THE aesthetic value of a building is enhanced even more with carefully designed backdrop and surrounding open spaces.

Being just a relatively young practice in the country (Republic Act 9053, an act regulating the practice of landscape architecture in the Philippines, was signed into a law by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2007), landscape architecture is still continuing to carve its niche for recognition. And there are just a small number of registered and licensed professionals to take on such a gargantuan task.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

One of that is architect and landscape architect Socorro Borromeo Atega. She is an active practitioner, academic and environmental advocate, and her name has almost always been synonymous with landscape architecture here in Cebu.

Archt. Atega has been doing various design and consultative projects for various resorts, subdivisions, parks and eco-tourism developments here. Coupled with outstanding contributions in architecture, she was conferred the title Fellow by the United Architects of the Philippines in 2003.

This year, she was awarded as “Most Outstanding Professional in Landscape Architecture” in the country by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) last June 19 in Manila.

With the award comes the “challenge to increase awareness and develop a better understanding on the scope of the profession,” says the product of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

Awareness, Atega explains, is made possible through the “quality” of various landscape architecture projects in urban design, housing development, tourism, heritage and environmental conservation, and recreation.

Mentorship of young would-be landscape architects is also an important tool.

“Landscape architects create an environment in harmony with nature and open spaces, both beautiful and functional, in which people live, work and play,” adds the current coordinator of the landscape architecture program at the University of San Carlos.

In designing spaces, landscape architects put prime consideration on biophysical considerations, like slope, altitudinal range, soil, geology, drainage patterns and vegetation of the site. Add to that its context, climatic conditions, visual quality, programming of outdoor spaces and analysis of users and their behavior, relationships between site and structure and land uses.

All these are needed in attaining optimal utilization of land resources, sense of place through meaningful experiences with one’s surroundings, and environmental sustainability.

The design world is not just all about pouring out the professional’s creative juices in making beautiful spaces, but also establishing a harmonious collaboration with other allied professionals like architects and engineers. Atega considers that as the most important lesson in the practice. This is what every concerned professional, not only her colleagues, must always bear in mind.