Evening star., 1940-01-30
Housing Topic
Of Landscape
Architects
Profession in Key Role
As Lund-Use PIonner,
McNutt Tells Session

Low-rent housing particularly the
programs sponsored by Federal Gov
ernment agencies, occupied the at
tentions of the American Society of
Landscape Architects today as it
continued its 41st annual meeting
at the Mayflower Hotel.
Round table discussion of the
United States Housing Authority
project and the Federal Housing
Authority program were included in
this mornings schedule.
Opportunities which large-scale
Government conservation and land
planning programs have created
for landscape architects IN the
United States were pointed out by
Paul v McNutt, Federal security
administrator, and Carl G. Taylor,
head of the division of farm popu-
lation and rural welfare Of the
Bureau of Agricultural Economics,
Department of Agriculture, in ad-
dresses at the society's annual din
ner last night.
Mr.. McNutt outlined the increas-
ingly important part that landscape
architects have played In public
service.
In Strategic Position.
''By the nature of his profession,
and capitalizing upon the oppor-
tunities offered him." said Mr.. Nc
Mutt, "the landscape architect has
literally trust himself into the po-
sition Of land-use planner in public
works. That is an exceedingly i'm
portant position, because the land
use planner is the one who holds the
strings controlling an entire project
from beginning to end"
But here Mr.. McNutt raised the
question of what the architect
should do to consolidate his gains,
and he supplied a suggested answer.
your job noW," he explained, "iS
to convince the nd-administering
agencies on all levels of govern
ment of the necessity of your serv-
ices in the planning and develop
ment of land-use projects of all
types. With a few notable excep-
tions, your work thus far in this
new public works program has been
largely with the Federal Govern
ment. But as the result of the
stimulous to land planning and
utilization resulting from the Fed
eral program there lies before you
vast field of opportunity in the
States, counties and cities of the
country. What has been done on a
national scale to meet national
needs can and should be done on
regional and local scales to meet
specific sectional and community
needs"
Specialization Suggested.
To facilitate this development Of
localized program Mr.. McNutt urged
that the landscape architects spe-
cialize in such lines as park design
ing, public buildings layout, subdivi-
sion work and playground designing.
Mr.. Taylor urged the landscape
architects to join him in Sub
versive movement to stimulate coun-
try planning" Development of
country areas thus far, he said, has
been largely matter of extending
urban areas or planning interurban
projects.
Vast opportunities are afforded by
the nearly 500,0000 900 acres of pub
lie lands and the 100000 to 7,000,-
600 farms in the Nation as yet un-
developed as far as scientific land
use Is concerned.
To promote country planning, ac-
cording to Mr.. Taylor, the landscape
architects should:
l. Encourage appreciation of rec
reation in non-urban sections. This
will be difficult, because farmers are
prone to associate play with lazi-
ness and habitually rank men on
the basis OF the amount of the hard,
physical toll they perform.
2. Strive to develop love of nat
ural beauty so that residents will
visit and take pride in areas con-
serving the beauties of their par
ticular section and be inclined to
cooperate in land-use planning of
entire regions, possibly including
their individual properties.
8. Educate natives and visitors re-
garding historic spots, geology, agri-
culture and general background of
the various regions. This might be
done in special roadside exhibits and
developments, he said.
At yesterdays session the land
scape architects heard Theodore
irving Coe of the American Insti-
tute of Architects prescribe two
fold program for betterment of
their profession and the country in
general. His topic was "An archi-
tect Looks at Landscape Architec-
ture."
Landscape architects must Aght
to increase their numbers and the
power Of their society if they want
their profession to receive the prom
inence it deserves, he said. Fur
ther, they must educate the public
to gain that confidence and legis-
lative protection on which any pro-
fession thrives.
Round Table Discussion.
In a round table discussion lack
OF public knowledge of the impor-
tance of landscape architecture was
stressed. The fact landscape archi-
tects are called in on projects "just
to plant few trees" after the prof.
ect Is completed and incapable Of
proper landscaping" was decried.
Particular attention was paid to
housing and highway projects in
this respect.
In recognition of services rendered
directly or indirectly to the land
scape architecture profession the
president OF the society, A. D. Tay-
lor, last night announced election
OF two non-member women to hon.
orary membership and the elevation
OF four members of the society to
the status of fellows.