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Morrish examined ways to create ecological systems for stormwater purification and flood control
<br /> that function as the armature for civic design, recreational corridors, and urban wildlife habitat.
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<br /> `s technical skills,they can become the lead designer of infrastruc-
<br /> cure projects,making engineers and other specialists their sub-
<br /> „ � contractors. How to convince the client?First,show that the
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<br /> work of landscape architects embraces far more than gar-
<br /> ' U ' \ dens(though gardens,too,are encompassed in Morrish's j
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<br /> �� / I concept of infrastructure).Second,show the client built
<br /> 40 .2 _ work that has enhanced a neighborhood;show how
<br /> •A 'l �� A • property values rose as a result."Morrish says that a
<br /> Il_._ �.ri..som u� sit tk!i4 client's response to a design depends largely on
<br /> t ��. ' t� j ( - ii how much it costs,saves,and earns.Architects, •
<br /> i ti's JAI' he says,use value engineering to show how a
<br /> \�� • .- 7 project adds economic and social value,and
<br /> \., 7 \\, \\\ ;j landscape architects should follow their lead.
<br /> \\�\\ �Ilt _-- 1 If you show a client photographs of a project
<br /> 1 that has no graffiti and low maintenance costs,
<br /> / R\ �t he says, "the response will be,`You can do chat?'
<br /> e \ '�• \ \ t /®':-® The landscape architect should answer,'Yes,but
<br /> ,�'� \\f. _ -i 0 ®a' you 11 have to pay me proportionate to the value of
<br /> , `\ b���;Y, �� my project'This may sound like crass self-promotion,
<br /> s \ -5- <'=.\ 4 but it's very important,"Morrish says.
<br /> \ `. - !=- There is a tradition of shyness among landscape archi- 1.
<br /> \\ f�a:_: dR h_ y g P
<br /> 'is' �+ \.�` � .. s!t .,1. tects,he notes, "which has a lot to do with being involved
<br /> ill 1
<br /> • ��' �'I�I��+ y`' with nature;we're not pushy. Well,we've got to get over it," f,
<br /> /pa/ • �� _ 1 10Uf s he says,pointing out that the late Garrett Eckbo and John
<br /> 4 h/ i I 114400 ' Simonds,FASLA,promoted their work with powerful books.
<br /> �� GL If you're dealing with ecology,he says, ,
<br /> �� / According to Morrish, landscape is not "you've got to be pushy. It's too big a sub-
<br /> / separate from infrastructure. But how we jeer to equivocate about."
<br /> ` layer and network the systems defines His final advice is to get involved in }
<br /> t' ' the quality of our urban landscape. chambers of commerce and other civic orga-
<br /> !lIJJJ nizations where landscape architects can
<br /> versity of Virginia,he says,"we've fused the ecology and tech- make their ideas and abilities known to civic decision makers. 'I
<br /> nology course.I'd say blending these things puts you into a dif- Take Olmsted for your model,Morrish counsels:"He spent a ma-
<br /> ferent ballgame for getting work." jority of his time in political meetings, [convincing)the mayor
<br /> Most important,perhaps,being technologically literate [that] sanitation was a great idea, that it added social and eco-
<br /> means knowing how to use information technology.Morrish nomic value,and he helped the mayor get reelected." LA
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<br /> contends that landscape architects haven't kept up.Architects, ----------
<br /> on the other hand,and Frank Gehry is one among thousands, Andrea Oppenheimer Dean,formerly executive editor of Architecture •
<br /> use computers not only to create previously unbuildable forms magazine, is a contributing editor of Architectural Record.She is the ri
<br /> but also to streamline the production process.They create proj- author of Rural Studio:Samuel Mockbee and an Architecture of
<br /> ect web sites,enabling them to provide a single,accurate vet- Decency(Princeton.2002),Centerbrook Volume 2(Rockport,
<br /> sion of every document relating to a project.And project web 1997),and Bruno Zevi:On Modern Architecture(Rizzoli, 1983).
<br /> sites permit all authorized users to have instantaneous access to —------- `'.
<br /> information and to track communications. Information tech- Resources
<br /> nology both compresses the design process and narrows the • Congress for New Urbanism."Reframing die Suburbs,"task force
<br /> gap between design and production because it allows a design- newsletter.San Francisco,fall 2001. h
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<br /> er to work at a detailed level from early design phases. "You're • Hudnut,William.Halfway to Everywhere:A Portrait of America's
<br /> always producing as you're designing.Thar's how landscape First Tier Suburbs. Urban land Institute, spring 2003. (Describes
<br /> architects should be working,"says Morrish. "When you digi- Morrish's work.) •
<br /> tize your production,you see cost savings and improvements • Morrish, William Rees. Civilizing Terrains:Mountains, Mounds,
<br /> in quality" and Mesas, 2nd edition.William Stout Publishers, 1996.
<br /> Morrish is convinced that if landscape architects can acquire •Morrish,William R.,and Catherine R.Brown.Planning to Stay.
<br /> needed information,convey it clearly to clients,and boost their Milkweed Editions,reissued 2000.
<br /> AUGUST 2003 195 1 Landscape Architecture
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