Having grown up in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales where a passion for the environment and outdoors started, Hayden has gone onto work in landscape design, urban design and master planning for infrastructure, residential, tourism, commercial and open space projects. His project experience extends both locally and globally, including widely across Australia and New Zealand, the UAE, Oman, Algeria, Caribbean, Hong Kong and China. Through that experience, Hayden has worked for the Sydney, Abu Dhabi, Canberra, and now the Gold Coast office, having recently moved back to the Northern Rivers.

The one thing that remains a focus through every project, is a drive to design for people, and delivering positive community outcomes through ‘people-centric design’.

Where did this drive for designing for people come from?

My passion for people-centric design didn’t start at a single point in time, it evolved over the years. My first project at ArchTam was the One-horned Rhinoceros and Otter Exhibit at the Dubbo Western Plains Zoo. This involved curating both the visitor experience and the animals’ enclosures, addressing the unique challenges of keeping rhinoceroses safe in captivity. I vividly remember spending countless hours researching African villages and landscapes. Our goal was to interpret that quintessential character into an immersive experience for zoo visitors. This exhibit marked a shift for the zoo, allowing visitors to experience larger animals up close.

Over the years, working in various locations and among different cultures, my drive to deliver engaging and community-valued projects grew stronger.

Every project is an opportunity to find solutions that lead to positive outcomes. For me, a project isn’t complete until I see people interacting with it. There’s a unique satisfaction, an internal smile for a designer, when people start using and engaging with what you’ve envisioned and delivered.

How does your passion for people-centric design influence your projects?

Over the years, ArchTam has evolved its focus from a collection of singular design disciplines to large interdisciplinary projects where we collaborate to solve complex challenges. I find these kinds of projects that involve a diverse group of design disciplines, backgrounds, ages, identities and ethnicities most enjoyable. I’m fortunate to work at a company that prides itself on inclusivity.  

As a landscape architect, I advocate for outcomes that prioritise both People and Place — ensuring our designs are not only functional and beautiful, but also meaningful and impactful for the communities we serve.

Is there an ArchTam project that sticks in your mind?

There are many, but one in particular that I take personal pride in. Initially, it wasn’t a project.

I was working on a new bus station that connected to a new light rail terminus. With the new terminus, buses were no longer operating on the main street. I saw an opportunity to transform the main street into a space where pedestrians were prioritised, enhancing street activity and benefiting adjacent shopfronts. I was confident that by focusing on people, the north side of the street could transition from service outlets to on-street dining and eateries. Three design options reached the transport minister’s desk, and the project was created. I led all design disciplines to create a new people-centric street.

Today, that street safely connects school students to public transport, features outdoor dining, public seating, street furniture, mature trees and rain gardens, all while retaining car parking and car movements.

How does the role of the landscape architect fit with people-centric design?

The ‘traditional’ role of the landscape architect, varied in its definition, is someone who designs and plans outdoor spaces, blending functionality with aesthetics to create beautiful and sustainable environments.

I have learnt over the years, that landscape architects have such diverse roles in the natural and built environment. The typical design process of a landscape architect goes beyond considering environmental factors of sun, shade, wind and slope. We consider the existing desire lines of the local communities, connections, nearby facilities and demographics to understand our target users. We’re also relatively unbounded by rules. We have a few standards that deal with access, trips, fall heights, ramps and stairs, but we aren’t overly prescribed on the shape and size of what we create. We immerse ourselves in understanding the user, how our design will function, how people will engage in it, how it will benefit health and well-being and its economic, cultural and social value.

This process is what makes us acutely people-centric designers.

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What inspired you to join the industry and what has kept you passionate over the past 15 years?

I originally intended to study interior design. However, after starting a degree in Landscape Architecture, I felt more inspired by the idea of creating outdoor spaces that connect people to the natural environment. I have always loved being immersed in nature and it was thrilling to discover a career that allowed me to shape the built environment while integrating the natural one.

What has been your favorite project that you’ve worked on and why?

Between 2016 and 2022, we delivered Bokarina Beach, a 400-lot coastal village community in Queensland, for Stockland Residential, an Australian property development firm. The project was incredibly engaging, offering a diverse array of landscape design opportunities from multimillion-dollar parklands and a bespoke playscape to dune-crossing beach access, natural wetland reconstruction, boardwalks, and the extension of an existing lake.

