Landscape performance in practice: Insights and recommendations

Abstract

Over the past decade-plus, landscape performance has gained significant traction and grown in influence and implementation within the landscape architecture discipline. However, measuring, calculating, and estimating the benefits of landscapes—not to mention incorporating landscape performance throughout a design process–can be challenging, especially for practitioners and firms working on tight timelines and budgets. This article examines the current state of landscape performance in practice based on a series of roundtable conversations between eight practitioners at United States-based design firms that are integrating landscape performance in their practice. The definition of the term “landscape performance” is discussed and examples of specific landscape performance activities are provided. The article concludes by identifying challenges and opportunities and offering broad recommendations for strengthening the integration of landscape performance in design practice.

Keywords

• landscape performance
• professional practice
• landscape architecture discipline