Course Introduction
Through immersive activities, students will become more familiar with the basic principles, common concerns and requirements of landscape architectural practice, including an understanding of: behavior, ethics and professionalism; landscape services and consultancy; project team, practice and construction management; procurement and contract requirements.
The weekly sessions are split into the following sections:
1. RESEARCH SHARING AND PRESENTATION;
2. 2021 MLA LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE HANDBOOK UPDATE;
3. SITE VISITS / INTERVIEWS;
4. ADMINISTRATION / EXPECTATIONS - CRITERIA / ASSESSMENT;
During weekly sessions students are encouraged to adopt "professional" habits, characteristics and attitudes to 'attendance', 'self presentation', 'timekeeping', 'conversation' and 'delivery'.
Class Schedule
Course Outline
1a) YOU ARE A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Being a Professional
Professional relationships and responsibilities, professional conduct, public / clients / other professionals / the environment;
Legal liabilities, duty of care, negligence, law of tort;
Professional associations – HKILA, LARB, IFLA, etc...
Professional qualification, when can you call yourself a “Landscape Architect” ?
Ethical behaviour, codes of conduct HKILA/IFLA, conflicts of interest, bribery and corruption.
1b) WHERE DO YOU WORK?
Practical Practicing
Forms of private landscape architectural practice, limited / unlimited liability companies, limited / unlimited liability partnerships, sole proprietorships
Collaborative / joint ventures, community / environmental / non-profit organisations
Business strategies, small-scale / large-scale, general / specialist, house styles, types of work, types of client, competitions
Public sector – central / local government
Working within multi-disciplinary organisations
Site work, charitable work, working overseas
1c) YOU ARE THE BOSS
The Office
Setting up an office, procedures, legal requirements, professional indemnity and other insurances
Space, equipment, document control, storage etc.
Office systems, quality assurance systems
Standardisation of the office - forms
Managing design work, documenting design decisions, revisions,
Professional procedures, project management handbook
Responsible employers / reasonable employees – rewards careers,
Employment contracts, recruitment / on-boarding
Training, work life balance, corporate responsibilit
2) DEVELOP OR CONTROL ?
Conservation and Environmental Protection
Hong Kong ordinances, guidance relating to Landscape Architects. International laws and conventions
Environmental protection, heritage conservation, protection of trees
EIA, Advisory Council on the Environment
Sustainable development, green building codes
Organisations / Acronyms
Land Use Planning and Development Control
Land use planning and management, strategic planning
Development control - applications and procedures
Technical guidelines - functions, interactions, lists
Building controls, buildings ordinance / department
Registered professionals, the role of the RLA
Organisations / Acronyms
3a) WINNING A PROJECT
Landscape Consultancy
Selecting a Landscape Architect - requests for proposals, bidding, approved consultant lists
Forms of procurement / consultancy appointments
Professional fees and charges
Conditions of consultancy contracts, copyright, limitations, collateral warranties
Choosing your clients - private clients, government, community groups
Two stage selective tendering, bidding on design, design competitions
Consultancy teams - working with other professionals
Sub-consultants – selecting, managing, liability for sub-consultants
3b) ORGANISING A PROJECT
Strategy & Procurement
Getting your designs built the way you want them to be.
Assessing Risk
Choosing the right kind of Contract
Types of contract – lump sum, re-measurement, cost plus, design & build etc.
Measurements, Quality Control
Roles and Responsibilities of the Design Team
3c) AWARDING A PROJECT
Documents and Tendering
Preparing Contract Documents
Construction tendering
Tender documents, tendering procedures, tender assessment, award
Formation of a valid construction contract, discharge, breach, remedies
The construction Contract
Contractual relationships
Contractors, sub contractors
3d) DELIVERING A PROJECT
Construction Site Administration
General issues relating to construction contracting, site management and site safety,
Achieving quality, standards of materials and workmanship, control mechanisms
Construction site personnel and procedures
Authorities / roles – client, architect, site staff, contractor
Contract administration - processes
Mechanisms – instructions, variations
4a) HIRE ME!
The creative industries are famously competitive, and getting your first design job can feel like a bit of a minefield.
The aim of this workshop is to help you arm yourself with the essential tools you need to stand out from the crowd. While specifics have changed over the years, the main principle remains: you need to show off your self and your potential but primarily amplify the message that hiring you would benefit the company.
The Approach
The Details
The Follow-up
The Interview
