This unit introduces landscape architecture as a professional practice, coordinated by MLA staff and MSA’s professional skills team. The curriculum aims to represent the breadth of the discipline and invites contributions from professionals and specialists in the field to share their expertise. Sessions involve presentations, debates, workshops, site visits, and practice visits, all aimed at familiarizing students with key concepts of professional practice. These concepts will later form a foundation for their preparations for chartership during the early years of their career.
In addition to providing insight into professional methods and practices, the curriculum aims to generate critical discussions about contemporary practice and the future of the profession. It engages with themes such as inclusive design practices, digital futures, landscape planning and regulations, and interdisciplinary practice.
This year, working with the Co-operative Group on a roof garden project in Manchester gave students real-world experience in landscape architecture, working collaboratively to set up a Proto practice. They developed fee proposals and client presentations to tender for the work. As students reflected on their proto-practice experience and outputs, guest lectures, areas of practice, and their own competencies, they created professional development plans to support their transition to practice.
Note: The unit is taught in an intensive period during the early summer and work displayed is from 2022-23.
