Article by Damian Holmes, Founder & Editor of World Landscape Architecture
Back in early January this year, I set out to outline the landscape architecture trends for 2025, and as we come closer to the end of the year, it would be a good time to review my predictions.
Decarbonisation
During 2025, we saw design firms using tools such as Pathfinder and Carbon Conscious, along with the resources from ASLA, such as Decarbonizing the Design Process. The publication of Meg Calkin’s book, Details and Materials for Resilient Sites: A Climate Positive Approach, will help landscape architects create designs with reduced carbon through better detailing and material specifications. ASLA also recently released Evaluating the Climate Impacts of Projects Through BIM and Related Platforms: Guidelines for Project Performance Data Takeoff, which helps landscape architects have greater confidence in data calculations.
We also saw the increased use of terms’ low-carbon’ and ‘reduced carbon’ rather than ‘decarbonisation’ in relation to design. Terminology changes due to cultural differences and political environments; this is not necessarily a problem, as the intent and concepts are often the same. I think the trend to decarbonise and reduce carbon within projects will continue into 2026 and beyond.
Hard Decisions in Planning
A trend that increased in importance in 2025 as floods and major climate events continue to impact towns, cities and landscapes, with many lives lost. Changes to planning codes and approaches take time, and this trend of governments having to make tough planning decisions about zoning around watersheds and forests will continue for decades. Local governments are often the ones who must make the most complex decisions, as they are closest to the events and are responsible for implementing changes on the ground.
Indigenous people’s involvement
The importance of indigenous knowledge and understanding of the land increased in 2025, as many countries gained greater awareness that indigenous people need to be consulted and involved at all levels. At conferences and events, I saw more discussion around acknowledging and involving indigenous people in projects and decision-making.
Need for greater biodiversity
Biodiversity has been increasingly mentioned in briefs, policies and project design presentations. The need for greater biodiversity has gained emphasis over the past year as governments seek to reverse biodiversity loss. The Australian Government legislated the Nature Repair Market – a national biodiversity market allowing landholders to generate tradable certificates for projects that restore or protect biodiversity. We are also seeing various nations (especially in Europe) developing National Restoration Plans as they are now required by EU legislation.
Reinventing green spaces and transforming grey ones
The renovation of spaces – streets, brownfield sites, etc.- is increasingly occurring due to changes in government approaches, but also due to the implementation of congestion zones and low-emissions zones, which show that many spaces (streets and car parking) can be converted into green spaces for people. London and Paris continue to show that this can be achieved through planning and sensitive design.
Artificial intelligence continues to dominate
I think I underestimated how much discussion and digital communication would be devoted to AI. However, we seemed to have stalled in generative AI and not moved so quickly to predictive AI as I had predicted. The adage “garbage in, garbage out” remains true at the end of 2025 and will continue to be a factor influencing AI adoption.
Walled Garden AI to provide internal insights
Some design firms and associated professions have started using Walled Garden AI, but it is more important to understand and utilise the knowledge bank of past project data, such as specifications and drawings, or to create project summaries for marketing. A trend that will continue to gain traction when the large tech companies find a way to package it for smaller firms cost-effectively.
Data Analysis to provide real-time and future solutions
This occurred during several disasters, including the Los Angeles wildfire, where AI and Data analysis programs were used during and after the fires to predict plume direction and intensity, and to conduct pre- and post-fire aerial surveys to determine the impact of the fire and the water used to extinguish it. Data Analysis tools will increase in power and availability as governments and organisations seek to understand possible scenarios, but also to take preventive (mitigation) actions.
Maintenance Automation
A growing area for maintenance companies that are seeking to automate lawn mowing, snow blowing in large areas or hard-to-get-to spaces such as steep inclines or batters/slopes. A trend that will continue to grow, but it will occur over time as companies turn over fleets, etc.
Change in Tracks for Education
This trend has not occurred as much as I thought, as universities continue to maintain the same programs of general design (years 1-3) and specialisation (landscape architecture, etc., years 2-4). I think that technology will play a role beyond generative AI as universities seek to be at the leading edge of their programs – similar to the boom in university fabrication shops back in the early 2000’s-2010’s.
Sticking to fundamentals
There seems to be a focus among landscape architects on sociological issues dominating the country or cities rather than on fundamentals. There is the ability to solve or improve the issue with landscape design, but the issue should not be the only focus.
Greater responsibility for Landscape Architects
Landscape architects are continually asked to take the lead on various projects and issues, as we are generalists by nature and can put ego aside to address and solve the problems a project or client brings us. I hope this is an ongoing trend that becomes the standard in the design industry.
I think overall, my predictions were mostly correct. It always feels like trends move at a slower pace than I imagine; this is often because I’m overly optimistic or because I listen too much to the media or governments. Look out for my 2026 predictions in the early new year.
Article by Damian Holmes – Founder and Editor of World Landscape Architecture
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