Reflective Log 1: Landscape Professional Practice and Law

A client wants to commission you for a new design project. The project that your client wants to carry out, however, would result in significant detrimental effects to the environment. What do you do?

As a landscape architect, I have responsibility to the character and quality of the environment. I am charged by the landscape institute to protect, conserve and enhance the natural and built environment for the benefit of the public (landscape institute, 2021). Therefore, I should strive to manage change in the landscape for the sake of both this generation and future generations, and I should try to enhance the diversity of the natural environment, to embellish the environment and improve it in a sustainable manner.

If a client intends to carry out a project that results in significant detrimental effects to the environment, then this automatically contravenes the agenda of the landscape institute. As a matter of fact, the landscape institute has a code of conduct which provides rules and regulations that govern the landscape architect, and these rules must be adhered to.

“Evidence of a breach of this Code by a member will in most cases trigger a review between the Landscape Institute and that member. Members will be supported towards compliance and the Landscape Institute will provide advice where necessary to enable its requirements to be met. However, where a repeated or serious breach occurs, the Landscape Institute reserves the right to undertake a full investigation, to revoke membership, and/or permanently disbar the individual” (landscape institute, 2021).

Apparently, the first rule in the landscape code of conduct says, “You must deliver landscape services in ways which promote sustainable development and the environmentally responsible use of resources”. This will mean considering the impact on the environment, people, place, and nature in all aspects of landscape activities and in landscape projects before work takes place (landscape institute, 2021).

In the scenario provided by the question above, there are several considerations to be made. My first course of action will be to educate my client about the detrimental effects that his/her proposed project will have on the environment. Usually, a client maybe oblivious of the consequences that their desires may have on surrounding elements, therefore, it is important to provide adequate information relating to their design or ideas, in other to guide the overall design brief. After explaining the possible consequences of the proposal, I will go on to proffer alternative design solutions that promote sustainable development goals. In doing so, I will ensure that my alternative proposal captures the vision of the client fully, but I will make sure I substitute the ideas that were supposed to have negative impact on the environment with creative green ideas that will make the client pleased; I believe that this strategy will make the client feel that his/her original idea was not neglected but embellished, and it will build their confidence in me.

However, if the motion to alter the project to a more sustainable design does not sit well with the client, and he/her insists that it must proceed as originally instructed, I will respectfully decline the offer. Ultimately, it will be more beneficial for me to lose the contract than for me to get involved in an investigation for breach of contract with the landscape institute or lose my professional license.

REFERENCES

Landscape Institute (2021). ‘The landscape Institute code of practice’. Introduction, pp. 2 Landscape Institute (2021). ‘The landscape Institute code of practice’. Breach, pp. 3 Landscape Institute (2021). ‘The landscape Institute code of practice’. The rules - in detail, pp. 5