Social Change and the Profession of Landscape Architecture in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

The role and character of a profession depend in large part upon the nature of the society within which it operates. Contemporary society is changing rapidly, with the twenty-first century likely to be characterized by global economies, a consumer society, and individualization of work and everyday life. These trends create a challenge for professions which have evolved within the prevailing industrial culture of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This article analyzes implications of social change for the profession of landscape architecture. It then identifies issues for the future, and proposes a research agenda to investigate whether there is still a common “culture” of landscape architecture, and if so, what it comprises.