As an architect in the Philippines, I am often tasked with designing buildings and landmarks for different cities. In the past few years, I have had the chance to design government buildings that would become landmarks. However, while designing these spaces, I realized that they lacked the touch of landscape architects.
For instance, a municipal hall would not look as good without the embellishment of landscaping at the front, which could include a huge park. It should be situated in an area where one can feel the ephemeral feeling of walking to that building to make it feel vast.
The only way to properly design such spaces is to work with both an architect and a landscape architect. Unfortunately, in the Philippines, the practice of Landscape Architecture is a relatively new field, and there are very few landscape architects available.
The architecture profession is struggling with the majority of Filipinos thinking that we are the same as civil engineers, so it is even more challenging to promote the landscape architecture profession, which is still unknown to many.
What is Landscape Architecture?
Landscape architecture involves the planning, design, management, and nurturing of the built and natural environments. Landscape architects plan and design the natural environment of parks, campuses, streetscapes, trails, plazas, residences, and other projects that strengthen communities.
However, Landscape Architecture is a profession that is often misunderstood as gardening by many. But landscape architecture is more than just landscaping, it is designing spaces for the well-being of people by paying close attention to natural environments. Multifaceted as it is, designing and planning outdoor spaces to create functional and sustainable environments.
So, does the Philippines Need Landscape Architects?
The Philippines, a country characterized by rapid urbanization, is in dire need of Landscape Architecture services to address the challenges posed by this growth. This discipline aims to create urban spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also promote biodiversity, enhance the quality of life, and mitigate the impact of natural disasters.
Given the unique topography of the country, Landscape Architects in the Philippines have immense potential to create green infrastructure that can serve as a buffer against environmental degradation while providing a host of social, environmental, and economic benefits.
The integration of Landscape Architecture into the broader urban planning efforts in the Philippines will undoubtedly pave the way for a more sustainable future that caters to the needs of its citizens while preserving the natural environment.
About the Author
Ar. Gloryrose Dy Metilla is a principal architect of Switodesigns. She is the current Eastern Mindanao Representative of the National Committee for Architecture and the Allied Arts of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.