
To participate in a landscape architecture design competition, you'll need to submit a proposal that meets the competition's requirements. These requirements can vary, but often include a written statement, visual presentation, and design drawings.
Competition organizers typically provide a brief or problem statement that outlines the project's goals and constraints. This statement can be a few sentences or several pages long, and it's essential to read and understand it carefully.
The competition process usually involves several rounds, with shortlisted teams or individuals invited to submit more detailed designs. Some competitions may also include a jury review or public voting component to select the winner.
Design competitions often require a specific format for submissions, such as a maximum number of pages or a particular software to use.
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Design Focus
Landscape architecture design competitions often require planners to think beyond traditional green spaces, incorporating mixed-use allocation of resources to serve recreational, athletic, and cultural facilities, as well as commercial facilities.
Contemporary approaches to public space emphasize the integration of urban planning aspects, such as traffic planning and public utilities, into landscape design proposals.
La+ Creature Open Ideas

The LA+ Creature open international design ideas competition was a unique opportunity for designers to think outside the box. The competition asked entrants to choose a nonhuman client and design a space that would foster a symbiotic relationship between humans and other creatures.
The competition was open to designers from around the world and had a registration deadline of October 20, 2020. The language of the competition was English, and the location was a conceptual one, allowing designers to think creatively about how to design for nonhuman clients.
Designers were encouraged to think about how to create spaces that would allow humans and other creatures to coexist in harmony. This could involve designing spaces that would provide habitat for specific species, or creating systems that would allow humans and animals to interact in a meaningful way.
Some notable landscape architecture design competitions have focused on creating spaces that would benefit both humans and the environment. For example, the High Line in New York was a competition that resulted in a 1-mile-long park built on an elevated rail line. The park was designed by James Corner Field Operations, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Piet Oudolf, and it has become a popular destination for both locals and tourists.
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Here are some notable landscape architecture design competitions that have focused on creating spaces that would benefit both humans and the environment:
These competitions demonstrate the potential for landscape architecture to create spaces that benefit both humans and the environment. By thinking creatively about how to design for nonhuman clients, designers can create spaces that are not only beautiful but also sustainable and beneficial for all species involved.
Service Scope
Our design focus is on delivering high-quality results. We have a dedicated service that covers the entire competition process, from concept to completion.
We appoint a chartered landscape architect to advise on our competitions. This expert is chosen for their relevant experience to the competition's aims.
Our service scope includes generating competition ideas and concepts, creating and designing competition briefs, and working on submissions and judging criteria. We also set up and manage public consultations and exhibitions, evaluate submissions, and supply expert judges.
Here are the specific services we offer:
- Generating competition ideas and concepts
- Creating and designing competition briefs
- Working on submissions and judging criteria
- Setting up and managing public consultations and exhibitions
- Evaluating submissions
- Supplying expert judges
Our chartered landscape architect will chair the judging panel and attend site visits and community engagement events.
International Competitions
International competitions can be a great way to showcase your skills and creativity in landscape architecture design.
Some competitions have specific deadlines, like the Mariupol Central Shore International Ideas Competition, which had a submission deadline of July 31, 2021.
The type of competition can also vary, with some being open to the public, such as the Seoul Metropolitan Government's International Invited Design Competition for the Ecological and Leisure-cultural Waterfront Space in Seoul International District, which was open to anyone.
The language of the competition can also be a consideration, with some being held in English, like the Mariupol Central Shore International Ideas Competition and the Seoul Metropolitan Government's competition, which was also available in Korean.
Mariupol International Ideas
The Mariupol International Ideas Competition is a great example of how cities can come together to create something new and exciting. The competition was open to local and international architects, urbanists, landscape architects, and interdisciplinary teams.
The submission deadline was July 31, 2021, which gave participants a clear timeline to work with. The competition was also open to registration on the same day, making it easy for teams to get involved.
The language of the competition was English, making it accessible to a global audience. The location, Mariupol, Ukraine, was an interesting choice, as it presented a unique set of challenges and opportunities for the participants.
The competition offered prizes, although the details were not specified in the article. This suggests that the prizes may have been announced separately or through a different channel.
International Urban Architectural Forum for 3rd Generation New Towns in Korea
The International Urban Architectural Forum for 3rd Generation New Towns in Korea is a competition that aims to transform these towns into futuristic, job-friendly, transportation-friendly, eco-friendly, and child-rearing friendly cities.
The competition was held in 2020, with a submission deadline of August 24th and registration deadline of July 17th. It was open to participants from around the world and was conducted in both English and Korean.

The competition was focused on creating a city that promotes co-existence and co-habitation, with a emphasis on mixed-use allocation of resources. This means that outdoor spaces must serve multiple purposes, such as recreational, athletic, and cultural facilities, in addition to being a planted and green environment.
