The changing nature of landscape architectural practice: The South Africa experience

While it is commonplace that things are changing in landscape architectural practice, the extent and nature have never been investigated in South Africa. This study, based on a 33% response to questionnaires sent to educators, private and public practitioners of 0-5 years, 5-15 years, and 15+ years experience, illustrates dichotomies in the ranking of the minds of practitioners and their perceptions of their clients' requirements. The responses of various practitioner categories do not vary significantly. They are in agreeance that they deliver less than what they perceive to be their clients' design needs or expectations. However, other service areas, such as performing the service promised, serving the client as a responsible agent, developing design proposals centered on the clients needs, and meeting client's time schedules, all rank higher than design performance. This represents a significant shift in priorities since peer evaluation (a central tenet of a profession) has diminished and client satisfaction is now the reigning priority. The values of the profession as represented in university curricula need to reflect awareness of those held by members of practice to assure that professional preparation is appropriate to the evolving demands of contemporary professional life. Copyright (C) 2002, Locke Science Publishing Company, Inc. Chicago, IL, USA All Rights Reserved.