Introducing Matt
We are delighted to introduce a new member of the team, Matt Northall, who joins us as a Landscape Architect. Here’s what inspired him to become a landscape architect, why he loves cycling and his favourite projects.
How did you become a landscape architect?
An appreciation of the natural world's benefits has been ingrained in my life since childhood, having been fortunate enough to grow up with nature on my doorstep.
Originally from North Wales, I have spent much of my life exploring the dramatic landscape of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley, firmly establishing an appreciation and passion for our natural world from a young age. Later in life, this became one of the main reasons for my decision to pursue a career in Landscape Architecture, with the desire to protect and enhance our landscapes and the spaces in which we spend our lives.
My route into Landscape Architecture started from a primarily engineering-based course which covered a wide range of topics relating to the built environment.
I wanted to pursue a career path which would allow me to help bring nature to the forefront of the built environment, allowing people to rediscover and reconnect through the creation of biologically diverse multifunctional spaces. Bringing about positive environmental and social change through holistically designed landscapes is a passion for me.
What do you love about it?
For me, landscape architecture is special in that as designers we are designing with a dynamic living palette on a canvas which changes with the seasons. We think long-term, envisaging how our concepts will evolve over time as plants establish and trees grow tall. I hope that, through the reintroduction and enhancement of nature in the places where we live, people will reconnect and gain their own appreciation for the natural world.
I’m excited about Land Studio’s design approach which integrates SuDs and water management through engineered nature-based solutions. I have a key interest in regenerative landscapes and their associated natural services which can assist in our responses to the climate challenges we face.
What do you enjoy about working at Land Studio?
Every day has been different. Since I started, I’ve been on numerous site visits in some spectacular settings such as the Snowdonia National Park. The range of projects I’m working on has been really varied, from a private garden on the West Coast of Ireland to social value community schemes and masterplan bids. A highlight for me has been my introduction to the studio drawing tablet. Being able to hand draw graphics directly into a digital format is an excellent communication tool to share ideas amongst the team and with clients.
How do you relax outside of work?
Outside of the studio, I am a keen cyclist and can often be found bike-packing around North Wales. A cycling trip around the Netherlands in 2019 opened my eyes to the potential impacts well-considered cycle infrastructure can have on society. It made me an advocate for developing well-connected people-focused places at a human scale. I believe functionality within design is equally as important as the aesthetic. We should seek to enhance existing landscapes, providing a sense of place and belonging which reconnects people and nature.