Paul Roper-Gee and Julie Greenslade of Canopy Landscape Architects tell Cityscape why they love what they do, and reveal one simple tip that can help people make more of their outside area.

What attracted you to landscape architecture? Julie Greenslade: Being able to work with the outdoor environment, plants, and activating spaces for people to enjoy. Paul Roper-Gee: I grew up keen on nature, gardens, architecture and design – landscape architecture seemed like a natural fit.

How did you get into the industry? Julie: I didn’t know about landscape architecture growing up. I went to a university open day to find more information about interior architecture and architecture. It was there that I got talking to a lecturer about landscape architecture and I’ve been hooked ever since. Paul: I’ve worked in a range of LA businesses over the last 20 years, some small and focused on residential gardens, others large and focused on infrastructure and public realm work. I also spent a year working over in the UK based in Cambridge. I worked in the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens – loved it over there.

What do you find most satisfying about what you do? Julie: Seeing the end product and watching how that space gets used. Paul: Starting a design with a few scribbles on paper and then developing that right through to the smallest detail. Then watching it come to life as it is implemented. And having happy clients!

Any advice for those wishing to follow? Paul: Spending some time working in horticulture or landscape construction is invaluable when it comes to the design side of the industry. You have a much better sense of how things go together.

How did you come to join Canopy Landscape Architects? Paul: It was a chance for me to take a lead in developing a Christchurch landscape design business, plus to get my teeth back into garden design, which I was missing.

What is the vision behind the company? Paul: A team of creative people designing exceptional spaces that are meaningful to people and good for the environment. We enjoy listening to our clients, and turning the ideas into something real and beautiful. We work across a wide range of project types – from garden design through to large-scale commercial and public-realm work, and also in landscape assessment and planning.

What are some of the bigger/more memorable projects you have been involved with? Paul: Winning ‘Best in Show’ for my Max’s Pipe Dream garden at the Ellerslie International Flower Show in 2012 was a massive highlight personally. Also developing the new waterfront park in central Port Vila, Vanuatu, was a lot of fun and a great place to travel to for site visits! We are currently working on some great projects at Canopy including the new Te Rae Kura – Redcliffs School and the redevelopment of Christchurch Boys High School. Julie: To date it would be Redcliffs School. This was the first project I started on when I came to Canopy. It is currently in construction and due to open for Term 2 of 2020. Very excited to see the end result.

What is the most common misconception about landscape architecture? Paul: Sometimes the perception is that we are there to add the ‘green fluff’ at the end of a job. We want to be doing more than that and get involved in designing spaces right from the outset and then can also help after construction. Great gardens and landscapes take time to mature and do not remain static. Being made from living material, it means maintaining the magic in a garden requires editing over time to get it just right. Julie: We are not gardeners, landscapers or maintenance men.

What is one simple tip that can help people make more of their outside area? Paul: Figure out what is most important to you for your outdoor space and then focus on achieving that. Is it a green and lush oasis to relax in, is it about entertaining friends around the barbie, is it about creating a haven for wildlife, etc…

Do you have any loves and/or pet hates in the plant world? Julie: I’m keen on combining natives and exotic plant species together. Paul: Not many hates. What matters is that people enjoy the landscapes they are in and the plants within those gardens or landscapes contribute to that enjoyment.

Any observations on the emerging central-city urban landscape? Paul: There is a great vibe developing. The new ‘waterfront’ for the city along the Avon/Otakaro River together with the laneways and new commercial development is really bringing the buzz back to town.

Is your own outside space a masterpiece or a work in progress? Paul: I shifted house six months ago to a new property with a lot more outdoor space to play with. Still thinking about what to do. Excited about the opportunity. Someone told me that your third garden is the best one – this will be my third one, so hopefully a masterpiece! Give me 10 years to get it sorted though. Julie: I recently bought a place and the outdoor area is absolutely a work in progress. I’m not sure if it will ever be perfect/completed as I’m constantly changing my mind or trying new things, whether that’s with planting or materials.

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