2007 Andrew Thomas

Andrew Thomas is the Director at Four Landscape Studio. As a Registered Landscape Architect with over 15 years of professional experience, Andrew brings extensive experience across multiple project types and scales, with particular expertise in education landscapes.

Andrew graduated from the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture at UWA in 2007.

Why did you choose to study landscape architecture?
Andrew Thomas – I had no idea what it was! I had started an engineering degree and lasted three weeks before sitting in a lecture teaching me how to calculate where an electron is in orbit around an atom. I had a moment where I went, ‘This isn't for me as I don't really care where that electron is,’ and decided to work for a year. During that year I laboured on a bitumen truck and decided that was not really the career for me either so started looking for potential degrees to enrol in. My mum found landscape architecture and the one paragraph description sounded interesting to me so I enrolled.

What was your most memorable class from your time at UWA, and why?
AT – We did a studio in the Fitzgerald River National Park with Grant Revell. We went down there for a week which was a fantastic time for getting to know fellow classmates and for engaging with the surrounding landscape.

We also did a studio on Rottnest which was incredible. It was the first time that we had another discipline involved and we learnt how environmental scientists work – how they could influence our work and how we could influence their work. We also had the pleasure of being taught how to play the didgeridoo around a campfire which was incredible.

What did you learn at UWA that has been most influential during your career?
AT – I remember Richard Weller telling our class that we would not have an original thought while at University. At the time, I was outraged at the thought of that but have since begun to understand what he was trying to tell us. To this day, I fight to have an original thought as often as I can!

What is a moment that stands out from your time studying landscape architecture at UWA?
AT– The creation of life long connections with class mates and educators..

Since your time at UWA, how have your ideas about the practice of landscape architecture changed?
AT– I have continued to learn and grow and develop. What I have learnt is that we have a great community of landscape architects in WA that are willing to continue sharing experiences in a similar way to what occurs in a studio at university. Our industry amazes me with the enduring desire to help improve each other by way of sharing practice and projects.

What is a moment that stands out for you, in your career so far?
AT– My first project where an element that I had drawn on paper was then turned into a physical element on site. What an incredible realisation of the power of drawing an idea that can be constructed!

Do you have any advice for current landscape architecture students at the School of Design?
AT – Engage with the industry as soon and as regularly as you can. You will get so much out of it, much more than any time that you put into the endevour.

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

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Images: Guilford Grammar Preparatory School Playspace (via fourls.com.au)