CURRENT ISSUES
With massive urbanisation and increase in the world population projected for the next 30 years, it is believed that there will be greater pollution, and we will experience an increase in climate change phenomena, escalating food security issues and a lack of space. Studies show the world population will increase to 9.7 billion from the current 7.5 billion, whilst the projected Malaysian population will reach 44 million by 2050, with more than 90% living in urban areas and cities.
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Realising the issues and needs that we may face in the future, landscape architects can play a vital role in the country’s development, with innovative planning and design providing better and more inspirational living environments for all.
OUR VISION FOR
THE NEXT 30 YEARS
In combatting the increased issues looming on the horizon, the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM) is taking a proactive and bold step, to pave the direction for our professional practice, and to play a more influential role in national development.
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Landscape Architecture Agenda 2050 (LAA2050) is a 30 years agenda, comprising our vision and 10 Strategic Focus Areas (SFA) required to drive the landscape architecture professional forwards. The initiative framework is in a developmental process until 2020, when it will be implemented in full force, leading to 2050.
VISION
Landscape as a base for wellbeing and inspired living, through innovative technology and sustainable values.
VALUE
Landscape architects need to be key players in planning and designing the built environment and take a more influential role to lead and inspire design solutions that will shape our future, for a better living environment for all.
10 STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS
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SFA01 VISIBILITY
Landscape architects should be more vocal and engaging in political debate, collaborate and cooperate with related organisations in order to be relevant, influence decision makers and think big.
SFA02 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Landscape architects should safeguard and incorporate effective resource management in each design approach, primarily the fragile environmental components of water, air, food, waste, and natural and sensitive ecosystems, via conservation, preservation and/or rehabilitation efforts.
SFA03 EXPERIENCES & NEEDS
Landscape architectural design should emphasise on user experience, such as inclusion of local social and cultural values, community engagement and participation in the design process, promote local identity and image, and cater to the needs of the less fortunate via universal design.
SFA04 CONDUCIVE LIVING
Over-population has caused a deterioration in the quality of life, hence, promoting conducive and inspiring living environments should be a key priority for landscape architects. Key strategies include creating more public spaces in urban areas, enhancing blue-green infrastructures (natural and semi-natural landscape elements), promoting food security via urban farming, combatting climate change through design, and promoting thermal comfort in every spatial design.
SFA05 SECURITY & SAFETY
Natural and human threats have escalated in the past decade and landscape architects should play a vital role in designing landscape spaces and places which respond to natural disaster phenomena. These include emergency preparedness, preventing crime via the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) approach, which focuses on preventing vandalism and non-state violence.
SFA06 ECONOMIC RETURN
Any form of future project should take sustainable economic value into consideration so as to ensure lifelong durability, generate economic returns for local businesses, cultivate positive socio-economic impact, promote green tourism and benefit the stakeholders at large.
SFA07 HUMAN CAPITAL ENHANCEMENT
The landscape architecture industry should focus on the development of leadership, increased productivity, promoting creativity, originality and skills, encouraging ethical competition, promote diversification and adaptability to changes and become an influential and versatile trend setter. To achieve this and to be significantly visible, the number of landscape architects should be increased.
SFA08 BEST PRACTICE
The practising landscape architecture firms should increase productivity through an organised structure which promotes high efficiency, enhanced best practice standards and quality control in delivering the services.
SFA09 EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
Education and research fields should venture into the discovery of new ideas and philosophies, setting future directions, bridging academia and industry, promoting pragmatic solutions, and increasing involvement in international markets.
SFA10 TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEM
Promote the landscape architecture industry Big Data (which incorporates the large volume of data – both structured and unstructured) and The IoT (the Internet of Things is the in- ter-networking of physical devices, vehicles, buildings, and other items, embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity which enables these objects to collect and exchange data), application of augmented reality, tools and cutting edge technology in design.
