In order to translate “Paisagismo”

Difficulties have been observed in translating terms related to Landscape Architecture into English, which mobilize concepts of “Paisagem” (Landscape), “Jardim” (Garden) and “Projeto” (Design). Such difficulties are, in part, due to the fact that the situation of Landscape Architecture, as a field of knowledge and professional practice, is still uncertain in Brazil. There is no professional regulation on the part of the government, there is no higher education in the area, with the exception of the “Paisagismo” undergraduate course at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), created in 1973 and which, until recently, adopted the name of “Composição Paisagística” (Landscape Composition). In addition, the main professional associations differ on the prerequisites for their members and on the very nature of the profession.

On the other hand, the complexity of the English terms does not help the task of the translator, where “Landscape Architect”, “Landscape Designer”, “Garden Designer”, “Landscaper”, “Landscape Gardener” and “Landscape Contractor” coexist and may, eventually, mean the professional responsible for designing and/or coordinating the implementation of green areas and gardens. In one side, these professions perform some overlapping services but, in other side, the activities may be quite different. In common, it can be said that all these activities are covered within the field of knowledge “Landscape Architecture”.

According to the ILO, through ISCO 08 (Code) Landscape Architects “plan and design landscapes and open spaces for projects such as parks, schools, institutions, roads, external areas for commercial, industrial and residential sites, and plan and monitor their construction, maintenance and rehabilitation.” (ISCO-ILO s/d). According to the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), “Landscape Architects conduct research and advise on planning, design and stewardship of the outdoor environment and spaces, both within and beyond the built environment, and its conservation and sustainability of development. For the profession of landscape architect, a degree in landscape architecture is required” (IFLA, 2003).

In the English-speaking countries USA and the United Kingdom, “Landscape Architecture” defines the area of ​​knowledge. As set by the IFLA, the USA and the UK established the requirement for undergraduate or graduate studies in the area of​ “Landscape Architecture” for use the title “Landscape Architect”. In the USA, there is a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in Landscape Architecture, and their professionals meet at the ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects). Landscape Architecture graduation courses are also offered and the profession is regulated in Europe (with the exception of Spain, where there are graduation courses but there is no regulation). European professionals meet in the European section of the IFLA (formerly called EFLA), which congregates national associations. Professionals affiliated to ASLA and EFLA, therefore, have training and the regulation that enable them to lead projects that cover large public areas, including historical sites, plans and territorial management policies. Still, it is worth noting that surveys carried out by the ASLA, in the USA, show that most of the work commissioned for Landscape Architects consists of residential gardens (Hopper, 2007).

In the USA and England, the designation Landscape Designer or Garden Designer do not require a formal education to be used, and these professionals normally work on small-scale or residential projects. These professionals, in general, have some type of related higher or technical education, as horticulture, architecture, biology, etc. There are also professional internship programs. In certain cases, such professionals rely only on their own work experience to place themselves on the market. More recently, degree programs in “Landscape Contractor” have trained professionals with a profile in design and implementation of green areas and gardens on a smaller scale. This term, however, also has several definitions, which may exclude the project activity. For example, according to Godawa (2020), “Landscape contractors” do not perform projects, but implement them. Their activity consists of building the structures, as walkways, fences and others, and incorporating the plants. They also work on garden maintenance of yards and gardens. In Europe, such professionals meet in a specific association, the European Landscape Contractors Association (ELCA, 2020).

In Latin languages, it is usual for the double denomination “Paisagista” and “Arquiteto Paisagista” to coexist. This double name is due to the original coexistence between the terms Paysagiste and Architecte paysagiste in French. However, in France the compound name has been gradually abandoned in favor of the simple, and the field of knowledge is referred there as Paysage. Both simple and compound terms are still used to refer to the field of knowledge in Italy (more commonly as Architettura del Paesaggio, but also Paesaggistica), Spanish-speaking (Arquitectura del Paisaje and “Paisajismo”) and Portuguese-speaking (Arquitetura da Paisagem and Paisagismo) countries.

In France professional figures are divided between Paysagiste, Ingénieur en Paysage and Jardinier-Paysagiste (Lesparre, 2020), showing specializations in the fields of activity. In Italy professionals graduated in the field are called more commonly Paesaggisti, but also Architetti paesaggisti. In both countries, untrained professionals working in the design/construction or management of green areas are called “Paysagiste” or “Paesaggista”, respectively. Thus, to differentiate professionals formally trained in the area from others, the term Paysagiste Diplômé d’État is used in France.

In Spain and Spanish-speaking Latin America, the situation is more complex but, in general, it can be said that the profession is not regulated and there are relatively few higher education courses in the area, especially in the case of Latin America. In Spanish-speaking countries, the field of knowledge and, by extension, higher education courses, are generally called “Paisajismo”, but also “Arquitectura del Paisaje”, as in the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and “Licenciatura en Diseño de Paisaje”, of the Universidad de la Republica, in Uruguay. In these countries, it is common for people with no background in the field to call themselves Paisajistas, just as it happens with the denominations “Landscape designer” or “Garden designer” in English.

