Page 20 - Landscape-Issue159

PERSONALITY PROFILE

How do you see the future of
the landscape architecture
profession?
I believe that the recognition and high
regard of landscape architects in South
Africa has diminished. During the 80s and
90s, landscape architects were leaders on
many design and planning projects but
this role seems to have been reduced to
a subordinate level. We need to reclaim
that position, setting the planning and
design parameters. We need to get back
to the point where we are part of the initial
planning and design team, where we can
assist in an environmentally sustainable
Unisa Kgorong Student Centre Technikon Pretoria
design direction. We have the skills, but
we need to be much more assertive in our
approach.
ILASA awards received
2022 – Institute of Landscape Architects
of South Africa (ILASA) Certificate
of Recognition for Excellence: Sani
Pass Phase 2: Upgrade of Route
P319
2015 – ILASA National Award of
Excellence: Category Design:
Taung Skull World Heritage Site –
Picnic Site
2007 – ILASA National Award of Excellence:
Driekoppies Dam Taung Child Skull Picnic Site Category Environmental Planning:
Taung Skull World Heritage Site
2001 – ILASA National Award of Excellence:
Natural Resource Area in the Barberton • ISCOR Head Offices 2007 Category Environmental Planning:
Mountain Area. This was a collaboration • SARS Head Office 2008 Driekoppies Dam
of planners, scientists and landscape • Venitia Pipeline 1993 1997 – SAACE Construction World:
architects for a 45 000 ha nature reserve for • Khubu Island Master Plan, Botswana 1998 Olifants-Sand Water Transfer
which we were awarded an ASLA Honour • Pom Pom Camp Okavango 2007 Scheme
Award – a first for South Africa. • Letsibogo Dam, Botswana 1991 1996 – Premier and National Awards
Alan and I prepared the EIA and • East London Industrial Development from the Concrete Manufacturer’s
undertook the environmental supervision Zone 2004-2012 Association: Hatfield Plaza
of the Venitia Pipeline from the • UNISA Kgorong Student Centre 2010 1995 – EPPIC National Premium Award:
Limpopo River through what is now the • Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Venetia Balance.
Mapungubwe National Park, to the Venitia Girls 1992 – ILASA Commendation: Tourism
Diamond Mine. This project was awarded • Sani Pass Upgrade 2017-2022 RSA
the National EPPIC award which later • Makapangat Valley Cultural Landscape 1991 – ILASA National Award of Merit:
became the IAIA SA Premium Award. Master Plan Development 2005 Category Environmental Planning:
Some of the most rewarding projects • Taung Child Skull World Heritage Site Limpopo (Greefswald) Government
were those for the Hominid World Heritage Development Plan 2009 Water Scheme for DWAF.
Sites such as Makapansgat, the Cradle of • Cradle Of Humankind World Heritage First place in design competition
Humankind and the Taung Child Fossil site Site Tourism Master Plan 2001 for the Chris Barnard Health Centre
where we got to work with personalities • Taung Child World Heritage Site Picnic (with H Taljaard Carter & Partners)
such as Bruce Rubige, Prof. Phillip Tobias, Site 2014 1987 – American Society of Landscape
Ron Clark, Lee Berger and others. Architects. Honour Award:
The upgrade of the Sani Pass is one What are your hobbies and Category Planning and Research:
that made a great impression on me. It interests outside of work? Songimvelo Natural Resource
was a collaborative project that brought My hobbies and interests are varied and Areas (with CMAI).
together all the skills and training that I, as eclectic. I’m passionate about flyfishing
a landscape architect, had acquired over and belong to several flyfishing clubs. My If you could start over again,
the years. The outcome of our role in the work takes me to all parts of the country would you still choose the same
project probably goes unnoticed, as not which allows me to exercise my other profession?
much is visible to the untrained eye. The passion – birding. It has been a privilege to have been able
rehabilitation of the road verges and river Photography is another hobby. For the to practice as a landscape architect. My
crossings have blended in so that they look past few years, as I’ve travelled around the work has been wide and varied, taking
natural and part of the existing landscape. country, I have photographed significant me to every corner of the country and to
bridges and followed this up with research places that are not often seen by many.
Please list a few of your key on each one. My other interests include If I had to start over I certainly would do it
projects reading, travel, especially time in the bush, all again. However, if I was able to bank my
• South African Reserve Bank HQ 1987 and archaeology. I’m curious about all things experiences, I might change direction to
• Songimvelo Natural Resource Area 1986 from a naturalist point of view – trees, plants, archaeology or palaeontology. Or maybe
• Pretoria Technikon 2008 grasses, fishes, soils, geology etc. become a lumberjack in British Columbia! n

18 Landscape SA • Issue 159 2025 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za