Thirteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Landscape designers play an important role in urban green space quality in South Africa. The operationalization of their values could have a positive effect on social and ecological health and should form part of professional self-regulation. The study employs the dual methods of constructivist content analysis of design projects featured in prominent profession-focused magazines and interpretivist analysis of semi-structured interviews with experts in the industry. It identifies social practices that show potential for the operationalization of values in the profession. These are education, legislation, rating systems, and award systems. From these, award systems are selected because they provide both intrinsic and extrinsic incentives. The analysis of existing award systems reveals shortcomings in the awards criteria. The criteria for the Institute of Landscape Architecture in South Africa’s Merit Awards are subsequently reviewed to reflect more functional values, the four categories of Ecosystem Services and ethical Nature and Landscape Values found in the literature. Operationalization is explored through social rituals, alignment with existing values, and examples of best practice. The case study illustrates the ethical complexities in weighing up and distinguishing between value types and their relationships in the context of professional practice, and captures the local value nuances on urban nature.