Merry Christmas from Land Studio

From everyone at Land Studio, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

It has been another very busy year for Land Studio and the studio has worked on an incredible array of interesting projects around the UK and overseas.

Here are the top memories of 2022 from everyone in the team.

A leap forward for Land Studio - Nature Led Design and Drainage solutions across all our work

The start of the civil engineering side of the business, and Lisa joining the team as our Director of Civil Engineering, has been the stand-out part of the year for me.

Through the introduction of our new set of services we are starting to realise the true potential of a nature led design approach that offers our clients and projects a comprehensive design and delivery service.

Picking a favourite project has been very difficult and I think boils down to a short list rather than one in particular.

Our work on some technically challenging education projects has been brought to life with some great nature led designs and drainage solutions that will really enhance the lives of their staff and pupils.

We have also worked on a wide range of dramatic and challenging leisure sites from caravan parks on the beach to mountainside glamping locations and, finally our work at Fell Foot Park in Cumbria for the National Trust has recently been submitted for planning which has been a great achievement.

Simon Richards, Director of Land Studio

Launching our own Civil Engineering offer

I’ve been really pleased with the response we’ve had to the launch of our own in-house Civil Engineering offer.

Launched in April, our clients are already seeing the benefits of bringing landscape architecture design and civil engineering under one roof.

Not only does it allow a more coordinated design approach, it has lots of benefits for ease of procurement.

Clients such as Cheshire landowner the Barnston Estate are embracing our “design through nature” approach while house builders, including Anwyl Homes, are seeing the benefits of getting us into the design team early.

Doing this allows us to guide the design of their developments so that they provide both blue and green infrastructure whilst retaining the aesthetic qualities that are so important to our communities. At the same time we can also address the increasing demands of climate change and surface water management within our developments.

Lisa Sawyer, Director of Civil Engineering

Our growing team

My highlight of the year has got to be all the new starters that have joined the Land Studio team!

Everyone who has joined us has brought their own individual style and personality to the studio, and I look forward to getting to know them more and working on new, exciting projects in the new year.

Kate Richards, Associate Landscape Architect

Becoming a full time landscape architect

“My highlight of 2022 was taking the opportunity to work at Land Studio full time. After working part time for two years, it has been great to make the jump to work in landscape architecture full time.

It was a difficult decision to step away from architecture, but I hope that I can continue to collaborate with those contacts I’ve worked with over the past six years albeit from a different capacity at Land Studio.”

Matthew Reece, Landscape Architect

Qualifying as a Building with Nature Assessor

I’ve been studying this year to become a Building with Nature Assessor and a proud moment for me was gaining my qualification.

BwN is the UK’s first green infrastructure benchmark and it is designed to make sure the places we deliver for individuals to live, work and spend time in are sustainable, interactive and function for both people and wildlife.

We’re seeing a growing number of residential and commercial developers and clients interested in following its principles to maximise benefits for both people and nature now and for the future.

Another highlight for me was working on the landscape design for a new purpose-built Advanced Learning Needs school for Powys. We created lots of spaces in the landscape for the pupils to play, learn and reflect as well as space for Forest School activities, games and learning.

Ysgol Cedewain is currently being constructed by Wynne Construction and I can’t wait to see it finished and handed over to the wonderful staff and children of Newtown. It is a wonderful scheme to be involved with.

Rachael Fenton, Associate Landscape Architect

Holistic design work for a new Welsh school

“One of my favourite projects from 2022 has been the design work for a new combined primary school in Wales. There have been multiple design challenges on the project which I’m proud to have helped provide solutions for through holistic design with the wider team.

My professional highlight this year was presenting a residential landscape design to an independent design review panel where I learned a lot from the panel’s varied expertise.”

Hamzah Akhoon, Assistant Landscape Architect

Designing gardens for exclusive Gibraltar apartments

My favourite project has been working on a residential apartment complex in Gibraltar which we designed the gardens for.

The luxury multi-million pound development sits right at the foot of the iconic Rock with stunning views over the water.

Not only was it the biggest project I have designed so far, it was my first international project and my first 3D modelling/rooftop and podium design.

Designs for the wonderful rooftop gardens included tree planting to frame the views, raised decking with built-in seating and drifts of grasses and flowers taking inspiration from the wild landscape.

It was very challenging but an absolute professional highlight of the year for me.

Sian Rossiter, Assistant Landscape Architect

Starting my career at Land Studio

“In the summer, I finished my college course and started my professional career at Land Studio. It is great to be part of the team and I feel like I have the best people around me.”

Albie Williams, Trainee Technician

Masterplan Bid

“I loved working on the landscape design concept for a Masterplan Bid for a potential new client. We have carefully considered how the concept relates to the historic context of the site and how it promotes inclusivity.

It is great to see how landscape architecture ideas can stand at the forefront of a project and make a difference.”

Matt Northall, Landscape Architect