Architectus is expanding its design offer and design thinking, introducing several leading Landscape Architects to the practice’s growing Urban Futures team.
The change allows the practice to make an even greater impact through layered, integrated design solutions for cities and communities.
The expanded offering will be led by Esther Dickins, a highly respected Landscape Architect and Urban Designer with more than 25 years in the industry.
Dickins comes to Architectus from design practice Scott Carver, where she was a Director with a career portfolio of major multidisciplinary projects throughout Australia, Asia, and the Middle East.
A group of experienced Landscape Architects will join Dickins – an established team with a passion for the value of Landscape Architecture in the built environment and a track record of delivering high-quality design solutions.
Based in the Architectus Sydney studio, the team will collaborate on projects nationally, bolstering existing landscape expertise across the practice.
The new arrivals also include senior Landscape Architects Ashleigh Casserly and Ryan Aldrich, who have both been appointed Associates at Architectus.
“Landscape is often referred to as ‘green infrastructure’ these days, and that’s on purpose,” says Dean Thornton, Sector Leader Urban Futures at Architectus. “It’s not an option – it's a need.”
“In cities there’s a growing emphasis on connecting natural systems for sustainability and the value of landscape amenity,” adds Dickins.
“We have to design carefully and thoughtfully, considering ecology, resilience, equity, accessibility, and critically, culture” says Dickins, who is focused on building relationships with First Nations communities to enhance the process of connecting to Country.
“We want the spaces between buildings to sing, just like the buildings themselves.”
“Across the board landscape is becoming much more integrated, from the level of natural systems to urban environments to individual buildings,” says Dickins.
“There’s a big push to provide greater amenity and more sustainable solutions.”
“We’re seeing landscape solutions incorporated not only on the ground but on rooftops, podiums facades and interiors, even whole developments pushed ‘underground’ to create new public space above.”
She also points to the rise in retrofits and upgraded public spaces in mixed-used precincts, with owners and developers renewing existing developments to make them livelier and healthier.
“Even small interventions can make a big difference, refining the balance between landscape, architecture, and interiors,” Dickins adds.
Image: Supplied
