial site into a flourishing wetland that filters water and supports biodiversity.

Cultural and Heritage Landscapes
Preserving and celebrating cultural heritage is another crucial role of landscape architecture. By conserving historic parks, gardens, and urban landscapes, the discipline ensures that the past remains part of the future. The Aga Khan Garden in Canada combines Islamic design traditions with local ecology, bridging cultures while honoring history.

Landscape Architecture for Climate Change

As the climate crisis intensifies, landscape architecture is at the forefront of designing solutions for a sustainable future:

Carbon Sequestration: Projects incorporate forests, wetlands, and grasslands to capture and store carbon, reducing emissions.
Flood Mitigation: Designs include floodable parks and wetland restoration, such as Hunter’s Point South Waterfront Park in New York, which absorbs storm surges while offering recreation.
Heat Reduction: Green roofs, urban forests, and shaded plazas mitigate urban heat islands, lowering city temperatures.
Biodiversity Enhancement: Landscape architects design habitats that support pollinators, birds, and native wildlife.
Resilient Communities: Public spaces like Crescent Park in New Orleans blend flood defenses with community amenities, strengthening social and ecological resilience.