INTRODUCTION

This blog is a photographic record of the travels and projects which make up my career as a landscape architect thus far.

2007/2008
At university I explored how traditional indigenous knowledge can inform contemporary built environments. This led profound experiences with indigenous culture throughout Australia, such as walking the Lurujarri Dreaming Trail with the Goolarabooloo people in Broome and visiting the Garma Festival of the Yolngu people of north east Arnhem Land. As a way to "ground" these experiences and apply the theories I learnt in university I took on residential landscape projects in the rural region of Gippsland, where I grew up. My final university design project, 'Sustainable Dreaming', was the culmination of the year and amongst other things used the indigenous concept of a Songline as the basis for a new approach to walking and cycling trails.


2009
The summer after graduating a friend and I traveled to Central Australia for 10 days, visiting Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and Kings Canyon, as well as four-wheel-driving through the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY)lands. We reached Coober Pedy, where my uncle lives. Here we worked on a design concept for Miners accommodation, which unfortnunately was never realised.

Upon returning to Victoria I began tutoring at Melbourne University, the fourth year subject 'Contemporary Theory of the Australian Landscape' in Semester 1, and the first year subject 'Urban Environments' in Semester 2. I also worked with a small landscape architecture firm (SinatraMurphy) who specialise in high-end residential gardens, public artworks as well as consultation with multi-cultural and indigenous communities. On weekends I continued construction work on a 3 acre garden which I had begun in 2008.

2010
At the end I 2009 I set off on a 9 week world trip, using a travelling scholarship which I had won for my final university design project. I experienced a Japanese New Year with my host family in the Yamagata prefecture, then spent a week visiting the gardens of Kyoto before one more week exploring Tokyo City. Next I was off to Spain to discover the wonder of Picasso, Miro and Gaudi. In my fifth week I arrived in Mexico where I spent three weeks travelling through old Spanish mining towns, the Mayan Riviera and Mexico City guided by local friends. The final two weeks of the adventure were dedicated to discovering the people and places behind Maya Lin's Confluence Project, a visionary art project set along the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington States in the USA.

After this awe-inspiring trip I decided to focus on my own landscape architecture projects. Work ranged from designing and constructing suburban backyards to developing plans for a 20 acre lifestyle property with a wildlife corridor and English-styled parklands. In October I returned to Europe, this time spending three weeks discovering Italy and visiting my aunt in the Friuli.

2011
Lured by Europe's historical depth and cultural diversity I decided to move to The Netherlands in search for work in a landscape architecture firm. I first flew into Venice and spent one week with my aunt in the Friuli, then onto Vienna for a week, Prague for a weekend and a week in Berlin before finally arriving in The Netherlands. Having secured an internship I am now developing plans for a documentary series called 'The Refiners'. Through their projects, products and activities Refiners represent the frontier of humanity’s changing relationship with the environment. The documentary (as well as accompanying book) will profile 12 Refiners from around the world, each party representing essential aspects of human life: Food, Wellbeing, Products, Built Environment, Environmental Awareness and Dance.

2007/2008

2009

2010

2011

I’m looking to take this knowledge to another level, combining the roots of the ancient world with the sophistication and elegance of the modern world. Ie: the Earthy and Refined.