Which aspect of design does landscape architecture primarily focus on?

Landscape architecture mainly focuses on outdoor spaces and their ecological impacts, emphasizing the relationship between built environments and natural ecosystems. This discipline encompasses the design, planning, management, and stewardship of these outdoor areas, creating aesthetically pleasing and functional environments while considering factors such as biodiversity, environmental sustainability, and cultural landscape.

Understanding the ecological impacts is crucial because landscape architects aim to enhance the functionality of outdoor spaces while minimizing negative effects on the environment. This includes selecting appropriate plant species, managing water resources, and integrating natural systems into urban landscapes, which can help in stormwater management and habitat development.

In contrast, while urban zoning regulations, indoor living spaces, and structural engineering are important aspects of overall architecture and urban planning, they fall outside the primary focus of landscape architecture. Urban zoning pertains to regulatory frameworks that govern land use, which does not directly address outdoor design. Similarly, indoor living spaces are the realm of interior architecture, and structural engineering deals with the technical aspect of buildings rather than landscape elements.