Oscar Nicholas, age 14, of Columbia, Tenn., for his question:
WHO WAS THE FIRST LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT?
American Frederick Law Olmsted was the first person to call himself a "landscape architect." In the 1850s, Olsmsted and well known gardener Calvert Vaux designed New York City's Central Park. When Olmsted signed the plans, he placed the words "landscape architect" under his name.
Before Olmsted's time, people who designed plantings for outdoor areas were called landscape gardeners. Olmsted saw his job as creating outdoor environments much as architects plan buildings.
In 1899, Olmsted's followers formed the American Society of Landscape Architects, the profession's national organization. Today, landscape architects in this national group must have degrees from accredited colleges or universities.
Landscape architecture as a profession actually dates back thousands of years. Many Roman homes built between the 400s B.C. and the 400s A.D. had elaborate courtyards that were designed by artistic gardeners.
Other early examples of the art of outdoor landscaping include the gardens of ancient Persia (A.D. 200s to 600s) and the beautiful royal grounds in Japan (A.D. 500s). The Italians designed and built spectacular hillside estates and civic plazas during the 1400s and 1500s.
In the 1600s and 1700s, France became noted for its magnificent palaces and grand city gardens. Versailles is a perfect example. And English designers planned natural appearing country estates in the 1800s.
Today, landscape architects plan ways to organize living, working and recreation space. They plan trees and grassy areas in downtown locations to serve as walkways and shield pedestrians from automobile noises and fumes. They create tree lined malls and recreation sites.
In developing land use plans, landscape architects work with city planners and public officials.
Landscape architects may develop plans from the yards for single houses or for huge housing developments. They may draw up plans for gigantic national parks or for tiny landscaped city squares.
Landscape architects work on various types of projects. A state park might need cabins, campsites and roads located without destroying natural scenery. Or a city park might call for the design of elaborate pavement patterns, fountains and terraces for ornamental plants.
A landscape architect may be asked to create imaginative equipment for a playground or propose a master plan for university expansion. Or he might plan the layout of a shopping center, golf course, apartment building grounds, zoo, hospital grounds or trailer park.
In designing roads, parks and other sites, landscape architects often keep mature trees for immediate shade and arrange for proper grading and drainage. They must also design walls, fences, steps, pavements and planting arrangements where needed.