When you think “landscape architect,” you might picture someone planting a back lawn—but as Lisa reveals in this episode of Managing Creative Studios, the work goes far deeper (and sometimes even involves creating hotels for bats!).
Lisa, Studio Manager at Harrison Grierson, takes us inside the world of large-scale design where ecology, culture, and community all intersect. She shares how she worked with conservationists and ecologists to design a Hamilton project that doubled as accommodation and a buffet for native bat populations—proving that good design can support both people and wildlife.
We also get a peek behind the curtain of the profession, including the surprising “dirty little secret” that many landscape architects like to deny: deep down, they really do love flowers. In fact, Lisa’s passion project, The Memory Botanist, transforms special-occasion blooms into art that lasts a lifetime.
This episode blends ecology, leadership, and creativity—showing how landscape architecture shapes the spaces we live in, while quietly influencing how we connect with nature (and each other).
Find out more about Lisa's workplace here: https://www.harrisongrierson.com/
Check out Lisa's side hustle The Memory Botanist here: https://www.instagram.com/thememorybotanist/
","author_name":"Susan Mann"}