The websites of this year’s Top 20 Landscape Architecture ranking represent a variety of interests within the field of landscape architecture and design. We included resources for inspiration, career development, urban scale landscape projects, and small residential gardens; without failing to represent the environmental dimension of landscape architecture and its importance on plants and ecosystems. Five new websites joined our list this year, with a few changes in the order of the consistent runners from last year. Our ranking is based on the website’s Alexa Analytics scores, which measures website traffic.
- Landezine / http://www.landezine.com / @Landezine
Annually, Landezine has been steadily rising in ranking, and this year has finally earned first place. The website’s most popular feature is its projects library with more than 15 categories ranging from streetscapes and plazas to residential gardens and forest installations. The projects are also compiled by location, in 12 city guides from major European and Australian cities, in addition to New York City. Landezine boasts a growing collection of products and recorded events. News and articles from the world of landscape architecture and design can be found under issues, along with reviews and photographic essays. This year marks the second edition of LILA, the website’s award for landscape architecture projects and offices. The award ceremony takes place in Ljubljana, Slovenia where the website is based.
2. American Society of Landscape Architects / https://www.asla.org / @landarchitects
This year’s second place is held by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). The website contains resources for landscape architects to practice, advocate and continue learning. These include design guides, case studies, and showcase projects. The website maintains a job board and a directory of landscape architecture firms. News and updates about the latest landscape projects, innovations, and professional development opportunities are published in its blogs “The Dirt”, and “The Field” and sent via the society’s newsletter, “Land,” every other week. The organization offers numerous opportunities for its members to network through regularly organized meetings and events especially during its annual meeting and expo which took place this month in Los Angeles.
3. Flora and Fauna Web / https://florafaunaweb.nparks.gov.sg
Joining this year’s ranking is Singapore’s National Parks Flora and Fauna Web. The website contains a growing database of plants, insects, birds and small animals, and caters to a wide audience of seasoned landscape designers, hobby gardeners, and nature enthusiasts. Visitors can search high-quality images and learn about a variety of plants, animal species and their symbiotic relationships, and download information about unusual and similar looking plants. The website resources include a glossary of Fauna and Flora related terms, links to other online databases and resources, and field guides.
4. Landscaping Network / http://www.landscapingnetwork.com / @LandscapingNews
Landscaping Network focuses on home gardens and residential parks. The website’s collection of pictures, videos, products and style guides guarantees a continuous flow of inspiration and ideas for any home landscaping project. Articles and posts are organized into six categories: design, backyard, front yard, outdoor, hardscape and lighting, and plants and lawns. Each category comes complete with tips and advice from experts and professionals.
5. Garden Design / http://www.gardendesign.com / @GardenDesignMag
With continuously updated content and lavish pictures of greenery, flowers, and edibles, browsing through Garden Design is a real feast. Like the printed magazine, the website contains extensive photo gallery collections of hundreds of beautiful gardens from different regions in the United States and beyond. The website also has sections dedicated to the principles and the latest trends in residential landscape design, along with “know-how” and “plants” sections to guide even the most beginner gardeners. For those looking to meet like-minded garden enthusiasts and discover landscapes from around the world, events, organized garden tours, and travel ideas can also be found on Garden Design.
6. World Landscape Architecture / http://worldlandscapearchitect.com / @wlandscapearch
Founded in 2007, World Landscape Architecture (WLA) is a news platform covering projects, events, and competitions happening around the world. Posts and articles can be filtered by region and category. WLA also provides space for students to share their work and enter its awards. The website publishes book reviews and interviews and welcomes submissions of projects and articles from its audience of landscape architects.
7. Garden Visit / http://www.gardenvisit.com
Gardenvisit database houses hundreds of gardens and parks from around the world. The gardens are organized by country and new locations are regularly added. The website resources include a directory of garden and landscape designers, garden products, and a nursery finder for the UK and the US. News and interviews can be found on the blog, along with book reviews and peeks inside secret and historic gardens. The website is also home to the Landscape Guide, an encyclopedia of landscape architecture history, theory, and styles. Real garden visits are offered across five continents and can be found under Garden Tours.
8. Landscape Architecture Magazine / https://landscapearchitecturemagazine.org
Landscape Architecture Magazine, the magazine of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), is joining our top 10 this year. The magazine is the oldest publication and has the widest reach among landscape architecture professionals in the US. The website has a blog format and publishes news from ASLA’s events, articles from the magazine’s printed issues, as well as exclusive posts. The website visitors can subscribe to the printed and digital editions of the magazine and its new publication “Your Land,” dedicated to young readers enrolled in grade school through high school.
9. Land8: Landscape Architects Network / http://land8.com / @Land8
Land8 is coming back this year with a new design after its acquisition of the popular Landscape Architects Network (landarchs.com) this summer. It's rebranded as Land8: Landscape Architects Network. The new website, to be launched soon, will continue to act as a social platform for landscape architects, who have been using its active forums and groups to exchange ideas and resources, share their work, and network since 2008. The new Land8 will have an enhanced job board and product page. Its resources will include events, webinars, book reviews and information on the Landscape Architecture Registration Examination (LARE.) The website’s blog is a great source for news about the landscape architecture profession and articles are written by leading members of the Land8 community.
10. The Cultural Landscape Foundation / http://tclf.org / @TCLFdotORG
The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) advocates for the preservation of landscape heritage in the United States; including designed landscapes, ethnographic landscapes, historic sites and vernacular landscapes. The website’s database, What’s Out There, includes more than 2,000 sites and 11,000 images, while 1,100 designer profiles can be searched in the People section. TCLF’s collection of City and Regional Guides is also growing with its latest additions of Boston, Indianapolis, and New York City. Moreover, the website features the foundation’s stewardship programs and efforts to draw attention to save landscapes at risk. TCLF also lists events, special programs, conferences and exhibitions on its website, which pertain to its mission and connect landscape professionals, other disciplines and the public at large.
11. American Public Garden Association / @PublicGardens
12. Landscape Juice Network / @LandscapeJuice
13. The Center for Land Use Interpretation
14. Landscape Online / @LandscapeComm
15. Landscape Australia / @landscapeau
16. GAP Gardens / @GAP_Gardens
17. Green roofs / @greenroofs
18. Australian Institute of Landscape Architects / @AILA_National
19. Ecological Landscape Alliance / @ecolandscaping
20. Landscape Institute / @talklandscape
What do you think of this year’s list? Share your thoughts and resources with us and our readers in the comments section below, follow the Top 20 Landscape Architecture on Twitter and don’t forget to compare this ranking to last years’ 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
