• History and Ideas
  • Prehistory to Middle Ages
  • Renaissance, Baroque, Enlightenment
  • 19th Century
  • 20th Century
  • From Millennium to Olympics
• The Genius of Place
  • Design and Vision
  • Planning the Landscape
  • Management and Conservation
  • Historic Conservation
  • The Science of Landscape
  • Cities and Towns
  • Gardens and Parks
• The Power to Change
  • Climate Change
  • Sustainable Communities
  • Environment
  • Housing
  • Hunger
  • Transportation

The Genius of Place

Ancient Romans believed that every place had a guardian spirit - the genius loci. Landscape architecture uses this idea to ensure the spirit of a place is always considered when designs and plans are drawn up. This applies to everyday places like streets and parks just as much as to significant places like public squares and motorways or natural places like national parks and coastlines.

Landscape architects create places where people can live, work and relax and they create places where plants and animals can thrive. Landscape architects are also advocates for the environment and speak up for and care for our landscapes. Landscape architects have to combine social, economic, environmental and cultural perspectives.

Landscape architects study, plan, design and manage spaces which are both sustainable and aesthetically pleasing to look at.  Landscape architects work with architects, town planners, civil engineers, and other professionals. Much of their work addresses climate change and they are often taking the lead in regenerating towns and cities across the world.