In Portugal, the compound denomination is more frequently used, with the field of knowledge and higher education courses being called “Arquitectura paisagística” and its students, “Arquitectos paisagistas”. “Paisagimo” and “Paisagista” are rarely used, but considered synonymous with compound terms. Professionals without a degree in “Arquitectura Paisagística” call themselves “Designers de Jardins”, generally serving smaller and residential areas, or “Jardineiros”, when the practice focuses on the implementation and management of these spaces.

In Brazil, the expressions “Paisagista” and “Arquiteto paisagista” are considered synonyms by the Brazilian Classification of Occupations (Classificação Brasileira de Ocupações, CBO), in a decision that respects their origin and international use. Other terms, such as Projetista de jardins, are not common in the Brazilian Portuguese language.

In Brazil, it is common for Agronomists, Architects, Biologists, Forest Engineers, Designers and, in fact, anyone with some experience in the area of ​​garden design and construction to call themselves “Paisagista”. In some cases, this term is understood as if it were a qualifier that indicates a field of action for professionals graduated in other areas of knowledge. Thus, expressions such as “Arquiteto paisagista”, “Agrônomo paisagista” or “Biólogo paisagista” occur to refer to whose is architect, agronomist or biologist, respectively, and work in the landscape architecture field. Such use, in the case of architects, may cause confusion, as it becomes identical to the compound term “Landscape Architect”. It does not help undo misunderstandings that some institutions and unions that represent architects consider Landscape Architecture as part of the field of knowledge of Architecture, thus ignoring both the historical path of this field of knowledge, as well as its regulatory and professional reality. They may be also unaware of how expressly placed in the Agreement between IFLA-UIA (International Union of Architects), that “recognizes the distinct nature andstanding of the two unique, separate and complimentary professions of architecture and landscape architecture” (IFLA, 2003). Besides, the fact is that the academic disciplines that makes up Landscape Architecture graduate courses are, to a large extent, not sufficiently covered in Brazilian Architecture and Urbanism courses - or any other program in Brazil, by the way.

For all these reasons mentioned above, the English version of the terms requires care. As there is no university education with the exception of UFRJ, institution or regulation in Brazil that allows defining the cases, it is necessary to decide on an editorial policy in this regard. Thus, the terms to be used will depend on the formation and the activity developed. It is indicated as follows:

Field of knowledge:

“Paisagismo” or “Arquitetura da Paisagem” or “Arquitetura paisagística” = Landscape Arquitecture

Field of activity:

“Paisagismo” or “Arquitetura da Paisagem” or “Arquitetura Paisagística” = Landscape Architecture or Landscaping or Landscape Design or Landscape Contracting or Garden Design, at the translator’s discretion and depending on the context or nature of the activity.

Professional denomination:

“Paisagista” or “Arquiteto Paisagista” or “Arquiteto da Paisagem” will be translated into English as follows:

Landscaper: those who design or coordinate works for the implementation and management of green areas and open spaces involving the use of plant material and, among others, knowledge of natural sciences.

Landscape Designer: the part of landscapers working exclusively with project activity, but not always with a formal graduation.

Landscape Contractor: the part of landscapers that deals more directly with construction sites, implementing projects and services for managing and maintaining green areas.

Landscape Architect: undergraduated or graduated in Landscape Architecture in its various denominations (Paisagismo, Arquitetura paisagística, or other).

Object: “Jardim” = Garden; “Paisagem” = Landscape

Others:

“Jardineiro” = Gardener (those that work in a garden)

“Projetista de jardins” = Garden designer (those who design a garden. Not usual in Portuguese)

References

• ELCA - European Landscape Contractors Association. Available at: Available at: https://www.elca.info/elca.php Accessed on: Aug 28^th, 2020.
  » https://www.elca.info/elca.php
• GODAWA, J. What is the difference between landscaping & gardening? Available at: Available at: https://homeguides.sfgate.com/difference-between-landscaping-gardening-55060.html#:~:text=Like%20landscaping%2C%20gardening%20involves%20design,replace%20and%20harvest%20the%20plants Accessed on: Aug 18^th 2020
  » https://homeguides.sfgate.com/difference-between-landscaping-gardening-55060.html#:~:text=Like%20landscaping%2C%20gardening%20involves%20design,replace%20and%20harvest%20the%20plants
• HOPPER, L.J. General overview of the profession - what is landscape architecture? In: HOPPER, L.J.; DOE, J.; XIANG, B. Landscape Architectural Graphic Standards. John Willey & Sons, 2007. 1096p.
• IFLA. Definition of the profession of Landscape Architect for the International Standard Classification of Occupations. IFLA News, n.48, July 2003. p.8.
• ISCO-ILO. Updating the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO). s/d Available at: https://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/stat/isco/docs/d3b.pdf Accessed on: Aug 29th 2020.
  » https://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/stat/isco/docs/d3b.pdf
• LESPARRE, J. Paysagiste. 2020. Available at: Available at: https://www.cidj.com/metiers/paysagiste Accessed on: Aug 17^th, 2020.
  » https://www.cidj.com/metiers/paysagiste

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  09 Nov 2020
• Date of issue
  Oct-Dec 2020