Everything you need to know about the Landscaper
We have asked ourselves a lot of times or we have never heard of him but in the Garden World this professional figure is very important.
When should I call a landscaper and when the gardener? What does the landscaper do? How do you become a landscaper? What does your work consist of? What do you need to know to be a good landscaper? What is the difference between a gardener and a landscaper? When do I need one and when the other and when can I do it alone?
Who is the Landscaper? and how do you become a landscaper?
There are two types of recognized landscape architects: the Landscaper, who attended the school of landscape design in Italy (we will delve into schools in another article) – and the Landscape Architect who specializes in Landscaping after graduating in architecture.
There are, in truth, many other ways to become a Landscape Designer and we will talk about some of them later: a degree in botany, decades of experience as a gardener, agronomist or farmer.
A good landscaper is not necessarily a good landscape architect because he attended the School of Landscaping and we do not exclude – indeed we applaud – those who have managed to reinvent themselves following the paths of life, but in this context we would like to point out the ‘institutional’ ways to become one.
What are the differences between an Architect and a Landscaper?
Basically the second deals with living material and this involves knowledge of the soils, climates and therefore of atmospheric conditions.
The landscaper knows many of the plants they work with – how much they grow, what soil they want, how much water they need, in what form they grow, what kind of maintenance they require, etc. – and if he does not know them he knows how to find the information needed to ensure that the plant gives its best in the situation in which it is inserted.
The architect, in general, has a more aesthetic approach to the question: he chooses a plant because it has the size and colors he wants in that place. Usually – but not always – it underestimates all other aspects.
There are many areas and many different spatial scales that a landscaper has to face.
This professional is in fact able to optimize and embellish a simple terrace, perhaps private, with potted plants, sun mitigation structures – fixed or mobile, flooring – fixed or floating – and outdoor furniture.
A much more complex job carried out by a landscape architect can be the creation or redevelopment of an outdoor public space – see the article “BAM: The park of events” – or the design of a company terrace where it is not possible to insert living essences. .
Some great landscape painters of the past, modern and contemporary
To have fun and get inspired we will talk about some wonderful big projects, but then we will discover that such ideas can also be brought into the small of a private garden.
First the giants of our recent past, then the modern ones and finally the contemporaries.
It is difficult to decide where to start to talk about famous landscape architects because every time you spot one you realize that without the previous reference you cannot describe it and you cannot talk about all of them.
I therefore choose to talk about some, perhaps those who have most marked my preparation by specifying that there will be a way and place to talk about all the others as well.
A giant of green design is definitely Mr. Roberto Burle Marx, from Brazil. He was born a botanist and became one of the most visionary and appreciated landscape architects in the world, creating an approach to the project that did not exist before.
He has designed so many fantastic places that I can only invite you to deepen it on the internet because one article is not enough. You will be struck by the harmony of his creations.
Another vate of landscaping is the Spaniard Fernando Caruncho. Like others, he discovered a passion for landscape design by studying architecture and it is a combination that he brings to all his projects, being convinced that architecture constitutes a complete unity with the garden.
Geometry, right angles and a Mediterranean ambience are found in many of his 150 projects. A Mediterranean poem!
Martha Schwartz, American landscape architect who started from a degree in Fine Arts continued with the school of Design, has produced living gardens such as the Jacob Javits Plaza in New York or The Citadel City of Commerce in California and very successful examples of artificial gardens such as the Whitehead Institute Splice Garden in Cambridge Massachusetts or the Grand Canal Theater Square in Berlin.
Crazy and multicolored vision of green!
Burle Marx: Lavori
Burle Marx: Giardino della sua residenza
Fernando Caruncho: Due lavori
Fernando Caruncho: Giardino a Madrid
Martha Schwartz: Grand Canal Theatre Square Berlino
Martha Schwartz: Cumberlain and Bellair Streets a Yorkville
Martha Schwartz: Due lavori
Excellences of Landscape in Italy
Even in Italy we can boast great names in landscaping that I can’t wait to talk about, from Paolo Pejrone – a pupil of Russel Page, to Pietro Porcinai, Massimo Semola, Ermanno Casasco, Paolo Villa and many others to whom we will dedicate several articles as soon as possible.
