By Stephen Burton | Featuring David Hatherly
There is a misconception that landscape architecture is simply the final layer of a project—the green “dressing” applied after the hard work of engineering is done.
But for David Hatherly, a creative landscape architect with over 30 years of experience, the discipline goes much deeper.
It is about creating an experience.
In this episode of The Placemakers, David challenges the distinction between “landscape architect” and “placemaker.” To him, they are one and the same.
“As a landscape architect, one of the first things you’re considering is how do you actually design place that’s going to be unique… and going to encourage people to come and use it,” David explains.
He takes us through the evolution of the industry, from the toxic “work-till-you-drop” culture of the past to the complex political landscape of today.
Key Takeaways for Urban Designers:
🎧 Listen to the Episode
We discuss the definition of creativity in design and how to handle clients who want the “popular vote.”
📄 Accessibility & Reference
Prefer to read? Download the full word-for-word transcript of this interview.
If there is one ingredient that David identifies as non-negotiable for a successful public place, it is ownership.
“I find all great successful places ideally have the fingerprints and the DNA of the local community all over them,” he says.
This means the community must be part of the journey from day one. It is not enough to present a finished design and ask, “What do you think?”.
True placemaking involves asking the community to define the vision before a pen hits the paper.
“It’s your place at the end of the day,” David reminds us.
When the community feels their DNA is embedded in the project, they protect it, use it, and thrive in it.
When we think of “creative” architecture, we often think of wild shapes or avant-garde materials. But David views creativity differently.
“Sometimes the creativity is in the process as well,” he notes.
It is the methodology of engagement—how you bring a client along on the journey, how you extract the history of a site, and how you translate vague aspirations into physical reality.
Innovation lies in the how, not just the what.
Running a design practice today is vastly different from when David started. The rise of social media has introduced a new layer of complexity: the amplification of the minority voice.
“With social media at our fingertips, it’s really easy for the minority groups to have a really strong voice,” David warns.
This creates a difficult environment for elected representatives (the clients), who often need to secure the “popular vote”.
Navigating this tension—between what is right for the design and what is safe for the politician—is one of the modern designer’s greatest challenges.
David also reflects on the shifting culture of the design workplace.
He recalls the early days where long hours were worn as a badge of honor—a culture he admits was “quite toxic”.
Today, the conversation has shifted from “work-life balance” to “work-life integration”.
“How do you comfortably sort of integrate your home life with your work life?” he asks.
With flexible policies and remote work, the goal is no longer to separate the two worlds rigidly, but to allow them to coexist in a way that sustains passion without leading to burnout.
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