2002 Tom Griffiths

Tom Griffiths is a Studio Director of ASPECT’s Perth studio. He brings a highly creative and strategic approach to complex urban design and public realm projects. His design leadership in landscape architecture, urban design, and master planning throughout Australia, Middle East and the United Kingdom, is demonstrated at all scales of the design environment ensuring projects are contextually grounded, innovative, and elegantly resolved.

He has experience developing projects through the conceptual and consultation phases to leading large multidisciplinary teams in the development and delivery of projects for both private and public sectors. Prior to joining ASPECT Studios, Tom worked on a number of notable projects including the 2012 Olympic Athletes Village and Tate Modern Extension in London, plus the Rockingham Beach Revitalisation, the Midland Railway Square and the Mindeerup Piazza in Western Australia.

Tom graduated from the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture at UWA in 2002. He was interviewed by Sofie von Kauffman, as part of the UWA Master of Landscape Architecture unit LACH4421: Australian Landscapes.

SvK – What was your most memorable class from your time at UWA?
TG – The most memorable class during my time at university was probably my first unit during my first year. It was a mixed unit with landscape architecture and architecture students led by Bill Busfield. We worked with broad and open-ended design projects to stretch our brains, which was fun but challenging.

SvK – Who has been a person of influence in developing your approach to landscape architecture?
TG – Richard Weller was a big influence during my time as a student. He was leading the landscape architecture program at the UWA during that time. He played an important role during my years at the university, but also afterwards since I was able to work with him during my professional career. I still today stay in contact with him and will continue to follow his brilliant work and research.

SvK – What did you learn at UWA that has been most influntial during your career?
TG – The most influential thing I learnt during my time at the UWA is the power of design. Especially, if the design approach is rooted in a deep reading of the site and its history, context, and the landscape it sits in. Overall, my design education at the university has been important in shaping my philosophy and approach towards landscape architecture.

SvK – Are there any specific moments that stand out from your time studying landscape architecture at UWA?
TG – The last year of my degree was a period that stood out while studying. I managed to structure my units so that I only had studios, led by Richard Weller, left for my final year. We sat in an office-like space together focusing on design 24 hours a day, which was a fantastic experience. It was a great opportunity to focus intensely on projects and gave me the feeling of how it is to work in a studio with just a few other people.

SvK – How has your definition and understanding of landscape architecture changed throughout your career?
TG – During my time as a graduate, popular design was inspired by deconstructivism and a formalistic approach. A lot of people were playing with geometry – deconstructing geometry and reconfiguring it to create and design spaces. Later in my career, I developed a much stronger alignment with design that responds to a sense of place, the natural environment, and human needs. I am not as focused on how things look on the plan or graphically anymore but care more about giving spaces purpose, activating them, and addressing climate and sustainability issues.

SvK – Could you tell me about a significant project that you have worked on or are working on?
TG – I love them all differently, but the one that stands out for me was London Athletes Village for the Olympics 2012. The project has today turned into a new community known as East Village. It was an interesting and challenging project with a landscape focus, a short time frame, strong design narratives, big contractors, and collaborations with 15 different architectural practices. We worked hard and long hours, but it was a very rewarding project, especially coming back a few years later to see how the original ideas have turned into and shaped a new community.

SvK – How was it to see the first project you had been working on being built in real life? How did it feel?
TG – It was a scary feeling. I got the feeling of imposter syndrome, thinking that everyone else had more knowledge. Over time, you build confidence in your knowledge and realise that you have the most knowledge about a project because you have been thinking about and drawing it for so long.

SvK – Do you have any advice for current landscape architecture students at the School of Design?
TG – It is a time and opportunity you will not have again. It’s a period where you can soak up as much information as possible. I always tried to expose myself to as many books, people, information, and collaborations as possible. It’s a great time to set the foundation of your career. After that period, your life will be buried in emails and meetings.

SvK – Do you have anything else you’d like to share?
TG – I get out of bed every single day excited by the profession, projects, and collaborations that I am working on. I am still excited and inspired to start a new project and to learn about new places and their contexts. I guess I am, after all these years, still excited by landscape architecture which is crazy!

This interview was undertaken in 2022. It has been edited for clarity and cohesion.

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Image: London Athletes Village by Vogt Landschaftsarchitekten (via world-architects.com )