LANDSCAPE  ARCHITECTURE
       Projects throughout California, Hawaii and the Pacific Rim,  with Barron Eldridge
 

Landscape Architecture Profession: This profession embraces the art of site planning, site design and the ultimate construction of the visual and physical environment around us.

History: Although land design was practiced throughout the world for hundreds of years, the profession itself didn't get started in this country until 150 years ago.  Central Park in New York City and the public park system in Boston were designed in the mid 1800's, and were enjoying heavy use when the profession of Landscape Architecture was recognized by State governments in 1898.

California and Hawaii: Testing Landscape Architects for licensing was established in California in the early 1960’s and Hawaii in 1969-70.


Central Park, 1857, Fredrick Law Olmstead 
Courtesy of the Francis Loeb Library, Graduate School of Design, Harvard University

Range of Our Work:
Timing: Except for gardens installed within glazed, architecturally designed buildings, or "atriums," the Landscape Architect's work usually unfolds in the outside air: before, during or after circulation and architectural features are installed. During the last 25 years we've learned that, "Before" and "During" is much preferred over "After," for our experience has taught us that participating early in process eliminates the need to resolve conflicts caused by insufficient planning and development activity.

Project Sites: The project site can be anything from raw land, to a busy urban setting, so the analysis process can vary as much as the site itself.  Projects often begin with a development concept and early perceptions are composed of opportunities and limitations, and they both require focus and understanding.
Many projects are controlled by the CC&R's (Codes, Covenant's and Restrictions), mandated by the governing agency, however this influence can often be mitigated by an experienced Consultant Team.

Project Scale:
Residential: Landscape Architecture subjects can be of residential scale. This might include: lighting, drainage, flat work, construction elements and planting on everything from large estates to sites as small as a lanai in a high rise apartment building.
Commercial and Public: Most of Barry's work required that he participate with others as the team landscape architect. These projects were more complex, including: roof gardens, community and regional parks, a National Cemetery, urban redevelopment, destination resort hotels, Specific Plans, middle schools, high school and collage campuses and research and development facilities. 
Regional: From time to time, Barry was asked to participate on projects of a regional scale, and these often include; existing and proposed highways, railroads and rapid transit, factories, major utility corridors, airports, lakes and rivers, urban centers and entire communities, schools,  industrial parks, as well as established agriculture and open space.

The Range of Work: During the last half of the 1800's and the first part of this century, Landscape Architects were busy with public parks, parkways, community development, as well as large estates. Their work included: site engineering, major drainage and water feature development, walls, structures, roads and bridges, site, regional and urban planning, ...an array of challenges. Then, over the last 50-60 years, these disciplines were recognized as separate professions in their own right, and are now licensed by the state and taught at the University level across the country. Some of the skill of older landscape architects tend to overlap these professions as project conditions require.

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