What excites me most about this project is that we realised all the key design drivers developed with the client during the initial concept planning. Our vision was to create a community that could become the Sunshine Coasts ‘best kept secret’, a connected coastal village, inspired by and embedded in nature with water at the heart and an energetic and vibrant coastal village vibe. Throughout the design, budget planning, approval, and construction phases, we navigated various challenges to realising our vision. One notable example occurred when planning for the development’s stormwater. We worked with the client and engineers to realise the value of literally creating ‘water at the heart’ by transforming a stormwater detention basin into an opportunity to extend an existing manmade lake into the heart of the openspace precinct. The result is a scenic central lake for end of line stormwater management and a jewel in the openspace network with direct water access for the community.  The result is a vibrant village hub with a relaxed coastal aesthetic, seamlessly embedded in nature with water at its heart

How do you approach a new project from a design perspective, especially when working with a diverse set of clients and project types?

My approach varies depending on the scale, location and specific needs of the client. Typically, I take cues from the natural environment — whether it’s existing or pre-clearing vegetation communities, proximity to natural or cultural features like water bodies, or endemic fauna. I am passionate about referencing the natural character of a place — its context or history — through structural forms, geometry, colour and material palettes, and plant species. Understanding how a place connects to its context is central to my design process.  At Bokarina, a beachside location, we concentrated on coastal cues utilising endemic and local dunal plant species, curvilinear forms reminiscent of patterns left in the sand by the tide, and a hardscape palette dominated by soft neutral tones of shells and driftwood, and the natural warmth of timber. These elements drew the beach aesthetic into the development situating it seamlessly in its context.

What trends or advancements in landscape architecture design are you most excited about? How do you see these influencing future projects?

I’m fascinated by initiatives in countries like Denmark, such as ‘Wild on Purpose,’ which focus on fostering biodiversity and promoting pollination and habitat creation within urban environments. In Australia, we’re beginning to see similar strategies emerging, such as ‘Biodiversity in Place,’ though activation is slower here. For future projects, I would love to see a shift away from manicured monocultures, hybrids, and turf toward diverse, endemic plant palettes, especially in non-traditional applications like street verges. These areas make up more than a third of all greenspaces in our cities.

Increasing the net area of diverse, natural landscapes is essential to improving the resilience of our built environments. Of course, implementation comes with its own set of challenges — from local authority preferences to the commercial availability of plant species. However, as demand for sustainable solutions increases, best practices will drive industry change. There are many principles that can be applied at any scale to advance this goal. It’s not so much about recreating nature, it’s being inspired by it, implementing highly diverse understory planting with endemic species, adopting management practices to benefit wildlife such as reducing pesticides and mowing,  and realising the value of small spaces such as verge gardens, green roofs, and vertical gardens in creating a network across urban environments that connects to wider ecological systems.

What advice would you give to the next generation of landscape architects looking to build a strong reputation and create lasting impacts through their work?

Follow ideas and principles that inspire you, surround yourself with creative people you can learn from and share your ideas with. Layer what you learn into your work and always remain open to creative debate.

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Khaled Al Rawashdeh is a horticulturist with 23 years’ experience in landscape project management. Over the past two decades, he has worked on several large-scale landscape projects across three different climate zones in Amman, Jordan and the Red Sea area. Currently, he is the nursery and soft landscaping project manager working on the Diriyah Gate Phase II (DG II) in Riyadh. 

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

My decision to pursue a career in landscaping stemmed from its need for a unique blend of creativity and practicality. It provides me with a platform to express my innovative ideas while working in harmony with nature. Witnessing an ordinary space transform into a breathtaking spectacle brings me unparalleled joy, and I get a sense of accomplishment knowing that my efforts have brought about significant change. This profession provides me with a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that is hard to find elsewhere. The opportunity to work for ArchTam has enabled me to fulfill my needs for growth and to be part of one of the most iconic projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

The project I hold in the highest regard from my tenure at ArchTam is DG II, a project I had the privilege to directly contribute to that represents a pivotal moment in environmental and historic conservation. I take immense pride in being a part of it. 

DG II is more than a project; it’s a symbol of historical, cultural and tourism evolution, central to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The objective is to transform the historic Ad-Diriyah area — a national treasure — into an iconic cultural cornerstone for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The pedestrian-centric, multi-purpose development is set to become an authentic destination in Riyadh that features top tourist attractions. Critically, DG II embodies the principles of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable and responsible development. 

For example, we are helping our client, the Diriyah Gate Development Authority with a green project to convert palm tree waste into fertilizer and animal feed, which will eliminate the practice of burning agricultural waste and thereby reduce carbon emissions This project is part of the broader Saudi Green Initiative to combat climate change, enhance quality of life for residents and visitors, and safeguard the environment for future generations.   

