The example of the Amateur Naturalist

Until a few years ago, landscape architects were expected to have scientific expertise in plants, soils, building materials and construction methods. Training in landscape architecture focused on these topics, in which it is entirely possible to build up deeper knowledge over the course of one’s professional life. For a long time, larger projects involving more complex interactions between natural and social systems were the task of interdisciplinary teams in which specialists worked together on green infrastructure projects. Landscape architects were not even part of the team. This situation is evolving as society comes to realise (remember) the importance of connections between natural and social systems, especially with regard to housing, neighbourhoods and urban space.

This professional shift is motivating landscape architects to broaden our scope of practice and also raises questions about the focus of our professional expertise. Collaboration with geologists, ecologists, botanists and other environmental scientists brings us closer to scientific knowledge about ecosystems, but it is barely possible for us to understand all these scientific fields in depth ourselves. Instead, we are moving towards a generalist position, never working alone but acting within teams of specialists. Within such teams, it is our task to drive design processes forward in collaboration with our technical experts. In order to serve this goal competently, we need to cultivate a common technical language based on a sound understanding of environmental sciences. We must also find out how to integrate such scientific expertise into design processes without losing sight of the human scale and an equally sound understanding of the historical and social context of built environments.

We might quickly become overwhelmed by the breadth of scientific subjects that are relevant to our profession had we not the motto ‘Begin anywhere’ and the example of the “Amateur Naturalist” to guide us. The word “amateur” derives from the Latin amātor (“lover”), and from the verb amāre “to love.” Motivated by curiosity and love of a subject, the amateur naturalist investigates birds, plants, stones, fungi, and countless other natural phenomena with such interest that in time an expert, or at least grounded, level of understanding for the ecological and cultural context of their subject is reached. So for example the mushroom forager sets out to hunt down a Chanterelle or other tasty morsel and, having spent hours, then days and in time year paying special attention to the forest floor, attains a scientific understanding of the conditions in which their Chanterelle is most likely to be found. And in the meantime they have discovered the wonderful variety of other edible fungi to keep them searching and researching. They discuss their subject with anyone who is interested, find other enthusiasts, share ideas and so contribute to an ever expanding network of empirical knowledge. In England, land of the amateur expert, the credibility of this type of expertise is such that the term Citizen Science is now used to describe it.

So let us not be daunted by the breath taking scope of our tasks. At the start of any project, no matter how complex, we do what we are trained to do. We assess the site and task and lay out the relevant themes: Historical and future social uses, conservation and planning restrictions, conditions of ground, soil, water, ecology, and climate. And we consider our own agendas and remember that a well-structured design process gives anchorage. And so we begin, lean into the task and trust in the process.