In this competition, planners had to integrate aspects of urban planning, such as traffic planning, public utilities, and sociological factors like demographics and cultural context, into their proposals.
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Design Process
The design process for landscape architecture design competitions is a crucial step in creating a winning entry. A clear understanding of the competition brief is essential, as it outlines the project's requirements and constraints.
Competition organizers typically provide a detailed brief that includes information about the site, the project's objectives, and the judging criteria. This information is used to develop a design concept that meets the competition's requirements.
Landscape architects often conduct site analyses to gain a deeper understanding of the project site, including its topography, climate, and existing conditions. This information is used to inform the design concept and ensure that the final design is feasible and effective.
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La+ Interruption Idea
LA+ Interruption Idea is a design competition that challenges the status quo. It was held in 2022, with a submission deadline of July 1st and registration also on the same day.
The competition was open to participants worldwide and was conducted in English. The location was conceptual, meaning participants were free to imagine and design without being restricted to a specific physical site.
The LA+ Journal's fourth international design ideas competition aimed to redirect ecological and socio-economic flows through innovative design.
Pedagogy and Practice
In the design process, pedagogy and practice are closely intertwined. Designers must learn from their mistakes and iterate on their work to achieve the best results.
Iterative design is a key aspect of the design process. By continuously testing and refining their ideas, designers can ensure that their final product meets the needs of its users.
The design process involves a series of steps, including research, ideation, and prototyping. Each step builds on the previous one, allowing designers to refine their ideas and create a final product that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Designers must also be aware of the importance of feedback in the design process. By soliciting feedback from users and stakeholders, designers can identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments to their design.
The design process is not a linear progression, but rather a cyclical one. Designers must be willing to revisit and revise their work as new information becomes available.
LI Process Management
The LI process is all about managing the landscape competition process with care. We take charge of every aspect of the submissions and judging process, ensuring it runs smoothly.
We answer questions from potential entrants to help them understand the process and requirements. This is crucial for setting clear expectations and avoiding last-minute surprises.
We receive and log expressions of interest, keeping track of who's interested and when. This helps us stay organized and ensures we don't miss any important deadlines.
Our team manages entries, double-checking that submission criteria and deadlines are met. This attention to detail helps maintain the integrity of the competition.
We organize judging events, dates, and liaise with judges and entrants to make sure everyone is on the same page. This includes preparing agendas and the judging matrix to guide the judging process.
Sometimes, site visits are required to get a firsthand look at the projects. We take care of organizing these visits, ensuring they happen on time and without any hiccups.
After the judging process is complete, we inform all entrants of the competition results and provide feedback. This helps everyone learn and grow from the experience.
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Creating a Dedicated Website
Creating a dedicated website for your competition can be a game-changer. The LI website has a competitions area where all competition briefs and relevant material are featured, but you can also have a dedicated website designed and built to showcase design briefs, submissions, and competition news.
This type of website can be a great way to centralize information and make it easily accessible to participants. The Moorside Landscape Design Competition website is a good example of this.
Having a dedicated website can also be beneficial if you need to provide printed briefs, as this can be designed and printed as an additional service.
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Specific Projects
Landscape architecture design competitions can be a great way to showcase your skills and creativity. The competition for the "Floating Gardens" project in the Netherlands required contestants to design a floating garden on a lake, with a budget of €1 million.
One notable competition is the "City of the Future" contest, which asked designers to envision a sustainable city of the future. The winning design featured a network of canals and waterways that would reduce the city's carbon footprint.
The "Floating Gardens" project aimed to create a unique recreational space for residents and visitors alike. The winning design included a variety of plant species and a sophisticated irrigation system.
Designers for the "City of the Future" contest were encouraged to think outside the box and propose innovative solutions to urban planning challenges. The winning design included a range of green spaces, including parks, gardens, and green roofs.
The "Floating Gardens" project was a collaboration between landscape architects, engineers, and local authorities. The project's budget was allocated to ensure that the design was both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
The "City of the Future" contest was open to designers from around the world, and the winning design was chosen based on its creativity, feasibility, and potential for implementation.
Competition Requirements
In a landscape architecture design competition, understanding the competition requirements is crucial for success.
Designers must present their proposals in a way that addresses the challenge within a 10 km radius of Melbourne's city centre.
To do this, they need to provide a rationale for the location and configuration of their proposed public open space, considering strategies like amalgamation, demolition, repurposing, redefining, and re-zoning.
Designers must also think about the role of the park in 2050 and present the aesthetic, civic, and ecological attributes of their scheme.
Key considerations for this include climate change, shifting demographics, density of the city, Reconciliation, biodiversity, and evolving concepts of publicness and community.
Designers should be prepared to provide a clear and compelling vision for their park, addressing these challenges and showcasing how their design will benefit the city and its inhabitants.
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