The transformation of Diriyah and the Saudi Green Initiative are integral to Saudi Arabia’s broader commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, exemplifying the country’s efforts to balance development with preservation. At ArchTam, we are proud to contribute to this transformative journey. 

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

Currently, we are relocating 18,000 trees from DG II project in Riyadh. These trees will later be replanted within project areas. Some of these trees have certain historical importance in preserving the local Najdi community’s identity and heritage. Saving those trees instead of cutting them off will result in improving air quality and enhance carbon sequestration — let’s not forget that one tonne of CO2 can be offset by 31 to 46 trees. 

Our sustainable landscaping practices offer a holistic approach to community development, fostering environmental stewardship, social cohesion and economic prosperity. We prioritize water conservation, pollution reduction, urban heat island mitigation and promote health and well-being. 

Share a piece of career advice.

Continually strive for knowledge and keep networking. Build, nurture and maintain relationships with your colleagues. Develop resilience, adaptability and always be open to feedback. Embrace opportunities and understand that criticism and failure are stepping stones to success. Be proactive in seeking new opportunities and don’t shy away from challenges. Prioritize work-life balance and, most importantly, leave your comfort zone. 

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Djemila Hadj-Hamou has more than 30 years of experience and is the newly appointed lead of our Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning and Urban Design team in Quebec. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in architecture and has a master’s degree in urban planning with a major in urban design from Université de Montréal (University of Montreal). She leads a variety of projects of different scales and also teaches a course in urban regeneration at the University of Montreal.

Tell us what inspired you to join the industry.

I’ve always been fascinated by the way architecture shapes a city, so I decided to study in this field and specialize in urban architecture. The balance between built environments and open spaces in a city isn’t a mere coincidence, but rather the result of a meticulous design process and thoughtful planning. Urban design links urban planning, architecture and landscape. Complex projects often require additional expertise, and I find building a multidisciplinary team to deliver a large project both challenging and very rewarding.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

I’ve really enjoyed working on many projects throughout my career at ArchTam, especially those that require an innovative approach and push us to think outside the box. I particularly enjoyed a recent collaboration with our rail team on a high frequency rail (HFR) project since I love projects that bring together multidisciplinary teams. My role in the project was to evaluate the options for closing level crossings and ensure the urban and landscape integration of the proposed concepts.

Another favourite project is a traffic mitigation study for the City of Montreal. What made this project particularly interesting was that it combined three concepts: street density, greening and car traffic reduction. Our typo-morphological approach allowed us to identify potential solutions and layouts for the urban context. One of the proposed solutions included a typology of thresholds and adapted streets including school streets, play streets, square-park streets and garden streets. Inspired by Barcelona’s recently-developed superblocks, we were able to rethink the design and transform these areas into more liveable and healthy neighbourhoods for residents. This successful outcome was achieved through collaboration with our local transportation and mobility experts.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

As an urban planner and designer, I work to positively impact communities with outdoor spaces that combine sustainability and cultural relevance, and that artfully blend in with enhanced neighborhoods and improve the quality of life for residents. The innovative approach for the restoration of the pedestrian section of Prince-Arthur Street in Montreal’s Plateau Mont-Royal neighborhood is an example of a project that positively impacted the community, and was completed on time to mark the city’s 375^th anniversary in 2017. 

Prior to our work, the street had been a route where bicycle traffic could often pose risks to pedestrian safety. We transformed it into a green, pedestrian-friendly and safe promenade for families and children to stroll past restaurants and cafes. The middle of the promenade is enhanced with terraces, furniture and flowers, a similar concept to the popular La Rambla in Barcelona.

Our innovative, sustainable and environmentally friendly approach has guided the redesign of the street, giving pedestrians a feeling of safety to freely enjoy their strolls, while discouraging cyclists from using the pedestrian area. The street links the very lively Saint-Laurent Boulevard and the quiet Saint-Louis Square at the border between Plateau Mont-Royal and Montreal’s City Center. Distinctive furniture, multi-purpose flower box benches and its open space nature, make this area a local favourite venue for temporary outdoor events and seasonal activities.

Share a piece of career advice.

Get involved and be dedicated despite the obstacles that may arise along the way — it’s well worth it, as our industry has many exciting career possibilities. We are witnessing a number of paradigm shifts in many areas, so seize every opportunity that comes your way to collaborate with colleagues and cliennts, and develop innovative solutions and industry best practices that will improve communities and drive equity for years to come.