Paolo Pejrone: Villa della Pergola, Savona
Paolo Pejrone: Giardino a Porano
Paolo Pejrone: Revello
Pietro Porcinai: Giardino di Villa Ratti, Como
Pietro Porcinai: Villa Doney, Genova
Massimo Semola: Mixed Border
Ermanno Casasco: Giardino Pensile
Ermanno Casasco: Merate
Paolo Villa: Villa Carla
What does the landscaper do? What does your work and preparation consist of?
The preparation of an architect, in the context of building design, concerns, among other things, the distribution of spaces and the study of paths. Only after this are furnishings and colors chosen.
The preparation of a landscape architect requires that everything learned for indoor design becomes the organization of outdoor spaces: the functions, the layout of the spaces, the study of the paths.
But the preparation of a landscape architect also allows you to furnish with plants by using his knowledge of essences.
In fact, plants are living beings and as such they need an environment suitable for their health and growth. The better the plants are chosen, the healthier the garden will be and the owner will be happy.
What is the difference between landscaper and gardener?
The Gardener has the ability to do the job unlike the Landscaper who is more focused on the creative part and uses a Gardener to build his idea.
If we wanted to simplify we would say that the landscaper designs simple or complex spaces, the gardener carries out the work. Usually, however, the situation is much more complex and a Gardener may also be able to think projectually. We will deepen it in the next articles.
When do I need a Landscaper and when a Gardener?
There are many types of gardener and we will discuss them extensively in the article “Who is the gardener?”.
There are gardeners who just want to take care of the construction work and gardeners who, instead, want to design certain types of green spaces.
If the space to be designed is particularly complex, one must contact a landscape architect.
Maybe you want a swimming pool and an irrigation system (which we recommend – see the article “How to water the garden“),
The landscape architect has not only the task of designing a complex outdoor space, but of managing all the workers who pass through the garden when it is built.
He is the first to arrive and the last to leave. He is the creative director and as such he relieves you from deciding things and solving problems.
The gardener is hired by the landscaper and will answer only to him for his work.
But how much does the work of a gardener cost? And that of a landscaper?
Both the landscaper and the gardener are able to give you a rough estimate of the work.
The cost of the gardener is usually included in that of the work, therefore, his estimate will contain both the purchase of the necessary materials and his share which depends on what work he has to do.
The landscaper’s estimate, on request, will include the items of the project only or / and the artistic direction including the materials and the cost of the gardener.
If you have a landscape architect do the project, however, it is better to have him also do the artistic direction so that the project is respected in all aspects.
The landscape architect’s share is usually around 10% of the total. The type of payment, on the other hand, depends from professional to professional. An example would be to pay him like an architect: as work progresses.
In the end, the landscaper allows the customer to get what he wants without making mistakes and without having to take care of the thing: turnkey.
How important are the wishes of the client for a landscaper?
They are the basis of all the choices of the landscaper both at the beginning and during the work, unless these change the whole project, which may not be completely possible.
Well. I hope I have answered some or all of your questions on the topic “The role of the landscaper”.
Now on horseback! Work awaits us! Our new wonderful outdoor space is about to be born!
GOOD WORK and … if you have any questions please write to info@mondodelgiardino.com
image sources the Garden of Burle Marx’s residence from commons.wikimedia.com; the Works of Burle Marx from floraviva.it; Two works by Fernando Caruncho, Mas de les Voltes and Garden in Madrid from verdeprogetto.blogspot.com and web.fernandocaruncho.com; Garden in Madrid by architecturaldigest.com; the Cumberlain and Bellair streets site in Yorkville from toronto.italiani.it; Two works by Marta Schwartz, the Plaza Improvements in Washington DC and the Citadel City of Commerce in California by paesaggiautore.blogrepubblica.it; the Piazza Grand Canal Theater in Berlin from wikipedia.it; the Garden in Porano by Paolo Pejrone from architecturaldigest.com; the Revello Garden by Paolo pejrone from Pinterest.it; the Villa della Pergola in Savona by Paolo Pejrone from portaledelverde.it; the Garden of Villa Ratti in Como by Pietro Porcinai from arte.it; Villa Doney in Genoa by Pietro Porcinai from pietroporcinai.it; the Mixed Border by Massimo Semola from massimosemola.it; the Hanging Garden by Ermanno Casasco from ermannocasasco.it; the Garden in Merano by Ermanno Casasco from ermannocasasco.it; the Villa Carla by Paolo Villa from agep.it.