Forecasting the practice of
Philippine Landscape Architecture in the 21st Century
This paper was initially
presented as part of the PALA CPE Seminar held on July
2005 at the UP College of Architecture. This is an excerpt
prepared for the PLAN, the Newsletter of the Philippine
Association of Landscape Architecture.
By Enrico G. Flor, PALA
Associate, Paulo G. Alcazaren & Associates
and University Research Associate II (on-leave), UP College
of Architecture.
The Challenge
As we usher in the new millennium. I was posed a challenge
by our professor, namely to forecast the landscape architecture
practice in the Philippines for the 21st Century; and
I actually had an easy answer in mind: Yes, there is
a future; I had just recently joined the bustling ranks
of Filipino landscape architects and I can not accept
a dim forecast for my sanity’s sake. But beyond
being simplistic about the challenge, it was indeed a
serious thought to ponder. This is what I came up with.
Forecasting Method
Futurology became my means to approach the question head-on.
It is basically the study or forecast of potential
developments, as in science and society, based on the
current conditions and trends (Guterl, 2002). From
the present, one extrapolates (Arthur C. Clarke, as
cited in Guterl, 2002). One could say I had to invoke
an art and science of landscape architectural futurology.
Gazing into the crystal ball
The Global Present
So, what is the present offering us now? A lot, so
much so that the unprepared could be very well experiencing
what had been proved to be a 70’s myth: Future
Shock.
- Increasingly, we are having a networked lifestyle.
Surely, one is aware of the ubiquitous cyberspace we
have now, albeit more felt than seen. From as basic
as radio to as complex as the internet refrigerator,
we are more connected than ever before. With a networked
world we are, as a result, experiencing the impact
of the global, 24/7 economy and non-stop human activity.
- We are also in “The Urban Century”.
We have the most urban hectarage ever in the history
of mankind. In fact, we are now in the age when the
endangered virgin forest is a fact than just a mere
concept.
- The last century saw the rise of “The
Land of Plenty”. Our shifting worldview in this
century is on the urgency to sustain the planet. Corollary
to this, we are migrating toward ecologically and socially-responsive
landscape architecture. Interestingly, this also brings
about the ever-present questioning by the public on
the “greenness” of
our landscape architecture.
- We have increasing availability
and sophistication of technology. A consequence relevant
to the design and construction world, we have increasingly
complex projects requiring a multi-disciplinary approach.
- With
better health care, we have a graying population, an
increasing base of young people, all occupying the
same space.
- We have increased mobility, spatially and
digitally. Defining “home” and “a
cozy place to be with” can be a real challenge
in the transient lives of the future.
- There is a redefinition
of security in the Western world after 9/11, a realigning
of alliances with the waning of the “communist
threat” and the
waxing of the “war on terror”. And there
is the ever-present nationalism and separatist tendencies.
As they say, everything and nothing new.
The Local Present
Locally, what we have is a strongly commercially-driven
landscape architectural practice. However, there is
lack of legitimacy in the public’s perception
of our practice in the context of ecological- and social-influenced
design. On another front, the practice is virtually
five to ten years behind the global trend, with the
exception of projects being commercially-driven. And,
depending on the current political and business climate,
we are either in a building boom or bust.
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