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Progressing her career at ArchTam from landscape designer to vice president, Shirley has collaborated with premier real estate developers, governments, and numerous multinational hotel operators to drive and deliver projects.

She believes that beautiful landscapes create tremendous social value for the communities and people they serve. “It’s like art meets problem solving, and this is what motivates me to design,” she explains.

Shirley is a trailblazer of creative employee engagement initiatives in all the offices she has led and is keen to foster an ED&I culture, specially making women in highly technical fields more visible in the work they do. Nurturing team morale is a signature of her leadership, which has been recognized in the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, Titan Business Awards, and Titan Women in Business Awards. With nearly twenty years of experience across three ArchTam offices in the region, Shirley is a portrait of agility and perseverance, demonstrating that a commitment to excellence in all things and empowering others can yield powerful results.

Tell us about what inspired you to join ArchTam?

I joined ArchTam legacy company EDAW right after graduation. I was inspired by the holistic design approach that the company advocated and implemented across their portfolio of projects — whether it was commercial development or public open space. I learned from some of the pioneer designers here in the Asia region who always told us to “listen to the site.” We dig deep into multiple aspects of the site to uncover the DNA for each project.

So, whenever I work on a project, my overall goals are to protect the environment, celebrate the heritage and promote the culture. I also appreciated the chemistry of a multi-cultural and diverse work environment, and having colleagues that expanded my worldview. Until today, this ED&I culture remains significant to me.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

There are many, but one that stands out is the Banyan Tree Yangshuo project in Guilin, China. This award-winning resort is by the Li River in a well-preserved ancient town with a scenic backdrop of karst hills. The hills, tranquility of the old villages, and local fan-making artisans were what drew visitors to this place, so we wanted our design to really highlight these aspects. Both our client and our team were keen on embedding sustainability in hospitality.

There was so much collaboration with other firms who took care of aspects such as architecture design, interior design and lighting. We took care of landscape design. Inspired by the rice terraces commonly found where the project is located, we made use of the terracing approach instead of tall retaining walls to resolve the level differences caused by the slopes of the mountain within the site.

This design approach not only created a distinct design feature that is in line with the region’s agricultural heritage, but it also brought environment benefits such as soil conservation by decreasing erosion and rapid surface run-off, and flood control by letting rainwater seep underground before it slowly flows out into large bodies of water. The design preserved much of the existing centuries-old phoenix bamboo along the river through well-coordinated orientation of the villas and platform levels.

Everything had to be in harmony without overpowering the local context, which helped it gain the EarthCheck certification for sustainable tourism.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

Landscapes are meant to create quality living environments for people and positively impact the world. Today, our collective mission is to promote lifestyles that achieve better environmental, social and governance (ESG) outcomes. Every project, regardless of scale, can showcase the power of innovative design to elevate places and revitalize communities.

The Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport Renewal is a milestone project for me as a project director. It’s not every day that one gets the opportunity to work on something as extensive as a major airport. Also, it is critical infrastructure in a city that is meaningful to my career. The project encompassed the airport site and surrounding areas. Besides planning for efficient access, our landscape design looked to reconnect the originally fragmented urban areas into an ecological system that regenerates the landscape.

Our approach created a new hierarchy of green infrastructure and open spaces linking function and experience. The design included better transit connectivity between the ferry, metro and bus. Phasing was considered to make room for the future aerotropolis. The design layered landscape textures and colors for the expressway and streetscapes. The Land Art Garden, which utilizes the undeveloped central landscape zone, envisions a conceptual link between the sky and the earth to display the vitality of Shenzhen. A ‘green runway’ can be seen from the air or experienced as a focal point while driving or walking by. It elevated the gateway to the city.

Going beyond the projects, I proactively collaborate with institutions such as ULI, AIA, and universities to promote our industry, whether this is inspiring the next generation of designers, leveraging our expertise for more innovation, sharing our design insights with the public, or mentoring young women leaders not only within ArchTam but also externally. I am currently a mentor for The Women’s Foundation here in Hong Kong.

Share a piece of career advice.

Explore every possibility and embrace the unknown. I have faced so many unknowns in my career from challenging projects, meticulous clients, fierce market competition, bigger responsibilities, and more. Challenges hold opportunities for success. It is easy to just say ‘no’ and remain where you are, especially when you feel like certain issues are out of your league. However, stepping out of the comfort zone is full of lessons as well as surprises. Never stop learning.

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