Proudly supported by our National Play Corporate Partner, Proludic, this fortnightly #MemberMonday 'get to you know' profile series will showcase some of our members, asking them a range of work and play questions.

For every member that is featured, Proludic will donate to a charity on the member's behalf. The charity they have chosen is Unicef Australia, Play & Learn Pack for Remote Indigenous Communities.

Debbie Laporte | Director, Orterra Pty Ltd

WORK

What is your favourite work of landscape architecture?
I love working with childcare, kindies and schools and helping bring nature play into their spaces. I love helping them see their space with new eyes and empowering them to see its potential.   

Favourite childhood play memory and how old you were at the time of your memory?
My favorite childhood memory is probably more of a space than a specific memory. We use to play in the adventure playground in the town we use to live. I would have been between 3 to 10 years old when we played in this playground. It was all made of metal. They had huge metal slides which got so hot in summer and you flew off the end. A big spinning top the whole family could get in and sin around. A giant rocking horse. We spent a lot of time as a family riding our bikes to the park and playing.  

I am currently listening to the Invisible Woman by Caroline Criado Perez and I think it should be required reading for every designer, engineer, architect, planner, everyone. I am not even halfway through and it has put a different perspective on what I have been taught, what I design, and how I design. 

What is your favourite outdoors activity?
Bushwalking, I love it being in nature, exploring new things, and seeing new places. 

Kelsie Davies | Director, KDLA Landscape Architecture

WORK

What inspired you to become a Landscape Architect?
I had a great passion growing up for both art and the outdoors/ being in nature so this seemed like a good combination of these ideals. I originally wanted to get into mine site rehabilitation but somewhere along the landscape journey, I fell in love with high-end residential and urban projects and that's what I now specialise in. I love the human aspect of landscape, the placemaking and creating spaces for people to love being outdoors.  

Favourite childhood play memory and how old you were at the time of your memory?
Ohhh that's a hard one... I grew up on a farm so a lot of my early play memories are of myself and my siblings playing in the dam over flow.... building rafts and jetties and 'dam walls' down the stream and getting absolutely filthy! Or making mazes through the bracken patches. I would have been primary school age. 

Well.....before I had kids I used to be a pretty avid cook and adventurous baker. I actually almost gave up Landscape Architecture to start a catering company but luckily kept that as just a hobby. Now I only bake for special occasions and usually with at least one tiny child hanging off my leg. 

What is your favourite outdoors activity?
I love a lot about the outdoors but I would have to say spending time at the beach over summer is my favourite thing to do. Swimming, relaxing, being salty and just watching the ocean. It's my happy place! 

Anne-Marie Pisani | First Peoples' Partnerships and Design Lead, Aspect Studios

WORK

What inspired you to become a Landscape Architect?
I was previously studying a Science degree majoring in zoology and viewing first hand the impact and devastation caused by the expanding urban environment on local animal habitats. Hearing about Landscape Architecture as a profession and together with a general interest in design, I thought I could have a greater impact of providing a voice for the animals and protecting their habitat.

Favourite childhood play memory and how old you were at the time of your memory?
Playing out in nature making up games around a fallen tree trunk, with seed pods, flowers and twigs. Age around 7-8 years old.

Making 3D cakes - started by making allergy free cakes my daughters could eat when at friends parties, and it just developed from there. I really enjoy working out the type of cake they would like and how to build it. Over the years kids character cakes have made way for designer handbags ones. I've also had the opportunity to make cakes of some built landscapes to commemorate their openings and also for the launch of a book. I find the process of making a therapeutic one.

Do you have a dream holiday or travel destination?
A number of locations within Nordic countries - and although still on my list, has made way for a short list of simple breaks - which has been strongly influenced by the significant number of lockdowns experienced in Melbourne over the last 2 years.  Destinations where we are totally removed from our day to day lives and we can just enjoy the simple things and spending time as a family.

Liam Mouritz | Senior Urban Designer at Hassell

WORK

What is your favourite work of landscape architecture?
One of the most interesting landscapes that I have visited would be the River Aire Renaturalisation in the hinterlands of Geneva. Designed by Atelier Descombes, it is the transformation of a canal into a wild space in which the river has gradually carved its own path. Its interesting in the way the designers didn't necessarily dictate the outcome, they just set up the conditions for the landscape to emerge over time.

Favourite childhood play memory and how old you were at the time of your memory?
I used to really enjoy visiting mazes when I was a kid.  They remain fascinating landscapes to me now and I don’t think we see enough of them.

My hidden talent would be my football (Arsenal) and AFL (Dockers) obsession. I never had any skill at sport on the field, but I am a dedicated and passionate fan of it.

What’s the most memorable thing you’ve read, seen or experienced this week?
I recently read the book Title Fight by Paul Cleary. Its the story of how the Yindjibarndi people have tenaciously defended their Country from mining giants FMG in the Pilbara.

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