Architect to landscape architect
An architect already meets 45% of what the landscape architect role asks for. The move turns on 9 required skills not yet in the profile.
60.9/ 100
1 How much of what a landscape architect is expected to do is already part of an architect’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the landscape architect role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A landscape architect role treats 9 of its required skills as things an architect already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- architecture regulations
- design spatial layout of outdoor areas
- develop architectural plans
- identify customer's needs
- integrate measures in architectural designs
- landscape architecture
What stands in the way is 9 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 22 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A landscape architect role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of an architect background worth leading with.
- already held communicate with local residents communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held design spatial layout of outdoor areas communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held integrate measures in architectural designs communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held landscape architecture engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held develop architectural plans communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held historic architecture engineering, manufacturing and construction
All 22 carried skills, including the 9 the landscape architect role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 30 missing skills fall into 10 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn advise on landscapes required
- still to learn design landscape schemes required
- still to learn specify landscape design components required
- optional, not held advise on soil and water protection optional
- optional, not held create landscape designs optional
- optional, not held coordinate construction activities optional
- optional, not held promote sustainability optional
- optional, not held use manual draughting techniques optional
- still to learn landscape design required
- still to learn green space strategies required
- still to learn landscape analysis required
- optional, not held civil engineering optional
- still to learn ecology required
- optional, not held flower and plant products optional
- optional, not held plant species optional
- optional, not held characteristics of plants optional
- still to learn manage landscape design projects required
- optional, not held lead hard landscape projects optional
- still to learn aesthetics required
- optional, not held horticulture principles optional
- optional, not held landscaping materials optional
- optional, not held soil structure optional
- optional, not held forest conservation optional
4 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a landscape architect role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 advise on landscapes practise this
- 02 design landscape schemes practise this
- 03 landscape design study this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 22 skills that carry over
- already held architecture regulations knowledge
- already held design spatial layout of outdoor areas skill
- already held develop architectural plans skill
- already held identify customer's needs skill
- already held integrate measures in architectural designs skill
- already held landscape architecture knowledge
- already held provide cost benefit analysis reports skill
- already held urban planning knowledge
- already held zoning codes knowledge
- already held assess environmental impact skill
- already held carry out tendering skill
- already held communicate with local residents skill
- already held energy efficiency knowledge
- already held energy performance of buildings knowledge
- already held finish project within budget skill
- already held follow work schedule skill
- already held green building practices knowledge
- already held historic architecture knowledge
- already held liaise with local authorities skill
- already held provide technical expertise skill
- already held use CAD software skill
- already held zero-energy building design knowledge
The 4 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held use geographic information systems optional
- optional, not held create thematic maps optional
- optional, not held use technical drawing software optional
- optional, not held conduct land surveys optional
- optional, not held create GIS reports optional
- optional, not held build a product's physical model optional
- optional, not held operate landscaping equipment optional
21 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held advise on soil and water protection optional
- optional, not held conduct land surveys optional
- optional, not held create landscape designs optional
- optional, not held flower and plant products optional
- optional, not held horticulture principles optional
- optional, not held landscaping materials optional
- optional, not held lead hard landscape projects optional
- optional, not held operate landscaping equipment optional
- optional, not held plant species optional
- optional, not held soil structure optional
- optional, not held use geographic information systems optional
- optional, not held build a product's physical model optional
- optional, not held characteristics of plants optional
- optional, not held civil engineering optional
- optional, not held coordinate construction activities optional
- optional, not held create GIS reports optional
- optional, not held create thematic maps optional
- optional, not held forest conservation optional
- optional, not held promote sustainability optional
- optional, not held use manual draughting techniques optional
- optional, not held use technical drawing software optional
73 held skills the landscape architect role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role adapt existing designs to changed circumstances skill
- not needed by the target role advise customers on building materials skill
- not needed by the target role advise legislators skill
- not needed by the target role advise on building matters skill
- not needed by the target role airtight construction knowledge
- not needed by the target role apply systemic design thinking skill
- not needed by the target role architectural conservation knowledge
- not needed by the target role architectural design knowledge
- not needed by the target role architectural theory knowledge
- not needed by the target role assess heating and cooling systems skill
- not needed by the target role building codes knowledge
- not needed by the target role building information modelling knowledge
- not needed by the target role building materials industry knowledge
- not needed by the target role cartography knowledge
- not needed by the target role communicate with construction crews skill
- not needed by the target role conduct field work skill
- not needed by the target role consider building constraints in architectural designs skill
- not needed by the target role construction legal systems knowledge
- not needed by the target role create architectural sketches skill
- not needed by the target role create solutions to problems skill
- not needed by the target role design an artificial lighting system skill
- not needed by the target role design building air tightness skill
- not needed by the target role design building envelope systems skill
- not needed by the target role design building retrofitting solutions skill
- not needed by the target role design buildings skill
- not needed by the target role design harmonious architecture skill
- not needed by the target role design microclimates in buildings skill
- not needed by the target role design open spaces skill
- not needed by the target role design passive energy measures skill
- not needed by the target role design window and glazing systems skill
- not needed by the target role develop a specific interior design skill
- not needed by the target role develop professional network skill
- not needed by the target role draw blueprints skill
- not needed by the target role engineering principles knowledge
- not needed by the target role ensure compliance with construction project deadline skill
- not needed by the target role ensure infrastructure accessibility skill
- not needed by the target role envelope systems for buildings knowledge
- not needed by the target role environmental design knowledge
- not needed by the target role environmental indoor quality knowledge
- not needed by the target role evaluate integrated design of buildings skill
33 further entries not listed here
13 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn landscape design required
- still to learn aesthetics required
- still to learn ecology required
- still to learn green space strategies required
- still to learn landscape analysis required
- optional, not held flower and plant products optional
- optional, not held horticulture principles optional
- optional, not held landscaping materials optional
- optional, not held plant species optional
- optional, not held soil structure optional
- optional, not held characteristics of plants optional
- optional, not held civil engineering optional
- optional, not held forest conservation optional
Other moves recorded from architect
- construction engineer 72% covered · moderate
- interior architect 53% covered · substantial
- architectural drafter 44% covered · substantial
- building inspector 35% covered · substantial
- construction manager 29% covered · career change
- land planner 29% covered · substantial
- civil drafter 28% covered · substantial
- construction general contractor 24% covered · substantial
Common questions about this move
Can an architect become a landscape architect?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. An architect already covers 45% of what a landscape architect is expected to do: 22 skills carry over, 9 of which the landscape architect role treats as required.
What skills does an architect need to become a landscape architect?
9 required skills are missing, plus 21 optional ones. They fall into 10 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is advise on landscapes.
How hard is the move from architect to landscape architect?
Its learning distance is 60.9 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.