The Modern Landscape Architect and Creativity: What Creates It, Shapes It, and Inspires It

Abstract

What comprises the unique personal, interpersonal, and contextual situations when landscape architects bring something new into existence? This article presents research that examined creativity in landscape architecture through interviews of seven landscape architects, deemed “creative” by their professional peers. This perspective allowed for direct inquiry with landscape architects who are creative and who have experienced the creative act. The study utilized psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s conceptual framework for creativity research. This framework calls for the consideration of three interacting parts: the individual, domain, and field. The research revealed specific parallels in life course and personality traits. Also, analysis revealed ten emerging themes surrounding the experience of the creative act.