Following on from the celebration of World Landscape Architecture month and showcasing global talent from the profession, Cracknell landscape architect Diandra Karima is featured in WLA!
As part of our Lugano based team in Switzerland, Diandra talks about her international experience across Europe, Asia and the US and her thoughts on ecological design.
Diandra’s global experience has shaped a strong sensitivity to climate, ecology, and regional identity. From tropical environments in Indonesia to the seasonal landscapes of Italy, she adapts her design approach to respond to factors such as plant behaviour, soil conditions, and climate variability, seeing these differences as opportunities to create meaningful, site-specific landscapes. A key theme in her work is the relationship between people and nature, which she views as universal across cultures, though expressed differently depending on local environmental conditions and materials. She emphasises that ecological and human-centred design should be developed together from the outset of a project. By combining these principles, she aims to design spaces that not only function sustainably but also improve quality of life and foster stronger connections between people and their surroundings.
Reflecting on her daily experience in the studio, Diandra provides insight into working at a practice with people of many different cultures and backgrounds that bring valuable and varied perspectives to the design challenges.
As a keen photographer she remains constantly curious about her environment, something she encourages every young landscape architect to be.
Read more on WLA here