Peter Haack, AILA, Registered Landscape Architect
Peter initially came to Landscape Architecture through interests in horticulture and landscape management. He completed a Diploma of Applied Science (Amenity Horticulture) at VCAH Burnley in 1981, where his design influences were Graeme Bentley and John Patrick.
Immediately upon graduating from Burnley, he commenced the new Landscape Architecture program being established at RMIT by a recently arrived Jim Sinatra, ably supported by young Ron Jones in a tutor role. Fellow students included Perry Lethlean, Greg Hocking and Chris Razell.
During 1985 Peter commenced work with Loder and Bayly Consulting Group, working under the guidance of Nick Safstrom and alongside other Landscape Architects such as Ross Perret, Michael Smith and Lawrence Blyton. The inter-disciplinary approach of the practice was to have a significant influence on Peter’s professional outlook – instilling a passion for working with a range of disciplines on complex projects, at both the strategic as well as detailed levels.
During 1989 and 1990, Peter moved to Queensland to assist with the establishment of the Loder and Bayly Brisbane office. (This office later became the beginnings of the EDAW office). During this time he played a key role on the Brunswick Street Mall project and the Gold Coast Sports Facilities Strategy, indications of the broad range of professional areas of expertise that he would continue to develop.
Upon returning to Melbourne, Peter found that the recession had taken hold and the local market was badly affected. At one point, Nick Safstrom and Peter were the only Landscape Architects remaining in the practice.
In 1993 Peter became an Associate at Loder and Bayly, playing an increasingly important role in the management and business development of the practice.
During 1995, the design practice within Loder and Bayly merged with EDAW and Peter’s focus had begun to shift towards landscape planning and environmental projects, including visual and landscape impact assessment. During this period, significant projects included the Morwell River Diversion and the Melbourne City Link project.
In 1998, Peter became a Senior Associate with EDAW and played an increasingly important role in the management of the practice. During the early 2000’s he played a significant role in the integration of the practice after the mergers with Gillespies and Paterson and Pettus.
Peter was appointed Principal of the Melbourne office in 2003 and maintained significant creative input into projects despite office marketing and management responsibilities. During this time Peter established the practices expertise in open pace and shared trail strategic planning.
Peter left EDAW in 2008 to join Urbis with the goal of helping to grow the firm’s design studios at the local as well as National level.
Peter continues to work across a range of projects, from inner urban design exercises to the visual impact assessment of mining projects in the Pilbara. Recent success for the design studio has come through their Urban and Landscape Design support for the winning Peninsula Link Freeway bid team.
March 2010