These days, design briefs for public spaces, shopping streets, pedestrian routes and parks no longer talk about landscape but 'public realm'. There's a practical and psychological difference behind the semantic shift: landscaping implies decorating space that's left over, whereas public realm introduces ideas of sovereignty and ownership and is about creating a spatial experience. That means more opportunities for architects. Landscape practices are still on the shortlists, as are multidisciplinary practices offering everything from transport planning to lighting consultancy. But the emphasis on the 'public room' rather than residual space, and the willingness to allow landscape design to change the shape of buildings, is shifting these commissions towards architects' skill set.
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