My life in landscape – Rupinder Chawlia

Rupi is a landscape architect. She studied for her BA (Hons) and Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape Architecture at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Though it sounds like a cliché, I wanted to make the world a better place! At 16, I travelled abroad and saw slum communities with no room for vegetation, wildlife or outdoor space to play or relax. I suddenly realised how important the outdoor space is, the connection between humans and nature and how it helps to improve the quality of life. Just being outside can help:

• change or improve mood
• create positive memories
• stimulate imagination
• become more mentally and physically active
• feel connected to the world
• be less isolated

I wanted to create pleasant, safe and balanced environments that inspire and changes the lives of individuals improving their health and well-being. I discovered a career in landscape architecture was the perfect way to do this.

The transformation of a disused factory site into a high-quality urban park, creating an important link to a green corridor south of the town. It boasts a natural play area, wildflower and grass meadows and meandering paths alongside a restored brook. It is a good example of a new landscape driving a mixed development – it will provide the setting and dictate the layout for an adjoining housing development.

Interacting with other professionals, people, clients and contractors and working together as a team to problem solve and successfully deliver the schemes. Each day is different. Often there is such a variety of tasks that need to be delivered and handled each day, which makes my job more interesting.

Pleasing everyone! There will be occasions where either the end-users or stakeholders disagree. This is where the additional skill as a mediator kicks in and although challenging, it can be satisfying to help them reach a compromise.

I bring energy, optimism, creativity, communication (bringing everyone together) and a unique perspective to the team, helping to ensure that the landscape we create reflect what people want and bring as much benefit as possible to people and nature.

Currently there is a lot more scrutiny and media coverage of human impact on the environment and climate lie erosion, flooding and pollution. I see the profession stepping-up to work with other environmental specialists to find innovative, creative solutions to combat some of the challenges. We can contribute by ensuring that the resulting landscape incorporates opportunity for human enjoyment.

A landscape architect’s commitment to protecting, conserving and enhancing the landscape is imperative. We don’t just fill in the spaces other people have left!

Our ambitions for what outdoor space can achieve go beyond creating settings for buildings – we know that landscape can be challenging, emotive, reflective, rich in wildlife, become landmarks, meeting places, etc. Delivering new landscapes like this means future generations will have the same if not better opportunities to experience/enjoy the natural world than ours.